Meature- 

 ments. 



295 



In Greece eggs may be taken from mid May to early June, and breeding 

 after the first week of May in Cyprus, while in Asia Minor from May 12 

 to the beginning of June, and from the beginning of May in Persia. 

 Incubation is performed by the hen alone and lasts 13 days (Reiser); 

 during the whole day the cock sings in the neighbourhood of the nest. 

 The hen sits very closely and may be touched as she sits (D. Bate). 

 Only one brood is reared, and the parents migrate south at the end of 

 July from Greece. 



Average of 105 eggs (63 by Rey, 26 by Reiser and 16 by the 

 writer), 17.38 X 13.33, Max. 19.5 X 13.8 and 17 X 14, Min. 15.9 X 12.3 

 and 17 x 12.1 mm. Average weight 80 mg. (Rey); 79.7 mg. (Reiser). 



b. Western Oliyaceoas Warbler, H. pallida opaca Cab. 



Plate 32, fig. 15—17 (Spain). 



Eggs: Baedeker, Tab. 19, fig. 2. Dresser, pi. — , fig. 33, 34. 



Foreign Name: Spain: Pinchahigos. 

 Hypolais opaca (Licht.). Dresser, B. of Europe, II, p. 531 and Man. Pal. 

 Birds, p. 110. Hippolais pallida opaca Cab. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, 

 p. 575. 



Breeding Range: S. and E. Spain. [Also N. W. Africa, N. of 

 the Atlas.] 



In Spain, although locally very common, this species appears to con- 

 be confined to the southern and eastern provinces, and apparently does ^°®° * 

 not penetrate to the high plateau of the interior or the N. It breeds 

 at least as far W. as Huelva, but has not been recorded from Portugal, 

 and is common in parts of Andalucia, Murcia and Valencia. As a 

 straggler it has occurred in the Riviera and perhaps also in S. France. 

 [In N. W. Africa it is a common summer visitor to the well watered 

 districts of Marocco, Algeria and Tunisia, N. of the Atlas range, but 

 in the oases of S. Algeria is replaced by a paler form, H. j)(^^lida 

 reiseri Hilg.] 



In Spain the nest is generally placed in trees or bushes near river Nest. 

 banks, as a rule from 4 to 15 ft. from the ground, but one found by 

 me in a garden in Jerez was nearly 30 ft. high. It is woven round the 

 forking twigs, and its built of thistle and other downs, together with fine 

 roots, grasses etc., lined with down or sometimes bits of wool and a few 

 hairs. I have seen feathers also used occasionally. The cock is not shy 

 and sings very persistently near the nesting place. Diameter of cup, 

 II in., depth If — 2 in. 



From 3 to 5 in number, but generally 4, while 6 are said to «g«»- 

 have occurred in Spain. In colour they have a greyish white or dove- 



