532 



ferent times received a considerable number of specimens of the bird as well as its nest and eggs 

 from the neighbourhood of Malaga. Dr. A. E. Brehm, who described it as new under the name 

 of Hypolais arigonis, writes (I. c.) that he found it common in the province of Valencia, and 

 extremely numerous near Jativa de San Felipe. It breeds in Spain, but leaves the country 

 after the breeding-season. Where it is met with it almost entirely replaces Hypolais polyglotta , 

 Major Irby informs me that he did not find it at all common in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, 

 but that it is common in Morocco on the African side. Loche says that it is found near Behobie, 

 on the frontiers of Spain, and he obtained a specimen near Marseilles, which is the most eastern 

 locality in Europe whence I find it recorded. It is found in North-western Africa. Loche 

 writes that it is " very common in Algeria, especially in the region near the coast, from the 

 early part of May to the end of September, but only accidentally met with after that season. 

 Tame and fearless in its habits, it frequents gardens and orchards. Its song is agreeable, clear 

 and loud, and uttered whilst the bird is seated on a branch. It is extremely vivacious and 

 elegant in its movements, affects the tall trees in preference to the bushes, and feeds principally 

 on winged insects, which it catches on the wing with great ease. It is most numerous in the 

 gardens of Marengo and Ilamma, and the hillocks of Mustapha and Kouba, near Algiers, where 

 we have watched it in a garden close to our house throughout the summer. Dr. Cabanis 

 described it from a specimen in the Berlin Museum, obtained in Senegambia." 



Dr. A. E. Brehm, who met with the present species in Spain, gives, in a work published in 

 18li(i, • lllustrirt.es Thierleben,' some interesting details respecting its habits, from which I 

 translate the following notes: — " I first heard this Warbler in a flower-garden in Valencia. Its 

 m>ii£ attracted my attention, because it was unknown to me, though I recognized it as being that 

 of line of a group with which I was acquainted, but a species new to me. When once I had my 

 attention called to it I found no difficulty in finding it outside the walls of the town, and soon 

 ascertained that it is generally distributed over South-eastern Spain, and much commoner than 

 any of its congeners. It appears to avoid the mountains or hilly localities, and frequents the 

 well-wooded localities on the plains, and especially affects the ' Huertas,' or plains covered with 

 fruit-growing trees, which, being regularly irrigated, are fertile beyond conception. In the 

 gardens within the limits of the town, along the promenades, and in the vineyards and olive- 

 groves it is exceedingly numerous, so much so that in about twenty poplars standing together we 

 heard twelve males singing. Although this species resembles the Icterine Warbler in general 

 habits and resort, it differs extremely in its song and in its peaceable disposition when with others 

 of its own species. I never saw two males pursuing each other ; and I have often seen two pairs 

 inhabiting, and have found their nests with eggs, on the same tree. This quietness of disposition 

 compared with the Icterine Warbler strikes one at once ; but its song distinguishes it also at once. 

 Its call-note, which is uttered by both sexes, is the tack, tack so commonly heard from many 

 species of Warblers ; and its song, though not disagreeable, is a very simple ditty, which reminds 

 one of some of the aquatic Warblers ; and it has not the gift of mimicry possessed in so high a 

 degree by the Icterine Warbler. In its movements it resembles that species, but is more lively. 

 It appears to have become so used to the presence of man that it exhibits no signs of shyness, 

 and may be watched close, appearing at home and at its ease in the smallest gardens in the 

 town in the centre of blocks of buildings, and inhabits the public promenades, even when, like 



