82 SYLVIA 



ferruginous chestnut ; a white line from the base of the bill bordering the 

 red on the throat ; rest of the under parts white, washed with pale rufous, 

 the flanks with ashy grey ; bill dark horn, yellowish at the base of the 

 lower mandible ; legs fleshy brown ; iris brown, the edge of the eyelids 

 reddish. Culmen 0'5, wing 2'45, tail 2'15, tarsus 0'75 inch. The female lacks 

 the red on the throat, has the upper parts ashy brown and the under parts 

 buffy white, the flanks and sides of the breast washed with buffy brown. 



Hctb. Southern Europe and north Africa east to Palestine 

 and probably Persia, and west to the Canaries. 



In general habits it resembles the Whitethroat, inhabiting 

 the low bushes on the plains, grass covered plains, and grain 

 fields. Its flight is low and weak, but it moves about actively 

 amongst the bushes. Its call-note is low and harsh and its 

 song is short and hurried but melodious. Its nest is con- 

 structed of dry grass-bents, lined with fine roots, and a little 

 plantcotton and is usually placed on a low bush. Its eggs 4 

 or 5 in number are deposited in April or May and resemble 

 richly coloured varieties of the Dartford Warbler which have 

 the ground colour white. 



120. BOWMAN'S WARBLER. 

 SYLVIA MOMUS. 



Sylvia momus, Hempr. and Ehr. Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. b. b. (1829) ; 

 Dresser, ii. p. 407, pi. 63 ; S. bowmani, Tristr. Ibis., 1867, p. 85 ; 

 S. rubescens, Blanf., Ibis., 1874, p. 77 ; id. in E. Pers. ii. p. 177, 

 pi. xii. ; S. mystacea, Seebohm (nee. Menetr.), Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. 

 p. 20 (partim). 



$ ad. (Jericho). Differs from S. melanocephala in having the upper 

 parts much paler and greyer, the black crown sharply separated from the 

 grey on the hind neck ; under parts white washed with vinous pink on 

 the breast and flanks ; legs brown ; bill dusky above, pale below ; iris 

 yellow, edge of the eyelid red. Culmen 0*5, wing 2'15, tail 22 tarsus 0'75 

 inch. The female is much paler than that of S. melanocephala, has the 

 upper parts dull reddish brown with an olivaceous tinge, the under parts 

 white slightly tinged with pink, and the breast and flanks faintly washed 

 with pale vinous buff. 



Hob. Palestine, Syria, and Asia Minor ; wintering in Nubia 

 and possibly in Abyssinia. 



In habits it does not differ from S. melanocephala, but affects 

 luxuriantly wooded localities whereas that species prefers the 



