354 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



HYPOLAIS POLYGLOTTA 



149. Hypolais polyglotta (Vieill.) THE MELODIOUS 

 WARBLER. 



SYLVIA POLYGLOTTA Vieillot, Nouv. Diet., nouv. 6d., xi, p. 200 (1817 



France). 



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



C 7 



A. Icterine Warbler (Hypolais icterina). B. Melodious Warbler (H. polyglotta). C. Olivaceous 

 Warbler (H. p. dceica). Note difference in lengths of 1st and 2nd primaries. 



DESCRIPTION. Adult male and female. So much like H. icterina 

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

 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 jj<*le 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. 



