415 



a specimen from Sindh, collected by Mr. Blanford in November; and Dr. Jerdon (B. of Ind. 

 ii. p. 208) says that "it is not rare in Southern India during the cold weather. I have seen 

 it at Trichinopoly, Madras, and Nellore ; also at Jaulnah and Mhow, in Central India, whence 

 it appears to extend through the upper provinces, for Blyth has received it from Delhi ; but it 

 does not extend far to the eastward, for I did not see it at Sangor, and it is unknown in Bengal. 

 It frequents groves, gardens, hedges, single trees, and even low bushes on the plains ; is very 

 active and restless, incessantly moving about from branch to branch, clinging to the twigs, 

 feeding on various insects, grubs, and caterpillars, and also on flower-buds. It is sometimes seen 

 alone, at other times two or three together." Captain Beavan also writes (Ibis, 1868, p. 73) as 

 follows :— " I procured my first specimen of this bird at Kashurghur, Maunbhoom, in March 

 1864, and it was the only one that I observed in that district ; but I found it tolerably common 

 at Umballah in October 1866, where it frequents the babool-trees (Acacia, sp.), creeping about 

 very silently, and, when disturbed, trying to sneak away into the thickest parts." 



In its habits the present species appears to have much in common with the Blackcap (Sylvia 

 atricapilla) ; and from what little I saw of it in Spain it appears, like that bird, to frequent small 

 bushy localities, groves, and gardens. I most frequently saw it in the Boyal Gardens near 

 Madrid, and there shot a pair at one shot as they were pairing on a gravel walk. Col. Irby 

 informs me that near Gibraltar they breed numerously, not only building in the bushes, but also 

 in the fir trees at some altitude from the ground. 



Dr. Th. Kriiper, who met with the Orphean Warbler in Greece, has published (J. f. O. 

 1861, p. 276) some excellent notes on its song and habits, which are rather too long to translate 

 fully, but from which I extract the following particulars. He first found it about three miles 

 from Missolonghi in a bush-covered locality, and took a nest in a broom bush, but could not 

 shoot the female, as she was too shy. In the month of May he was on an expedition with 

 Dr. Nieder after nests of Hirundo rufula ; and on passing a dense thicket they suddenly heard a 

 loud song which he describes as composed partially of Nightingale notes, but still not uttered 

 by a Nightingale, as the harsh notes of the Reed Warbler and the clear flute-like notes of the 

 Thrush were uttered in succession. His companion did not know the bird, nor could they then 

 discover what it was. In 1859 (the following year) he again visited the same locality and again 

 heard the same loud clear song ; but in spite of all his endeavours he could not succeed in 

 shooting the bird, and only caught a momentary glance of it, and thought it must be a Riippell's 

 Warbler. In 1860, on the 3rd April, he again heard the same well-known song in the Parnassus, 

 between Velitza and Dadi, and was fortunate enough to shoot two males, which proved to be 

 Orphean Warblers. He met with it commonly near the village of Solirianica, three hours' 

 journey from Calamata, and frequently heard its song, and says that it pleased him more than 

 that of any Greek bird, though he speaks very highly of the melancholy notes of Acdon galactodes. 

 In Greece he found its nest late in April, usually placed in the top of a bush and never closely 

 concealed. The nest is composed of coarse bents and plant-stems, and lined with finer bents, 

 intermixed with plant-cotton ; it is not loosely constructed, but tolerably strongly and thickly 

 built. The female appears to undertake the cares of incubation alone, without any assistance 

 from the male, who sings at a considerable distance from the nest. On Taygetus he seldom or 

 never heard the male singing in the bushes, but it was generally perched and uttered its ditty 



