354 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



HYPOLAIS POLYGLOTTA 



149. Hypolais polyglotta (Vieill.) — THE MELODIOUS 

 WARBLER. 



Sylvia polyglotta Vieillot, Nouv. Diet., nouv. ed., xi, p. 200 (1817 — 



France). 



Hypolais polyglotta (Vieillot), Saunders, p. 77. 



A. Icterine Warbler (jffypoZais ic^mna). B. Melodious Warbler (fl. poZi/ffZoi^a). C. Olivaceous 

 Warbler (ff. p. elceica). Mote difference in lengths of 1st and 2nd primaries. 



Description. — Adult male and female. — So much like H. iderina 

 in coloration as not to require separate description. Upper -jiarts 

 usually browner and less olive and eye-stripe and under-parts 

 usually of a deeper yellow. Moults as in H. icterina but in autumn 

 from Aug. -Oct. 



Nestling. — Not examined. Inside mouth orange, two dark 

 spots at base of tongue (H. Lynes.) 



Juvenile. — Very nearly resembling juvenile H. icterina but 

 upper -parts usually a shade paler and more buffish-brown and 

 under-parts perhaps rather more creamy. 



First winter. — Upper -parts darker brown than H. icterina, 

 under-parts pale creamy -yellow. The juvenile body-plumage 

 is moulted in autumn but apparently not wing-coverts nor wing- 

 and tail-feathers. Summer. — Moult apparently as in H. icterina 

 after which becomes as adult. 



