menti. 



297 



From 4 to 6 in number, long oval in shape and decidedly smaller Eggs, 

 than those of other Tree Warblers. When fresh they are pale pink, 

 with blackish spots, chiefly at the big end, and a few purplish shell 

 markings. There is practically no gloss on these eggs. 



In middle Russia the usual time for full clutches is about June 8, breeding 

 while in Orenburg the first eggs are found at the beginning of the month 

 and the young are fledged early in July. 



Average of 45 eggs by the writer, 15.57 x; 12.24, Max. 17x13 Meamre- 

 and 15x13.5, Min. 14x11.3. Rey gives the average weight of one 

 clutch as 70 mg. 



[Two other species of Tree Warbler occur in the W. Palaearctic reaion, 

 Upcher's Warbler, Hippolais languida (H. & E.), and Sykes' Warbler, H rama (Sykes). 

 The eggs of Upcher's Warbler are figured in the Cat. Eggs Br. Mus., IV. pi. X, fig. 2; 

 Dresser, pi. — , fig. 37, 38. Breeding Eange: Palestine, Persia, Transcaspia, Turkestan, 

 Baluchistan and Afghanistan. The nest is a neat cup with cobwebs and down inter- 

 woven and is placed in bushes from 3 to 6 ft. from the ground. Eggs, 4 to 5 in 

 number, delicate mauve wlien fresh, are marked with small spots and streaks of deep 

 chocolate brown and are like those of H. oliveforum, but slightly smaller. In S. Persia, 

 the eggs were nearly hatching at the end of May, but Tristram found eggs on Her- 

 mon as late as June 4. Possibly this was a second brood as eggs are said to have 

 been taken there at the end of April. Average size of 16 eggs by the writer, 

 19.04 X 13.8, Max. 20.4 X 14 and 20 X 14.5, Min. 18.2 X '4 and 18.5 X 13.2. Eggs 

 of Sykes' Warbler are figured in P. Z. S., 1874, pi. LXXIX (nest); Dresser, pi. — , 

 fig. 39 — 42. Breeding Range: Transcaspia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Persia Turkestan 

 S. E. Mongolia, Kashmir and Sind. .Nest: usually about a foot from the ground in 

 tamarisk, saxaul or other bushes, built of bents and sedge with a lining of fine grasses, 

 down, horsehair etc. Eggs, usually 4 or 5, sometimes 6 and even 7 in number ex- 

 ceptionally. They are dull white with a faint greenish or greyish tinge, and are 

 covered with a tracery of nearly bl;ck lines as well as the usual markings and uflen 

 have a well marked zone. Breeding season according to Riissow, May 25 — June 1. 

 Average size of 20 eggs by the writer, 14.78 X 12.41, Max. 1G.6 X 12.5 and 16 3 X 13, 

 Min. 14.7 X 12 and 15.2 X 11.8.J 



142. Barred Warbler, Sylvia nisoria Bechst. 



Plate 27, fig. 20—23 (N. Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Taf. XX, fig. 3, a — c. Baedeker, Tab. 51, 

 fig. 14. Taczanowski, Tab. XL VIII, fig. 1. Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 10; 

 id. Col. Fig., pi. 52. Dresser, pi. — , fig. 45, 46. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Fenice vlasska. Denmark: Brystvatret 

 Sanger. France: Fauvette epervmre. Germany: Sperher -Orasmiicke. ^q\- 

 golsindiKat-Unger. HungaxjiKarvalypos^dta. ItsAj: Bigiapadovana. Poland: 

 Fokrywka jarzebata. Russia: Fodoreschnik. Sweden: Hokfcirgad sdngare. 

 Sylvia nisoria (Bechst.). Dresser, B. of Europe, II, p. 435 and Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 73. Saunders, Man. p. 51. S. nisoria nisoria (Bechst.). 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 578. 



