5,40 Mr. II. F. Witherby — Ornithological 



Both sexes are fond of spreading their tails when flying and 

 when perched. 



60. Sylvia nana (Hempr. & Ehr.) ; Blanf. t. c. p. 178. 

 39. ? ad.; 50. ? ad. March 29th, Konar Takhteh 



(1700 ft.). 



The Desert-Warbler was fairly common in the valleys of 

 Konar Takhteh and Kazran (2700 ft.), but I did not obtain 

 it elsewhere. 



It frequented small bushes near corn-fields, and was as 

 often as not on the ground underneath them. It was also 

 very fond of skulking along the bottoms of the " hedges " 

 (made of mimosa-boughs) round the corn. Occasionally it 

 took a short flight, and alighting at the top of a bush rapidly 

 made its way through it to the bottom again. 



61. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.); Blanf. t.c. p. 174; Sharpe, 

 Ibis, 1886, pp. 481 & 495. 



53. S • March 30th, near Konar Takhteh (1700 ft.). 



150. S • April 10th, near Kalah Mushir (6700 ft.). 



285. ? . May 2nd, Shiraz (5200 ft.). 



These specimens and others in the British Museum from 

 the Persian Gulf are decidedly pale on the upper parts. Two 

 birds from Fao are, however, darker, and birds from Europe 

 vary in coloration, so that I shall not separate the Persian 

 bird. More material, however, may shew that the Blackcap 

 resident in Persia is constantly pale and worthy of sub- 

 specific rank. 



Dr. Blanford had no specimens, and I saw only the three 

 which I obtained, and could not be sure whether the bird 

 bred in the country. I never heard it singing, but the testes 

 of the male shot on April 10th were considerably enlarged, 

 although the ovaries of the female shot three weeks later 

 were small. 



62. Sylvia curruca (Linn.) ; Blanf. t. c. p. 175 ; Sharpe, 

 Ibis, 1886, p. 495, 1891, p. 108. 



374, 375. S ad. May 29th, near Sisakht (6500 ft.). 



