OLIVE TREE WAR15LER. 
51 
though so long unknown, does actually exist in the whole 
of the south of Europe. But Count Miihle remarks 
upon this statement that if true, it must have been 
discovered, as no country has been so well investigated 
by distinguished ornithologists as Italy. 
The Olive Tree Warbler is described by Count Miihle 
as a brisk lively bird, teasing and pecking its companions 
with as much pertinacity as its congener, S. liypolais. 
It lives only in olive plantations, is very shy and diffi- 
cult, I am happy to say, to kill. Hence specimens are 
fortunately scarce, and I have been content to give a 
copy of Count Miihle’s excellent figure. When its song 
betrays its whereabouts, it can hardly be distinguished 
from the shining olive trees, being like them, above 
greenish grey, below whitish — a beautiful adaptation, and 
one frequently met with, by which nature seems to 
protect her living creatures from the ruthless and often 
cruel and wanton destroyer. 
It moves constantly about among the trees, and care- 
fully shuns water-reeds and bushes. 
It builds in the olive trees, and fastens its nest to 
a branch, having a twig going through it. The nest is 
pretty substantial, being formed of grass and lined with 
thistle-down, which makes it warmer, while it is even 
more elegant than that of most other Warblers. 
The eggs are three or four in number, long oval, grey, 
with a rosy reddish gloss, which wears out when the 
egg is kept, and dark brown large angular spots, be- 
tween which are scattered small dots. Count Miihle 
supposes they only breed once in the year. 
Brehm, in Biidekcr’s work on European eggs, gives 
a description in all essential particulars the same as 
that above. He says ‘‘The nest is built with dry grass 
blades and panicles, with down cf plants woven through- 
