128 BLACK-HEADED SARDINIAN WABBLEB. 



The Black-lieacled Sardinian Warbler inhabits the south of Europe, 

 the Canary Islands, Egypt, aiid, according to Degland, Asia Minor. 

 It is also included in Captain Loche's Catalogue as inhabiting the three 

 provinces of Algeria, and is mentioned by Mr. Salvin as one of the 

 most striking species in Northern Africa. In Europe it is found along 

 the shores of the Mediterranean, from Spain to Greece. It occurs 

 especially in Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Tuscany, Dalmatia, and the 

 southern parts of France and Spain. According to Nordraann, it is 

 found in Bessarabia; and, according to Temminck, it is very common 

 in the States of the Church at Castello, Palo, and Civita-Vecchia, 

 where it breeds. Savi states that along the shores of the Mediterranean 

 it is not found further inland than from eight to nine geographical 

 miles. 



Salvadori, "Fauna d'ltalia," writes of this bird: — "We begin to find 

 the Occhio rosso in Liguria, and it is very common in Tuscany, E-ome, 

 Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia. It has never been found in Piedmont, 

 it is said to be found sometimes in Venetia, and accidentally in Modena. 

 It seems to me that along the Adriatic coast it is found lower than 

 upon the Eastern Coast of Italy. I have seen it rarely in the Marche. 

 In Malta it often passes the winter, according to Wright, but I doubt 

 the exactness of this observation, the Occhio 7'osso being stationary in 

 all the other places where it is found. In Tuscany it occurs all the 

 year round, and it is also stationary in Sardinia, where it is also 

 found further inland. It frequents the hills covered with bushes. In 

 Sardinia it often remains hidden among the impenetrable hedges of 

 fig trees. The male bird has a beautiful song in spring. In winter 

 it utters a rather sharp cry. It nests in the bushes. The nest is 

 made of grass stalks and downy plants. The eggs, four or five in 

 number, are whitish with obscure olive points, thicker and disposed 

 crown -like towards the larger extremity." 



Count Miihle informs us that it does not seem to prefer the neigh- 

 bourhood of water, but stops preferably in low woods or sloping hills, 

 where the ground is dry. It is also found in gardens, especially those 

 which are enclosed with cactus hedges, in which it builds, and upon 

 the fruit of which it feeds. Though living exclusively in the south, it 

 appears capable of bearing cold well, as Count Miihle frequently 

 observed it at Christmas apparently quite lively in the myrtle and 

 whitethorn bushes. 



Of its habits and nidification. Count Miihle further observes, that it 

 has not only perhaps the greatest share of vivacity among the members 

 of its family, but it is by far the most numerous, and hence its manners 



