76 ICTERINE WARBLER. 
and South-eastern Europe as far as Malta, it is only known on its 
migrations to and from Africa—where it winters down to about 25° 
S. lat. ; but in Sicily and on the mainland of Italy, where it arrives 
in April, it remains to breed; though Sardinia and Corsica are 
seldom, if ever, visited. In Central and Northern Europe, up to 
the Baltic provinces, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Belgium, it 
is common from the middle of May until autumn. In the north- 
east of France it is very abundant, and extends westward as far 
as the valley of the Seine, in and beyond which is found the next 
species, H. polyglotta, often confounded with our bird both as 
regards specimens and nomenclature. The Icterine Warbler appears 
to be rare in Savoy and unknown to the westward. Both species 
meet in Tunisia. 
The nest, generally placed in the fork of a small tree or lilac bush 
in a slightly moist locality, is a firm, deep, and often beautiful 
structure of dry grass, wool, thistle-down, lichens &c., lined with 
horsehair. The 4-5 eggs are dull rose-pink, blotched, and some- 
times scrolled with dark purplish-brown: average measurements 
*72 by *55 in. In Holland incubation begins about the end of May 
or early in June, almost every garden containing a pair; and the 
presence of an intruder of his own, or any other small species, is 
promptly resented by the male. The song has been much admired 
for its variety, and its supposed imitation of the notes of other 
birds—whence the German name Sfottvogel or Mocking-bird ; but 
Seebohm, who was gifted with a fine ear for notes and who had 
enjoyed considerable experience, saw no reason for supposing the 
bird to be more of a mocker than the Song-Thrush or the Night- 
ingale. When the nest is approached a soft pc-ti-w-y is uttered ; 
the alarm-note being an angry /eh, tek, tek. The food of the Icterine 
Warbler is principally insects and small snails, but in summer and 
autumn fruit and berries are freely consumed. 
The adult male in spring has the lores and a streak over the eye 
yellow ; upper parts greyish-olive ; quills brown, broadly margined 
and tipped with buffish-white on the secondaries, bastard primary 
very small; tail brown, slightly tipped with buff; under parts lemon- 
yellow ; bill, brown above, yellowish below; legs and feet slate- 
brown. Length 5:2 in.; wing 3:1 in. The female is a trifle paler ; 
the young bird is browner, with wider pale margins to the quills. 
