BRITISH BIRDS. 2J 



Male : upper plumage dull olive-green, with a distinct 

 yellowish tinge, especially on rump, and with a pale yellow 

 streak over the eye and ear-coverts ; wing-feathers olive- 

 brown, with yellowish-green margins ; tail dull brown ; 

 whole lower plumage very pale sulphur yellow ; under 

 wing-coverts yellow ; bill brown ; iris hazel ; tarsi pale 

 brown. Length almost 5*00 ; wing 2'6o. Female iden- 

 tical. In autumn yellow tinge is more pronounced. 



Very common, arriving early in April and leaving late in 

 September, known exceptionally to remain through winter 

 in some districts. Frequents similar places to Chiffchaff, 

 but is less restricted to woodlands ; nest also placed in 

 similar situations, but rarely on ground, and often 1 8 or 20 

 inches from it in low bushes, etc.; of similar shape, but 

 usually constructed only of diy grasses externally, and 

 lined with a quantity of feathers. 



First eggs, 5 to 8, laid in May; white, marked in similar 

 fashion to ChiffchafPs, but with much paler red, while 

 shell is slightly transparent and never of an opaque white 

 like that of ChiffchafPs eggs ; size '63 by -47. A second 

 brood is hatched. The simple little song is sweet and 

 lively ; the bird usually frequents bushes or the lower 

 branches of trees ; feeds chiefly upon aphides and other 

 insects. 



34. Phylloseopus sibilatrix (Bech.). 



WOOD- WARBLER. 



Hab. Temperate Europe ; north to Scotland, Germany, 

 and South of Sweden, south-east to Turkey, South 

 Russia, and the Caspian ; unknown in the south-west. In 

 winter south to Africa. 



Male : upper plumage yellowish-green, with a broad 

 brimstone-yellow streak above and behind eye ; wing and 

 tail-quills slate with yellowish edges ; throat and breast 



