404 



Von der Miihle speaks of it as being very common in bush-covered localities near the sea- 

 shore ; and Lindermayer says that it inhabits the dry bush-covered portions of the mountains, 

 as also the dry river-beds, in which latter localities it is usually found in company with the 

 Subalpine Warbler. In Southern Germany it has been met with in the coastal districts ; and 

 the Eitter von Tschusi-Schmidhofen informs me that it has been observed near Trieste during 

 the autumn migration, and that A. E. Brehrn met with it near Pola. Professor von Nordmann 

 says that it is found along the banks of the Danube in Bessarabia ; and I have several specimens 

 obtained not far from Constantinople. According to Herr Goebel (J. f. O. 1870, p. 451) it 

 breeds in the Uman district, in Southern Russia, but is one of the rarest species found there. 

 It is, he says, found in the Government of Kieff, and there is a specimen in the Kieff Museum. 

 It occurs in Asia Minor, and, according to Dr. Th. Kriiper (J. f. O. 1869, p. 37), is found every- 

 where near Smyrna in winter, but on the approach of spring they all disappear, and he never 

 saw any during the summer. In Palestine, however, according to Canon Tristram it is resident 

 and generally distributed ; and Mr. Wyatt met with it in the oasis of Feiran, in the Sinaitic 

 peninsula, where it frequents the tamarisks. In North-east Africa it is common. Captain 

 Shelley says (B. of Egypt, p. 107) that it is abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia, and more 

 especially so on the islands of the First Cataract. Von lieuglin says (/. c.) that he met with it, 

 in North-east Africa, only during migration, during the autumn and winter, and usually in pairs ; 

 he observed it in Arabia Petraea, Egypt, Nubia, the Baiuda and Bischarin deserts, and at Aden 

 in December; and Mr. Blanford obtained it in Abyssinia, where he says he shot a single specimen 

 at Rairo, in Habab. In North-western Africa it is common during the winter season, and, 

 according to Mr. Taczanowski (J. f. O. 1871, p. 01), is very numerous in Algeria, where it is 

 found near the sea-shore as well as in the desert. Mr. J. II. Gurney, jun., informs me that he 

 found it common in the Algerian Atlas in winter. Mr. Tyrwhitt-Diake records it as very 

 numerous in Tangier and Eastern Morocco; and Lord Lilford met with it at Tunis. It 

 inhabits the Canaries. Mr. Godman met with it at Palma and in Gran Canary ; and Webb 

 and Berthelot found it at Teneriffe. Dr. Carl Bolle says (J. f. O. 1857, p. 282) that he did 

 not find it common in Teneriffe, and never saw it in Canaria, though it certainly occurs there. 

 It is said to inhabit the island of Ferro ; but he does not believe that it has ever occurred at 

 Madeira. 



In its habits the Sardinian Warbler is exceedingly restless and active, more so almost than 

 any of its allies. It is shy and retiring, the female, however, much more so than the male, and 

 at the least approach of danger drops down into the thick undergrowth, where it is difficult to 

 see as it creeps through the boughs with great facility and speed. It frequents very dry arid 

 localities, according to Colonel Irby living in Southern Spain during the hot season in places 

 where there is scarcely any water, and appears to require very little, if any, water. Mr. Howard 

 Saunders informs me that, as far as his experience goes, " its favourite haunts are the wild bush- 

 covered plains and open ravines at the foot of the mountains; but it does not ascend these latter," 

 nor did he ever observe it in the moister and more cultivated districts. Dr. E. Rey (I. c.) refers 

 especially to the great shyness of the females, and says that out of sixteen specimens he shot at 

 Barreiro, in Portugal, only one was a female, though in every instance he found a male and 

 a female together: he found them most numerous in the hedges bordering the fields, which 



