311 



birds). The ground colour is white or pale cream, sparingly blotched 

 and spotted, generally with a more or less distinct zone or cap at the 

 big end, with purple grey shell marks and surface spots varying from 

 pale brown to deep sepia. Many of the markings have softened edges 

 and some sets show a good deal of the white ground; while occasionally 

 a clutch may be found without any markings. 



In England the first eggs are found towards the beginning of May, Breeding 

 and have been recorded at the end of April, but the more usual time ^^"^°"- 

 in the Midlands is from mid-May onward: on one occasion I found eggs 

 as late as July 12, but think it probable that one or two previous layings 

 had been destroyed and that it is not double brooded. In Germany 

 eggs are usually found from the beginning of May till June, and second 

 layings to the end of the latter month (Rey). The hen is a close sitter, 

 and the period of incubation probably lasts from 11 to 12 days; but 

 when laying or while building the nest is readily forsaken. 



Average of 100 eggs by Rey, 16.5x12.6, Max. 18.7x13 and Measure- 

 17.7x14.2, Min. 14x12 and 15x11.5. A double egg (S. Derbyshire), '"'"*" 

 measures 22x12.2 mm. Average weight of 19 full eggs, 1.437 g (R. 

 H. Read) ; blown eggs average 85 mg. (Rey). 



[In Asia the European race is replaced by the Eastern Lesser White- 

 throat, S. curruca a/finis Blyth, which is found in Siberia (and accor- 

 ding to Pleske also in the Kirghis steppes) ranging E. to Transbaikalia 

 and Manchuria, and according to AVhitehead and others, S. to the Kurram 

 valley and Kashmir. Suschkin has described the form from the S. E. 

 Kirghis steppes under the name of S. c. Judimodendri Suschk. A third 

 race, S. c. minula Hume, breeds in Transcaspia, Amu Darya, Afghanistan, 

 etc. Egg figured in Cat. Eggs B. Mus., IV, pi. X, fig. 3 (Afghanistan). 

 Average size of 11 eggs from the same locality, 17.93x12.9 mm. Dresser 

 figures eggs of S. c. affitiis Blyth from Kashmir on pi. — , fig. 10 — 12. 

 For nesting notes see Ibis 1880, p. 59; 1898, p. 16. An allied species, 

 the Himalayan whitethroat, S. althaea Hume, breeds in Transcaspia, 

 E. Persia, Bokhara, part? of Turkestan, Gilgit, and N. W. Kashmir. 

 Eggs from Transcaspia figured by Dresser pi. — , fig. 5,6. The distri- 

 bution of these forms in AV. Asia is however as yet very imperfectly 

 known and requires further study]. 



148. Desert Warbler, Sylvia nana (H. & E.). 

 Geographical Races. 



a. Asiatic Desert Warbler, S. nana nana (H. & E.). 



Sylvia narm (H. & E.). part. Dresser B. of Europe, IX, p. 648 and Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 79. S. nana nana (H. & E.). Hartert. Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 590. 



