D) 
ago, this gentleman says, “I am sure that this Warbler occurs at Smyrna; and both this year and 
eight years ago I observed a Warbler on some high trees in the Torbali cemetery which I believe 
to have been Drymeca gracilis. Near Beyrout it is resident and not uncommon.” Mr. Danford 
obtained several specimens in Adalia in December; and he informs me that it is common in 
marshy districts all along the southern coast of Asia Minor, and he observed it on the Giaour 
Dagh up to an altitude of 2000 feet. Canon Tristram remarks (Ibis, 1865, p. 82), the Streaked 
Wren Warbler is “one of the characteristic birds of Palestine, and, like all the others I have 
named, is a permanent resident. I had met with it in Egypt, where, however, I believe, it does 
not remain throughout the year, and it is certainly there neither so conspicuous nor so easy of 
observation in its habits as in Syria. It is here spread throughout the whole country wherever 
there is water, preferring the neighbourhood of streams, and remaining in the low plains during 
winter, but ascending to the hill-sides in spring. In its actions it has much of the character of 
the Salicarie, and even in its note also, excepting in tone, for it is without their jarring harshness. 
The little fellow will often run up a reed or tamarisk-twig just in front of your horse, and then, 
after giving forth his blithe shrill note for a few seconds, as he clings, with head erect and tail 
downwards, will suddenly rise into the air and hover overhead, warbling like the Cisticole, or as 
the Willow-Wren will sometimes, but rarely, do at home.” 
In North-east Africa Drymaca gracilis is resident and tolerably numerous. Von Heuglin 
says that it inhabits Arabia Petreea, Nubia, Takah, and the Bogos country, is resident and breeds 
in Nubia in June, July, and August, but earlier than that in Egypt; and, according to Captain 
Shelley (B. of Egypt, p. 98), it is ‘“‘abundant both in the fields and marshes of Egypt and 
Nubia, where it remains throughout the year. Its song is powerful and melodious, and is 
frequently to be heard amongst the reeds. ‘There are apparently two constant forms of this 
bird; but they hardly differ sufficiently to be separated as distinct species. I only brought home 
one specimen that exactly agreed with the plate in Rtippell’s ‘Atlas,’ while all those that I have 
seen from Lower Egypt belong to the other form; that is to say, they are darker in colour, have 
the whole of the shaft-markings more strongly pronounced, are rather larger, and have darker 
bills. In habits the former appears to be the common species in Upper Egypt and Nubia, and 
frequents the fields, while the latter is most abundant in the Delta, and usually to be met with 
in marshes or damp localities.” Mr. Blanford found it numerous amongst the low bushes on the 
plains near Zoulla, in Abyssinia. 
In Asia it ranges as far east as India. Mr. Blanford found it common in Baluchistan and 
Southern Persia, ascending to the southern portion of the highlands at Shiraz; and it probably 
inhabits South-western 'Turcomania, being, I believe, the Atraphornis platyura of Severtzoff, 
which species, he says, is found also on the western shores of the Caspian (in 1859). Mfr. A. O. 
Hume writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 195) respecting this species as follows:—‘ This bird was 
equally abundant with Drymoitpus longicaudatus, and in the same situations. It is a much 
commoner bird than is generally thought. I have it from various parts of the Doab, from the. 
Punjab, and from several localities in Rajpootana, notably the neighbourhood of the Sambhur 
Lake, where Mr. Adam informs me that it is very common. Along the banks of the Jhelum, 
the Chenab, the Sutlej, and the Indus, wherever there was any vegetation, but especially 
tamarisk-bushes, you could scarcely fail to meet with fifty specimens in an hour’s walk. Indeed, 
