Collection of Birds from the Mediterranean. 149 



Phylloscopus collybita collybita (Vieill.). 



The ChifFcliaff was met with all over the Mediterranean 

 iu fair numbers as a winter visitor only. 



Egypt, — No ChiffchaflFs seemed to have arrived by the 

 end of September, and it was not until October was well 

 advanced and Willow-Wrens had, at last, begun to decrease, 

 that the passage of the former began to be pronounced. 

 On 25th October a note was made that of the Phylloscopi 

 present about two-thirds were ChiffchafFs and oue-third 

 Willow-Wrens, and on 28tli October that all observed were, 

 so far as could be seen, Chiffchaffs. The passage proceeded 

 steadily through November, the numbers never approaching 

 those of the Willow- Wren, and the species did not appear 

 to have settled down to winter proportions until mid- 

 December. Even so late as 20th December, at 10 a.m., when 

 we were carrying out target-practice fifteen miles off Rosetta, 

 a ChifEchaflF, apparently a belated migrant, came on board. 

 Early on 4th December several ChiffchafFs were singing 

 " chilf-chafty^ the only occasion on which the song was ever 

 heard. Curiously enough, the morning was not sunny. 



Crete. — Last example noted 29th March. 



Greece, Sicily, Italy, Sardinia, Gibraltar. — This species 

 occurred in winter in fair numbers. Malta. — The same may 

 be said in this case, the last having been noted on 17th March. 



In its winter-haunts the ChiffchafF is shy and unobtrusive, 

 quietly playing about the foliage, and now and then uttering 

 its low call-note " swee-eet.'^ 



[All the ChifFchaffs obtained belong to the typical form. 

 They are as follows : — Port Said, Dec. 23; Crete, Feb. 10; 

 Greece, Dec. 3, 7, and 17 j Malta, Nov. 19.— /f. F. IF.] 



Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus (L.). 



The Willow- Wren was met with from east to west of the 

 Mediterranean as a migrant only, but nowhere in winter. 



Egypt. — The number that passed through Port Said on 

 migration was astonishing. On 23rd August the passage 

 was in full progress, and the trees and bushes were full of 

 Willow. Wrens. This continued almost without fluctuation 



