R O CK- THR USB— WARBLERS 5 7 



as far as the eastern coast of China. This species frequents quiet isolated rocky 



districts, and is a real bird of the rocks, never perching on trees, and when 



disturbed flying to the highest spot attainable. It avoids the society of other 



species, and is generally seen only in company with its mate, searching every 



crevice and turning over every stone for its food, which consists of insects, spiders, 



centipedes, and berries, especially currants. It is a favourite cage-bird, and has a fine 



rich song, consisting of a few loud notes, with rather unmusical interludes. During 



nesting-time the male keeps close to the nest, and often performs his graceful 



" love " flight, fluttering slowly up into the air, and coming down in regular 



curves. In colour, the cock is slaty blue, with blue edges round his wing and 



tail feathers, the female being mainly brown. The thrushes are less well 



represented in the Mediterranean area, but, like the blue rock-thrush, the European 



blackbird breeds in Asia Minor. 



Among the warblers, the blackcap breeds in Asia Minor, as does 

 Warblers. w 1 



also the whitethroat ; and the Orphean warbler (Sylvia orpheus) 



has its principal habitat in the Mediterranean countries. In the west it is reported 

 as a straggler into England, and has been met with in Belgium and more 

 frequently in Luxemburg; eastwards its range extends through Asia Minor as far 

 as Turkestan. Although perching more in the tops of trees than in the brush- 

 wood below, this bird nests in the latter. In Spain it is found in pines of 50 feet 

 in height, as well as in clumps of fig, olive, and carob trees. In Algeria and Tunis, 

 where it is very common, it seems to prefer mountain woods to plantations and 

 gardens in the plain. In August and September it migrates to central Africa and 

 India, and in the beginning of April returns to its breeding-area. Its song is 

 loud, clear, and melodious, including a succession of resounding notes, which the 

 bird, perched on an olive bough, with puffed-out throat, is never weary of repeat- 

 ing, the melody being continued even while the songster is fluttering to the 

 ground with expanded tail and quivering wings. In olive plantations, where the 

 trees are planted at wide intervals, the bird is very wary, but in the dense tops of 

 fig-trees and carobs it may be watched without difficulty. Like the others, this 

 warbler feeds on insects and fruit. It is distinguished by the black crown and 

 sides of the face, and the brown and white tail. In size it is about the same as 

 the barred warbler. 



Among other members of the group occurring in south-western Asia are 

 Bonelli's warbler (Sylvia bonellii) and the olivaceous warbler (Hypolais pallida), 

 which is common to south-western Asia, northern Africa, and southern Europe. 

 The latter resembles the garden warbler, but is much smaller, and distinguished 

 by having the first primary longer than the coverts. The olive-tree warbler 

 (H. olivetorum), inhabiting Asia Minor and Syria, is somewhat larger and darker, 

 and brownish grey instead of olive-brown above. The grasshopper-warblers are 

 represented by Savi's warbler (Locustella luscinioides), a species ranging as far 

 north as Great Britain, and eastwards into southern Russia and western Asia. 

 Resembling its relatives in habits and haunts, it generally frequents river- 

 banks covered with dense shrubs, but for its nesting-place chooses a more open 

 spot, where reeds are interspersed with other marsh-plants. Its song resembles 

 that of the grasshopper-warbler, but is sweeter and more musical, although so 



