25G 



CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



THE ASHY GARDEN WARBLER. 



The Ashy Garden Warbler {Hypolais cinerescens) is entirely greyish green on the upper portion, 

 and whitish green on the under side of the body. The eye is dark brown ; the upper mandible horn 

 colour, and the lower one yellowish grey ; the legs horn grey. The length of the bird is five inches 

 and seven lines, and the breadth about seven inches and ten lines ; the wing measures two inches 

 and seven lines, and the tail two inches and three lines ; the female is about one line shorter, and 

 from two to four lines narrower than her mate. This species inhabits Southern Europe, and is 

 especially numerous in the highly cultivated districts of Spain ; there, as elsewhere, it frequents vine- 

 yards, olive plantations, and fruit gardens, and ventures freely into the immediate vicinity of the 





THE CHIFF-CHAFF [Hippolais ru/a). 



towns and villages ; it appears entirely to avoid mountiin ranges and rocky localities. Unlike the 

 Willow Wren, the Ashy Garden Warbler is socially disposed towards those of its own race, and it is 

 not uncommon to see the pairs not only living close to each other in the utmost harmony, but 

 building upon the same tree. Such as we have observed seemed entirely without fear of men, for 

 we have frequently known them to make their nests close to crowded thoroughfares, in small gardens, 

 and, in one instance, in close vicinity to a public summer-house in Valencia, that was usually 

 illuminated with lanterns until after midnight. The movements of these birds are similar to those 

 of the species last described, but their song, although monotonous and without any particular beauty, 

 somewhat resembles that of the Sedge Warblers. The breeding season commences about the first 

 week in June, and continues until the end of July. The nest, which is built on a high tree and 

 fastened firmly between two upright and parallel twigs, has a thick outer wall of grass, wool, stalks, 

 and similar materials woven together very compactly ; the interior is usually about two inches deep, 



