THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 393 
Ali, 18-9-19 ; Kut, 1-10-18. ¢, Baghdad, 13-9-17; Amara, 11-4-19 (two) (L 
Home); @ @, Basra, 18-3-18: d, 19-3-18. (C. B. T.). 
Few birds caused so much trouble in identification to observers as this little 
Warbler which was variously reported, besides under its correct name, as “‘ White- 
throat,” S. melanocephala, S. momus and ‘‘ Subalpine Warbler” ! However of 
the last three there are no specimens in the collections and no good evidence 
that they occur and in two of the cases the specimens sent turned out to be 
mystacea ! 
The males of mystacea have the dark crown less well defined and not so black 
as in momus, a longer wing 60-63°5 mm. and the second primary is equal to 
the sixth or seventh or more often between these two, whereas in momus it is 
between the seventh and eighth ; moreover mystacea has the breast vinous pink, 
varying in amount, so that in worn birds but a faint tint shews. The females 
(besides the wing differences) are much less warm brown above than female mo- 
mus and not so pure white below (the flanks especially being tinged with vin- 
ous buff). The adult male in winter is like the spring male and some even more 
vinous on the breast (? older birds), but the upperparts have brown edgings to 
the feathers ; the young birds in first winter plumage in both sexes much re- 
semble the female, the males apparently having no strong vinous wash. 
Legs pale brown to flesh yellow ; bill steel grey. Iris yellow brown, orbicular 
dull brick colour in male, pale buff in female. 
Zarudny says Sylvia momus semenovi winters commonly in the Karun district 
and breeds in numbers in the Zagros ! I do not know this bird of Zarudny’s and 
if common it is curious that no one obtained any, but his description sounds very 
like the first winter mystacea except that his measurements run smaller, viz., 
51-6] mm. 
Mr. Jourdain (Ibis, 1920, p. 310) has recorded eggs of S. momus from Mesopo- 
tamia ; as recorded above many have mixed Ménétriés’ Warbler up with other 
species, and there is no definite evidence so far that S. momus occurs at all. 
95. Eastern Rufous Warbler or Grey Backed Warbler. 
Agrobates galactotes. ‘“Humurra.’’ 
(1) Agrobates ygalactotes familiaris, Ménétr. (Cat. Rais. Cauc., p. 32, 
1832—Kur, S. Caucasus). 
(2) Agrobates yalactotes syriaca, Hemp. and Ebr. (Symb. Phys. foi. 
b. b., 1833—Beirut in Syria). 
This species is a very common summer visitor to Mesopotamia and must be 
familiar to the least observant. It arrives at the end of April and early May, the 
earliest date recorded being April 17th, and though some leave as early as the 
end of August, most depart again during September or early in October. Itisa 
common garden bird and occurs in suitable places throughout the country. It 
starts to breed soon after arrival,—as early as the end of April according to Tom- 
linson, but most nests may be looked for about the middle of May, while eggs 
are recorded in June and July, so that probably it is double brooded. The site 
often chosen is a young palm three or four feet up, or in rubbish against the 
trunk of a large palm, but also fairly close to the ground, in or under bushes, in 
walls or sides of irrigation canals ; the eggs are four, often five, in number and 
vary very much in type. The nest is a fairly solid structure made of grass, etc., 
and pieces of snake skin are recorded as being utilized in the lining, as well as 
hair and jute string. 
This familiar little bird is said to be a beautiful whistler ; Magrath writes of 
it “it was quite delightful the way it utilized the ropes of one’s tent as a perch 
from which to utter its pretty little song, often darting into the tent to take an 
insect from the floor between ‘the performances ; as an accompaniment to the 
song the tail is flirted, expanded and elevated sometimes almost touching the 
back of the head”, Fourteen specimens examined (April to September) very 
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