419 



Wyatt obtained a specimen in Wady Hamr, on the peninsula of Sinai, and found it not uncom- 

 mon amongst the retem-bushes. In North-east Africa it appears to be tolerably common during 

 migration ; but I cannot with any certainty ascertain how far south it ranges in Africa. Captain 

 Shelley (B. of Eg. p. 106) says that "it is moderately abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. 

 Its habits are not so lively as those of many of its congeners, and it may frequently be seen 

 sitting still on the topmost bough of some low tree or cotton plant." Von Heuglin (Orn. N.O. 

 Afr. p. 314) says that it is a migrant in Egypt, Nubia, and Arabia, where it is met with in 

 hedges, Arundo doncuv, tamarisks, thorn bushes standing alone both in gardens and near water, 

 in the fields, meadows, and dry almost desert places. In Lower Egypt he saw the first between 

 the 6th and 10th of March; from the 15th to the 25th they became rarer, but were generally 

 seen in pairs, often in company with the Subalpine Warbler ; and he saw it on the islands and 

 coast of the Red Sea southwards to Massowah. About the middle of April they had all dis- 

 appeared, but were seen again singly in September on the passage southward. He considers 

 that it ranges as far south as about 16° N. lat. in the Bischarin desert, Takar, and Samhar. 



It is found in North-west Africa. Major Loche speaks of it as being rare in Algeria, but 

 adds that some few pairs breed there, and he found a nest near Milianah. 



But little is known respecting the habits and song of the present species. Von Heuglin 

 (I. c.) says that it is sprightly and active in its movements, and during migration frequents bushes 

 and reeds, keeping down in the thickest portions, where it seeks carefully after insects, and is 

 hard to drive out of the thickets. I cannot find any reference to its song ; but Dr. Kruper says 

 that its call-note resembles that of the Sardinian Warbler. 



I possess one egg of Ruppell's Warbler, taken by Dr. Kruper near Smyrna, on the 16th of 

 April, 1872, and am indebted to Mr. Seebohm for the loan of a nest, also taken in that locality 

 by Dr. Kruper. The nest is tolerably well and firmly constructed and neatly formed, being cup- 

 shaped, is built of dried grass bents and the fine stems of plants, and is carefully and neatly 

 lined witli fine horse-hairs. The egg is very closely marked all over the surface of the shell, 

 which is greyish white, with small greyish brown dots, which run into each other, not being 

 clearly defined, and give the egg a greyish brown marbled appearance. It most nearly 

 resembles the eggs of the Spectacled Warbler, but is larger, measuring f§ by |f inch, and 

 rather darker. 



The specimens figured are an adult male to the right and an adult female to the left, both 

 being in breeding-plumage ; and in the background is a young bird of the year. The birds 

 described are those which are figured, and are in my collection ; particulars as to locality are 

 given above. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, tf. Smyrna, March 24th, 1871. b, ?. Smyrna, April 7th, 1871. c, 6 juv. Smyrna, July 12th, 1871 

 (Dr. Kruper). d. Syria, winter (Rogers). 



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