142 OLIVE TREE WARBLER. 



quarters, breadth of it at angle four lines; middle toe five lines, claw of 

 the same two lines and a half; hind toe three lines and a quarter, claw 

 of the same three lines. — Schlegel. 



This elegant species "was discovered by our lamented countryman 

 Strickland, in the Island of Zante, in 1836, and described and figured 

 in Gould's "Birds of Europe." 



Count Miihle, in his monograph of the European Syhiidce, has 

 placed this bird, S. elaica, and *S'. hypolais, (Latham's Pettychaps,) in 

 a distinct section, namely, that of Polyglottce, or Mockers, in conse- 

 quence of the notes of some other birds discovered in their song. 

 Temminck placed S. olivetorum among his Kiverains, and Keyserling 

 and Blasius, and Schlegel, among the Salicaria. But Count Miihle 

 remarks that it must be without hesitation placed near S. hypolais, 

 the Hippolais polyglottce of Selys-'Longchamps, Gerbe, and Degland, 

 (Latham's Pettychaps,) and consequently included in this group, 

 forming, with S. icterina, the genus Hippolais of Gerbe. 



Sylvia olivetorum has at present only one European locality, that of 

 the olive plantations of Greece, where, however, it appears to be by 

 no means rare. In the second volume of Naumannia, part 1, page 77, 

 it is included in a list of birds observed in the neighbourhood of 

 Tangiers, and is said to breed there. According to Lindermayer it 

 appears in Greece at the end of April and the beginning of May, 

 and leaves again early in August. It has been conjectured by 

 Baldamus, in "Naumannia," part 2 for 1853, page 166, that this 

 bird, though so long unknown, does actually exist in the whole of 

 the south of Europe. But Count Miihle remarks upon this statement 

 that if true, it must have been discovered, as no country has been 

 so well investigated by distinguished ornithologists as Italy. 



Canon Tristram thus announces his capture of this bird near Lake 

 Halloula, in North Africa, ("Ibis," 1860, p. 156):— " However, on the 

 way I shot Sylvia olivetorum. There were several birds, and I after- 

 wards obtained a nest. The eggs are exactly like those of S. pallida 

 or S. elaica in colour, but larger, and the nest is much inferior in 

 neatness. A month after I took a nest of this bird placed near tlie 

 ground in brushwood. It appears to select a lower site for nidification 

 than its congeners." 



The Olive Tree Warbler is described by Count Miihle as a brisk lively 

 bird, teasing and pecking its companions with as much jDertinacity as its 

 congener, S. hypolais. It lives only in olive plantations, is very shy and 

 difficult, I am happy to say, to kill. Hence specimens are fortunately 

 scarce, and I have been content to give a copy of Count Miihle's excellent 



