316 



Breeding Range: S. Caucasus and Transcaucasia. [Also from Persia 

 and Transcaspia to Afghanistan and Turkestan.] 



Di3- This species was first recorded by Menetries from the lower Kur 



♦nbution. ^g^^gy 'j^ Transcaucasia and Radde obtained specimens at Lenkoran, 

 while Ssatunin has more recently shown that its range extends further 

 in the S. Caucasus. [In Persia it is common in the Elburz range at 

 4000 ft. and is also found in the central and southern parts of the pla- 

 teau, while in 1908 A. G. Tomlinson found it breeding on the Kairun R. 

 and near Bussorah, at the head of the Persian Grulf. It is the commo- 

 nest warbler in Transcaucasia and also ranges E. to parts of the valleys 

 of Syr and Amu Darya and N. Afghanistan.]. 



Nest. Generally low down in a bush, but sometimes 3 ft. from the ground 



in scrub or in sapling date bushes. The nest is rather slight, built of 

 stalks and grasses, lined fine grasses and roots. (Sarudny describes it 

 as built of tamarisk twigs, bents, and down, lined finer bents, vegetable 

 filaments and a few horsehairs.) 



Eggs. From 4 to 5, very pale stone colour or with a faint greyish tinge, 



finely spotted or marbled with underlying leaden shellmarks and ochreous 

 brown spots and fine specks. Four clutches examined show very little 

 variation, but Sarudny' s description, if correct, points to the existence 

 of other types. 

 Breeding Tomliuson took clutches on April 9 and 27, "Witherby on May 2 



and incubated eggs on May 31, the two latter^ at over 5000 ft. 

 Measure- Avcragc of 18 cggs by the writer, 17.31 x 13.1, Max. 18.2 x; 13.5, 



""'"*'■ Min. 16.3 X 13.3 and 16.6 X 12.5. 



152. Subalpine Warbler, Sylvia cantillans (Pall.) 

 [S. subalpina auct.] 



Geographical Races. 



a. Western Subalpine Warbler, S. cantillans cantillans (Pall). 

 Plate 26, fig. 22 (red type, E. Guadiana, Commr. Lynes). 



Eggs: Seebohm, Col. Fig. pi. 53 (red type). 



Foreign Names: France : Bee-fin passerinette. Italy : Steryazzolina. 

 Spain: Cagachin 



Sylvia subalpina Bon. Dresser, B. of Europe, II, p. 389 and Man. Pal. 

 Birds, p. 81. Saunders, Man. p. 53. S. suhalinna subalpina Temm. 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 596. 



Breeding Range: The Iberian Peninsula, S. France, Italy, occasion- 



