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Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake records it from Tangier and Eastern Morocco, and says that he shot it 

 in the salt marshes at Martine in March ; and Favier states {fide Irby, /. c.) that it is not common 

 about Tangier, and only seen on passage north in March. Dr. Dohrn, who met with it on the 

 Cape-Verd Islands, says that it is there common, both in the valleys and on the hills ; and it has 

 been recorded from Madeira by Vernon-Harcourt, and from the Canaries by Mr. F. DuCanc 

 Godman. This latter gentleman writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 175) that "it is not unfrequently to be 

 seen in the neighbourhood of Orotava, where it frequents thick bushes, into which it plunges at 

 the approach of clanger. I saw it also near the Paul da Serra, in Madeira." 



In habits the present species appears to have much in common with the Common and Lesser 

 Whitethroats. It is essentially a bush-frequenting species, and affects arid uncultivated tracts 

 which are covered with scrubby bushes. Dr. Eey, who says that it closely resembles the White- 

 throat in its habits, adds that it climbs to the top of a bush and will break out into song, 

 fluttering in the air whilst singing, and then directly it drops into the bush again it disappears 

 down amongst the low brushwood ; and Mr. A. B. Brooke, who found it common in Sardinia, 

 writes (Ibis, 1873, p. 241) as follows: — "It is, I think, the most shy of all the Warblers. 

 During the months of April and May the cock bird may generally be seen perched on the 

 highest twig of cistus forty or fifty yards off; but the moment one tries to approach any nearer, 

 it flies off low over the ground, lighting again in a similar situation ; and this is repeated time 

 after time in the most tantalizing manner. I do not think all, if any, of these Warblers migrate 

 in winter, as I have seen as many early in March as at any other time of the year. Excepting 

 during the spring, they are very hard to see, always keeping in thick cover ; and unless come 

 upon unawares, they creep away through the twigs, close along the ground, without showing 

 themselves. The young birds are able to fly by the middle of May ; they have much broader 

 rufous edgings to the feathers than the old birds. Their song is short and pleasant ; and the 

 cocks often sing flying up in the air, returning and lighting again in the same spot — a habit so 

 characteristic of the common Whitethroat, to which species this bird appears to bear a remark- 

 able resemblance both in coloration and habits." Canon Tristram, however, appears to have 

 found it far less wild and shy than Mr. Brooke ; for, writing on its habits as observed by him in 

 Algeria, he says that, "affecting no concealment, it hops in front of its pursuer from bush to 

 bush, searching for small beetles among the roots of each. More than one or two are never seen 

 together; but it is impossible to ride far without detecting it." Mr. C. A. Wright also gives 

 some excellent notes on its habits as observed by him at Malta, which I transcribe (Ibis, 1864, 

 p. 68) as follows: — "It is partial to dry stony places, and selects for its nest low coarse under- 

 shrubs, such as Inula viscosa and Euphorbia dendroides, which flourish in wild rocky situations. 

 During the time of nidification its vigorous and pleasing song is heard for a considerable distance 

 around, delivered from the topmost branch of a tree, or the apex of a stone, in the vicinity of 

 its nest, over which it sometimes hovers and sings in the manner of the Blue Thrush. It has 

 another note, somewhat like that of S. melanocephala, but less powerful. It is an early breeder, 

 laying four or five eggs, and, I should think, produces two broods in the season, as I have found 

 nests with young in May and June as well as in March. In fine weather it commences singing 

 as early as January. It appears very excited on any one approaching its nest, from which it 

 never wanders far. A favourite place for it is the Soldiers' Cemetery at Floriana, before alluded 



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