THE GARDEN-WARBLER. 365 



1-3 shorter, 5th 5-7 shorter, 6th 7-10 shorter ; 3rd emarginated outer 

 web. Secondaries equal to or rather shorter than 10th primary, 

 tips rather square. Tail fairly square but outermost pair slightly 

 shorter than rest, 12 feathers, tips rather pointed. Bill rather flat 

 and broad at base, pointed at tip. A good many small fine rictal 

 and nasal bristles. Nostrils not covered by feathers. 



Soft parts. Bill dark brown, base of lower mandible yellowish- 

 brown ; legs and feet greyish-brown ; iris greyish-brown. 



CHARACTERS. No subspecies. Uniform brown of upper-parts and 

 brownish-buff of upper-breast and flanks distinguish it from other 

 British warblers of about the same size. Also wing -formula and 

 emargination of primaries differentiate it. 



FIELD -CHARACTERS. Obscure coloration, olive-brown above and 

 buffish -white below, lacking pronounced characters such as white 

 throat, black head or prominent eye-stripe, is perhaps itself best 

 clue to identity, when bird is seen, but it is even more secretive 

 and elusive than others of the genus, and would often escape notice 

 but for its song. This, a continuous sweet and mellow warble, 

 is softer, less rich and modulated, and much less varied than Black- 

 cap's full strain, although extremely difficult to distinguish from 

 song of that species when it lacks the customary modulations and 

 imitations. Alarm-note a harsh " check, check," whilst a vibrating 

 " chur-r " appears to express alarm in a lesser degree or perhaps 

 defiance. 



BREEDING-HABITS. Often nests in shrubberies and gardens, but 

 also in bushes, and sometimes in trees. Nesting-sites average 

 lower than those of Blackcap. Nest. Of grass stalks and bents, 

 rather more substantial than Blackcap's ; lined finer grasses and 

 hair. Eggs. Normally 4-5, rarely 6 ; 7 once or twice reported ; 

 on average rather larger and more glossy than Blackcap's, but not 

 distinguishable with certainty. Ground whitish to yellowish or 

 greenish, blotched and spotted with varying shades of light olive 

 and brown, and a few dark brown " brand-marks." Considerable 

 range of variation ; some eggs almost white, others clouded, 

 with yellowish blotches, etc. Average of 100 eggs, 20 X 14.7 mm. 

 Breeding -season. Usually late in May or early in June ; excep- 

 tionally by May 5. Incubation. About 13 days ; 12 (Howard) ; 

 shared by both sexes. Single brooded. 



FOOD. Chiefly insects in spring and early summer, especially 

 small caterpillars, but also small coleoptera and lepidoptera. 

 Also aphides, spiders, and occasionally worms ; in autumn berries 

 of many kinds eaten ; also fruit (currants, raspberries, etc.). 



DISTRIBUTION. England and Wales. Summer -resident. Generally 

 distributed, but rather local and not known to breed in west Cornwall 



