THE ORPHEAN WARBLER. 55 



known to him. In Spain it has been observed 

 as a summer visitant both by Lord Lilford and 

 Mr. Howard Saunders. The last-named natu- 

 rahst says ("Ibis," 1871, p. 212) that it nests 

 there in May, and refers to the frequent in- 

 equaHty in the size of eggs in the same nest — a 

 peculiarity which does not seem to have been 

 previously noticed. In Portugal it appears to 

 be only an occasional summer visitant, appa- 

 rently not straying so far westward as a rule 

 I am not aware that it has been found further 

 to the south-west than Morocco. Mr. Tyrwhitl 

 Drake met with it in this country in 1867, but 

 considered it rare. 



According to the observations of Von der 

 Miihle, in his " Monograph of the European 

 Sylviidcel' and of Captain Beavan on various 

 birds in India (" Ibis," 1868, pp. 73, 74), there 

 is good reason to believe that both the 

 Blackcap and the Orphean Warbler com- 

 pletely lose the black crown in winter, and 

 reassume it at the approach of the breeding 

 season. 



