Collection of Birds from the Mediteiraneaji. 151 



to the westward off Crete on the 29th April. The stomach 

 was empty. Two Wood-Warblers, evidently on migration, 

 seen at Crete and Athens a few days previously, were 

 possibly of the same race. 



[Although I can find no trace of a sheath on any of the 

 feathers, the plumage of the bird is so perfect that it would 

 seem to have just undergone a complete moult. — H. F. TF.] 



Cettia cetti cetti (Marm.). 



Egypt, Malta. — Cetti's Warbler was not met with. 



Crete, — Plentiful resident, frequenting the watered gullies 

 at low elevations near the sea-coast. A specimen shot on 

 28th April was just about to lay eggs. 



Plutea. — Plentiful resident winter and summer. 



Sicily. — Plentiful in the Cavas and Lentini marshes, 

 always near water. 26th May, young flew from a nest; 

 28th May, four fresh eggs ; 2nd June, three fresh eggs. 



There seem to be three distinct sounds which Cetti's 

 Warbler makes : 



(1) The stridulous cry, emitted both in winter and in the 

 breeding-time, most frequently in the latter. This cry does 

 not necessarily imply that the bird has been disturbed, 

 though it is often uttered on the approach of an intruder. 

 It may be syllabled whcech-a-wheech-a-wheech-a-wheech, 

 and was constantly heard throughout February as well as in 

 the breeding-season. 



(2) The song, uttered only in the breeding-season, like a 

 Kightingale's song cut short. 



(3) The alarm, note, uttered at all seasons when alarmed. 

 A succession of single " tchuk's " very like the alarm-note 

 of Savins Warbler in the breeding-season. 



Although as a rule very shy and skulking, but withal 

 inquisitive and excitable, when agitated over its nest or 

 young, Cetti's Warbler becomes, like Savi''s Warbler, quite 

 fearless, and will approach within a few feet of the intruder. 



No migratory movement was ever detected, which, con- 

 sidering the feeble flight and rounded wings of the bird, is 

 not surprising. 



[Four specimens from Crete are typical. The stomachs 



