518 



extremely common there. In France, according to Degland and Gerbe, it is found in tolerable 

 abundance near Paris and Dieppe, and is common in the southern portion of that country. It 

 appears now and then in Northern France during the seasons of migration, but seems to be 

 there generally replaced by the Icterine Warbler. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in 

 his list of the birds of Portugal, without, however, giving any further details. In Spain it is 

 extremely common, and breeds there. Mr. Howard Saunders speaks of it as being extremely 

 numerous during the summer in Southern Spain ; and Col. Irby says that it arrives in Spain 

 about the 21st April, and nests in the cork-wood and vicinity of Gibraltar in numbers. How 

 far its range extends to the eastward is difficult to determine, as it has been very generally 

 confused with Hypolais icterina. Bailly says that it arrives in Savoy early in May and leaves 

 early in the autumn ; but I am uncertain as to whether he may not refer to H. icterina and not 

 the present species. I have examined a specimen from Genoa, in the collection of Mr. Howard 

 Saunders; and Salvadori states that it frequents similar localities in Italy to those inhabited 

 by II. icterina. Doderlein records two instances of its capture in Sicily — one by himself near 

 Mazzara, and the other near Girgenti; and further search would probably result in the 

 discovery of more. The Bitter von Tschusi Schmidhofen informs me that there is a specimen 

 in the Vienna Museum which was found dead in a plantation near Olmiitz on the 3rd of July, 

 1865, which appears to be the most eastern locality whence it has been recorded, and, so far as 

 I can ascertain, is the only instance of its having been met with in Germany. 



It is found in Northern Africa only on the western side of the continent, where it is 

 common, and breeds in Algeria. Canon Tristram met with it in the Sahara; and Mr. O. 

 Salvin found it numerously about the Chemora, where it was breeding in the tamarisk-trees. 

 I have a specimen from Tangier, where it is said to be common. In the winter it is found far 

 south in Africa ; and there is a specimen in the British Museum, from Gambia, undoubtedly 

 referable to the present species. 



In its habits the present species appears to differ but slightly from the Icterine Warbler, 

 to which species it is very closely allied. It frequents wooded localities near water, and wet, 

 marshy, bush-covered districts, as well as gardens and well-cultivated dry places. Its song is 

 sweet and varied, resembling that of the Icterine Warbler. Judging from the dates when the 

 eggs I possess were taken, it appears to breed rather late ; for several clutches of eggs in my 

 collection, obtained near Malaga, in Spain, were all taken in the latter half of June. The 

 nests, which appear always to be placed in the fork of a branch of some tree or bush, are 

 slightly smaller than that of H. icterina, cup-shaped, and very neatly and compactly built of 

 fine grass-stems, some in the outside being rather coarser than the rest, and interwoven with 

 thistle-down, the interior being composed of the finest materials without any extra lining. 



The eggs, four in number, are smaller than those of H. icterina, pale fleshy pink in colour, 

 spotted, and to some slight extent streaked with purplish black. In size they average from 

 ££ by | inch to f$ by f-§ inch. 



The specimen figured and described is in my own collection, and was obtained in Spain. 



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



