156 BONELLFS WABBLUB. 



Warbler is found generally inhabiting wood-covered hills, preferring 

 alders, larches, and hazels, to all other trees. Like the other "Willo-w 

 Wrens, it is also found frequently in gardens, and I have no doubt 

 like them feasts upon the fruit. It is also often found on the banks 

 of rivers. 



It is a very cautious bird, and easily frightened, and then is very 

 shy; but if unmolested it will approach dwelling-houses fearlessly. 



The song is described by Count Miihle as the most monotonous of 

 all the Laubsangers. It builds its nest in inore exposed situations 

 than its congeners, and may be easily found in dry grass meadows. 

 It is especially partial to tall thick ferns, as well as long grass. 



Malherbe's statement that it builds in poplars and other thickly- 

 foliaged trees, is I think with good reason, denied by Count Miihle, 

 as being quite different to the habits of the other Willow Warblers. 



Thienemann says the nests are woven and bound together with dry 

 twigs, intermixed with Acinos vulgaris, and lined with dry grasses, 

 moss, and oak leaves, the entrance wide open. It contains four or 

 five eggs, the ground colour in most of which inclines to brownish; 

 they are also a brownish grey and a reddish brown, delicately spotted, 

 and in many specimens forming a wreath round the greater end. 



Brehm, in Badeker's magnificent work upon the Eggs of European 

 Birds, says of this species, " It nests in barren places, which are 

 scattered over with stones, leaving hollows in the ground, which are 

 overgrown with plants, by which the nest is concealed, the stalks and 

 blades of the growing grass being interwoven with the nest. The 

 eggs are of a white ground, with small brown red spots and dots 

 thickly scattered, and of light or dark colour, wreathing like that of 

 S. sihilatrix." 



Temminck's account differs little from this. 



Degland says the '' Pouillot Bonelli nests on the ground in the 

 middle of the grass, or at the bottom of underwood; its nest is similar 

 to that of S. sibilatrix, and it contains from four to six eggs — short, 

 white or reddish white, with reddish brovvu spots very numerous, and 

 thickly scattered, especially at the larger end. Long diameter fifteen, 

 shorter twelve millemetres." 



The adult male has the head, nape, and upper part of the back 

 bright yellowish olive green; the wing feathers and tail are black 

 grey; lesser wing coverts bordered with greyish yellow green; wings 

 brown, with the primaries bordered with bright yellow green; cheeks 

 grey; from the nostrils a clear white stripe over the eyes. The whole 

 of the under parts of the body clear shining white, washed with 

 greyish on the crop, and yellow on the flanks; tail of a lighter 



