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In Asia Minor it appears to be tolerably common. Dr. Kruper says that he observed the 

 first near Smyrna in 1863 on the 19th March, in 1864 on the same date, in 1871 on the 23rd 

 March, and in 1872 on the 16th March. Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine, where, he 

 says (Ibis, 1867, p. 83), it " arrived about the 1st April, and rapidly dispersed to its various 

 haunts, remaining to breed, which no other member of the group did;" and he adds that it 

 seems to affect the wooded hills, such as Carmel, Tabor, and the lower slopes of Hermon, in 

 preference to the low grounds, where he did not meet with it. Mr. C. W. Wyatt observed it on 

 the peninsula of Sinai, where, as a spring migrant, he first noticed it on the 10th March. 

 Captain Shelley says that it is very abundant, especially in Upper Egypt, during the spring and 

 autumn; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that in Egypt it is a spring migrant, and not 

 met with in the winter. He first obtained it at the most southern point he reached, Philse, on 

 the 24th March ; and he remarks that examples he obtained in Egypt are rather lighter on the 

 back than others in his collection from Spain. Von Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 300) that 

 it appears in Egypt in August and September, and returns to Europe in April. He met with it 

 in Southern Nubia. In North-west Africa it is also a winter visitant, and appears to be common 

 in Algeria. Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 418) that it is " abundant in the oases in 

 winter, but retiring northwards at the end of February. The Chiffchaff especially assembles in 

 thousands in the palm-groves of El Aghouat. The Arab name for all three species is 'MiUil.'" 

 Favier says that it is found during passage near Tangier in company with Chiffchaffs and Willow- 

 Wrens, but is not so numerous as these. It returns in September again from the north. It 

 appears also to inhabit Senegal, as a specimen from there is stated to be in the Berlin Museum. 



In habits the present species is said to have much in common with the other species of 

 PhyUoscopus, but affects elevated places, and is generally found in the woods on the hill-sides, 

 usually frequenting the southern slopes. Its food it obtains in the trees ; and, like its allies, it 

 is strictly insectivorous, feeding on small insects and their larva?, which it picks off the leaves 

 or searches for amongst the bushes ; but it seldom appears to obtain its food on the ground. Its 

 flight closely resembles that of its near allies ; but it differs considerably both in its call-note and 

 in its song. I have met with this Warbler on but few occasions, and am unable to give par- 

 ticulars of its song and call-note from memory, and therefore translate the following notes pub- 

 lished by Naumann (Naturg. Vog. Deutschl. xiii. p. 423), viz. : — " In habits it resembles the 

 other small Warblers, and is as quick in its movements, and as untiring as well as agile in 

 creeping through the foliage. It creeps through in a rather bent position, the feathers drawn 

 in, and is exceedingly quick and nimble. During damp weather, or when it has difficulty in 

 finding the small insects on which it feeds, it puffs its feathers out and is quieter, but is all the 

 more active and cheery during fine and warm weather. Only the male, when singing or calling, 

 is to be seen on the summit of a tree or on the outside branches, and only for a short time ; the 

 female is more secretive, and in the vicinity of the nest or young even shyer than many other 

 birds. Should any one approach this bird it gets suspicious, and exceedingly shy if it finds itself 

 followed, and herein is different from many of its allies. It seldom descends to the ground ; and 

 when there it hops heavily about, and never remains there long, usually only to collect materials 

 for its nest, &c. ; but the female undertakes this labour more than the male. Its flight resembles 

 that of its allies, is light and swift — when protracted, in a succession of bow-shaped lines; and 



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