104 



X. 



NOTES ON TRISTRAM'S WARBLER. 

 (Sylvia deserticola.} 



TRISTRAM'S Warbler is one of the least known of 

 Palaearctic birds, and one whose habits have been little 

 studied by naturalists. The history of this bird has 

 been somewhat an eventful one. It was first discovered 

 by the naturalist whose name it now bears in one of the 

 oases of the Sahara some thirty years ago. Owing to 

 the vagueness of its diagnosis, as set forth in the ' Ibis ' 

 by its discoverer, it was confused with other birds, 

 notably with the Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana}> and for a 

 quarter of a century it remained as a doubtful species 

 as one which many naturalists were inclined to think 

 had no existence. This was chiefly because in its 

 winter plumage it closely resembled other allied but 

 perfectly distinct species, and no specimens had ever 

 been obtained in summer dress, when it is very different 

 in appearance. During the spring of 1882 I was 

 fortunate enough to meet with this rare little Warbler in 

 Algeria, and to obtain an example in summer plumage, 



