212 SYLVIIDJE. 



Sylvia rueppelli, Temm. 



Sylvia riippellii, Thien. Fortpjlanz. ges. Vog. p. 187, tab. xxii. fig. 1, a, b 

 (1845-54) ; Bree, Birds Eur. ii. p. 26, pi. (1867), 2nd ed. ii. p. 119, 

 pi. (1875). 



Curruea rueppelli, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 51. fig. 13 (1855-63). 



Sylvia rueppelli, Dresser, Birds Eur. ii. p. 417 (1874) j Sharpe, Hand-l. 

 iv. p. 209 (1903). 



Sylvia rueppellii, Seebohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 12 (1881). 



None of the figures quoted above represents the egg of Eiippell's 

 Warbler correctly except the one in the second edition of Bree's 

 work *. 



The specimens in the Collection are of a very regular oval form 

 and have a small amount of gloss. They are of a greyish-white 

 colour, closely mottled and streaked, very evenly all over, with 

 greenish brown. They measure '75 by *58, *7 by '57 respectively. 



1. Greece (Tristram Coll.). Crowley Bequest. 



1. Nymphi, Asia Minor, 23rd May Seebohm Coll. 



' (T. Krilper}. 



Sylvia orpheus, Temm. 



Sylvia orphea, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Vog. p. 177, tab. xx. fig. 1, a-c 

 (1845-54) ; llewitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 133, pi. xxxv. fig. iii 

 (1856) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1859, p. 306 ; Li/ford, Ibis, 1866, p. 180 ; Tris- 

 tram, Ibis, 1867, p. 85 ; Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 212 ; Dresser, Birds 

 Eur. ii. p. 411 (1874). 



Curruea orphea, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 51. fig. 10 (1855-63). 



Sylvia orpheus, Seebohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 14 (1881) ; id. Brit. 

 Birds, i. p. 390, pi. 10 (1883) ; id. Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 200, pi. 52. 

 figs. 14, 15 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. iv. p. 209 (1903). 



The eggs of the Orphean Warbler are of a pointed oval shape and 

 generally very glossy. The ground is of an exceedingly pale greyish 

 or bluish-white colour, and the markings are of three types. In 

 one they consist of specks and small spots of lavender and olive- 

 brown, forming an ill-defined cap or zone at the larger end. In 

 another the whole shell, and especially the broader half, is covered 

 with blotches, clouds, and streaks of lavender and olive-brown. In 

 the third the two types of markings are combined, but, in addition, 

 there are numerous round spots of very deep umber-brown or black, 

 together with a few short lines and scrawls of the same colour. In 

 all three types, the markings are larger and more prominent at the 

 broad end than elsewhere. Examples measure from '72 to -91 in 

 length, and from -55 to -63 in breadth. 



6. Near Castile, Spain. Lord Lilford [P.]. 



4. Malaga, Spain, 23rd May Seebohm Coll. 



(H. Saunders). 



3. Valencia, Spain (H. .). Seebohm Coll. 



* [I have lately had the opportunity of examining a,.considerable series of 

 the eggs of this species taken by Mr. F. C. Selous in } Asia Minor. They 

 resemble the specimens in the Collection described above. E. W. 0.] 



