220 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



exceptionally the case. Its northern range in Russia is coin 

 cident with that of the birch region, according to Dr. Pleske, 

 who says that it has twice been noted from the Caucasus, and 

 Mr. Seebohm has received a specimen from Lenkoran. It 

 passes through Asia Minor, Greece, and North-east Africa in 

 migration, making its way to South Africa and Damara Land, 

 where it passes the winter. H. polyglotta preserves its western 

 character as a species even in the winter season, and migrates 

 to Senegambia. 



Habits. These are well described by Mr. Seebohm, who, 

 however, does not think much of the bird's song, nor will he 

 allow that it deserves the name often given to it of the " Melo- 

 dious Willow- Warbler." In Germany it is called " Spottvogel," 

 or "Mocking Bird," from its supposed adaptation of the notes 

 of other birds. Mr. Seebohm says : <f Perhaps, on the whole, 

 the song of the Common Tree- Warbler comes nearest to that 

 of the Marsh -Warbler; but it often reminds you strongly of the 

 song of the Sedge-Warbler. At other times you may trace a 

 fancied resemblance to the chirping of the Sparrow, the scold- 

 ing of the Whitethroat, or the scream of the Swift; but all rattled 

 off at such a rate, one after the other, and repeated so often, 

 that it arrests the attention at once. I have heard it in widely- 

 different localities, and very often ; but in spite of its wonderful 

 variety, I think the song is original, and can see no reason for 

 supposing the bird to be more of a ' mocking ' bird than a Song- 

 Thrush or a Nightingale. Some writers have compared the song 

 to that of the Nightingale ; but in quality of voice, in the rich- 

 ness of its tones, and the melody of its notes, it is immeasurably 

 inferior to that bird, and the best one can say of its voice is 

 that it is a very high soprano. If it were a common bird, one 

 might say that it screamed, or even shrieked : the song does 

 not fill the ear like that of the Nightingale." 



" The Common Tree- Warbler is essentially a lover of isolated 

 trees. He does not seem to care very much for the thick 

 forest, but delights to sing his song and build his nest in the 

 trees in the gardens and the hedgerows. Like the Robin, he 

 seems to like to be close to the houses ; and, like that bird, he 

 has the reputation of being very quarrelsome and very jealous 

 of the approach of any other of his species on his special do- 



