THE GARDEN WARBLER. 65 



known as the far-famed " beccafico " of the 

 Italians, says that as many as a hundred 

 dozen are sometimes brought in at a time.' 

 Lord Lilford has once found this bird nesting 

 in Epirus." The late Mr. C. J. Andersson met 

 with it as far south as Damaraland, South-west 

 Africa. In habits the Garden Warbler closely 

 resembles other members of the genus. Shy 

 and restless, it differs from the Blackcap in its 

 inferior powers of song, and from the White- 

 throats in being less garrulous. It is neverthe- 

 less a beautiful songster, and will sometimes sit 

 in the midst of a thick bush in the evening, like 

 a Nightingale, and maintain a continued warble 

 for several minutes without a pause. Its song 

 is somewhat irregular, both in time and tune, 

 but it is wonderfully mellow for so small a bird. 

 It sometimes commences its song like a Black- 

 bird, but always ends with its own. In some of 

 its actions it resembles the Willow Wren, for it 

 seems constantly in motion, hopping from bough 



' " Ibis," 1864, p. 67. 2 « ibis^" j86o, p. 231. 

 F 



