PALE WARBLER. 147 



without any shining glossy flush, covered with large black or small 

 greenish black spots. 



Brehm, in Badeker's work, remarks of this species: — '^It is an 

 inhabitant of Greece, smaller than the Olive Tree Warbler, and of a 

 duller plumage. It builds its nest of strips of inside bark and fibres 

 of roots, with thistle down, and lines it with spiders' web. It lays, 

 beginning of June, five eggs, smaller and duller in colour than those 

 of the Olive Tree Warbler. Ground colour grey white, scarcely at 

 all tinted with reddish, and marked with violet spots, and blackish 

 and brownish points and small dots, sometimes only at the base, but 

 at other times scattered over the whole esrg-.'^ 



The adult male and female have the head and all the upper parts 

 of the body pale greyish brown, with an olive tint, more indistinct 

 on the lower part of the back; a yelloAvish streak from the nostrils 

 over the eyelids; on the angle of the mouth and chin, some blackish 

 hairs. Wings and tail greyish olive brown; the third, fourth, and 

 fifth primaries have the outer web compressed or narrowed near the 

 tip. All the wing feathers finely bordered with greyish. Tail narrow, 

 and notched centrally, is greyish brown; the outer quill edged with 

 white, the second and third only on the inner web. The whole under 

 part of the body is whitish yellow, darker in front of the chest; flanks 

 pale yellow, tinged with olive brown; under tail coverts white. Beak 

 above horn-colour, below pale orange yellow; feet and claws dark 

 brown. 



The bird figured is frora a European specimen sent me by M. E. 

 Verreaux. The e^g is from my own collection, and was taken by Dr. 

 Kriiper in Greece. 



Figured by Count Mtihle, in his Monographic der Europaischen 

 Sylvien, bird, nest, and eggs, the original of which were taken by Dr. 

 Lindermayer, and are now in the museum at Ratisbon. 



A PALE variety of Hijpolais elaica, found in North Africa and 

 Spain, has been raised to sj)ecific distinction by ornithological writers. 

 I shall content myself by figuring the bird and its egg on the same 

 plates as those of H. elaica, and adding a few observations. 



In 1859, Canon Tristram, on the Ornithology of Northern Africa, 

 ("Ibis," p. 419,) remarks: — " HijJolais pallida, Gerbe, (Pale Warbler.) 

 Is not this identical with Sylvia elaica of Lindermayer? It is found 

 in the marshes about Tuggart in considerable abundance, and I have 

 taken many nests south of the Atlas." 



In the following year, 1890, the editor of the "Ibis" translates 



