Collection of Birds from the Mediterranean. 157 



Nest-building started about 25th April. The ship left on 

 28th April, too early for eggs. In all its habits and in 

 general appearance Rueppell's Warbler at once reminded 

 me of a large, comparatively short and stiff-tailed Sardinian 

 Warbler. The song is like that of the Sardinian Warbler 

 but fuller and more musical ; it is less wheezy, and, as in that 

 species and many of the other Sylviinse, is frequently uttered 

 on the wing in conjunction with the butterfly-like movement 

 of the wings during the nuptial season. The alarm-note is 

 also similar to the continuous '' clock-winding rattle " of the 

 Sardinian Warbler, but is considerably harsher and louder, 

 more chirpy and less wheezy, reminding one of two 

 rather large pebbles being knocked together rapidly, and is 

 occasionally terminated by a musical ^'pit-pit." 



The birds frequented the scrub on the dry ground, and did 

 not seem partial to the moist places with which the scrub on 

 the hillside was interspersed. 



Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala (Gm.). 



From Egyptian records it appears that there is undoubtedly 

 some migratory movement among the individuals of this 

 species, but unquestionably the majority are resident, and 

 observations in Crete, Greece, Malta, Sardinia, and Spain, 

 where the species is quite plentiful, did not indicate percep- 

 tible alteration of numbers by migration. In structure the 

 bird is ill-adapted for long flights. 



The stomach of one bird (Malta, January 13th) contained 

 grass-seeds and green " weed.^' 



Egiji^t. — Winter visitor only. First observed 3rd No- 

 vember, though subsequently single birds were seen now 

 and again. A male Sardinian Warbler was met with at 

 sea ten miles north of Port Said on 21st November. 



Crete. — Resident, breeds. First nest commenced 7th 

 March, first egg 20th March. 



Sicily. — Curiously not one individual was seen in the 

 Cavas between 20th April and 6th May, although seemingly 

 in every respect a suitable locality. Possibly the abundance 

 of Subalpine and Blackcap Warblers there may afford an 

 explanation. 



