196 SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE. 



ration. It is less frequent to the north of the 

 Downs, and seldom seen in the weald, where Cur- 

 ruca cinerea is by no means of rare occurrence. 



WOOD WARBLER, Sylvia sylvicola. A very local 

 species. I never could obtain a specimen among 

 the oak woods on the clay soils. Appears to be 

 equally rare near Petworth, but particularly affects 

 the neighbourhood of Storrington, and the tall elm 

 trees in Parham Park, from whence I have pro- 

 cured several examples. It is scarce in the cen- 

 tral parts of the county, and indeed seems to prefer 

 dry gravelly soils, where the beech and elm are 

 more prevalent than the oak. The eggs and nest 

 have frequently been found in Stanmer Park, the 

 latter being remarkable for the total absence of 

 feathers, as a material in the lining of the interior, 

 which are always applied to that purpose by its 

 congeners the chiff-chaff and the willow wren. 



CHIFF-CHAFF, Sylvia hippolais. Is partially dis- 

 persed, being of rare occurrence in certain districts 

 as for instance in the neighbourhood of Shore- 

 ham and Beeding, while in others every bush and 

 copse rings with its merry note. 



WILLOW WARBLER, Sylvia trochilus. Is more 

 numerous and generally distributed, although from 

 its retired habits and subdued warble, less likely 

 to attract notice. These three last-named birds, 

 which now form the restricted genus Sylvia, 



