301 



Breeding Range: From Herzegowina and S. Dalmatia to Greece. 

 [Also Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, Turkestan, Afghanistan and N. W. India]. 



In the Balkan peninsula this race is common in S. Dalmatia and ^°"' 

 Herzegowina and is found near the Lake of Scutari in Montenegro. It Europe. 

 probably breeds also in Albania and is not rare on Olympus, while it is 

 widely distributed in Greece, not only on the low ground but also in the 

 mountains, and is very common in the Parnassus, and is also found in the 

 Gyclades. In S. Russia and the Crimea the evidence of its occurrence is 

 unsatisfactory. [It breeds in the wooded districts of Palestine, and is 

 common in Asia Minor, occurs in the mountains of S. Persia, in Turkestan, 

 S. Afghanistan (common near Quetta) to Gilgit and the N. W. Provinces 

 of India.] 



Although the bird is of a skulking disposition, the nest is generally Nost. 

 easy to find, being often placed near the top of a small bush, or else 

 about 6 to 12 ft. high in some small tree. It is fairly substantial for 

 a Warbler's nest, built chiefly of bents, dry stalks of OnapJialium, grasses 

 and a little down or a few hairs. 



Usually 4: or 5, but Selous found several clutches of 6 in Asia Egge. 

 Minor. As a rule they are easily distinguishable from those of the W. 

 form, as was originally pointed ont by Baldamus. Typical eggs have a 

 very light greyish or greenish ground, almost white, and are sparingly 

 marked, chiefly at the big end, with small spots of greyish or brownish 

 and ashy shell markings. The dark brown spots and brand marks of 

 Spanish eggs are generally absent, although one or two sets have been 

 found with brown blotches. Reiser describes a variety as resembling the 

 the type of Mot. alba. There is generally more gloss than in Western eggs. 



Arriving in Greece and Asia Minor about the end of March or Breeding 

 early in April, eggs may be found from the end of April onward, but *^''*^°"'- 

 mostly about the third week of May : while in Syria the season extends 

 from May 6 to June 6. In S. Persia Witherby found eggs on May 17. 

 Kriiper's observations show that apparently the hen alone incubates, the 

 cock singing his powerful song some distance off. 



Average of 100 eggs (78 by the writer and 22 by Reiser), 20.02x14.92, Measure- 

 Max. 23.3x15.1 and 20.6x16.5, Min. 18x14.4 and 20.4x14.1. They """"'• 

 are therefore larger as a rule than Spanish and African eggs. Average 

 weight of 21 Greek eggs, 137.8 mg, varying from 115 to 180 mg. 



144. Garden Warbler, Sylvia borin (Bodd.) [S. hortensis auct.] 



Plate 27, fig, 1—5 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl. Taf. XX, fig. 2, a — e. Howitson, 

 I Ed. I pi. XIII; II Ed. pi. XXVII, fig. 3: III Ed., pi. XXXIV, fig. 3, 4. 



