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Africa it is replaced by a closely allied form (Ilypolais opaca), which many ornithologists unite 

 with it, but which I have preferred to keep distinct. My friend Mr. Blanford, to whom I am 

 indebted for the loan of all his MS. notes on the Persian Warblers, has gone so far as to unite 

 the present species, the large-billed form of H. caligata (usually known under the name of 

 Hypolais rama), and Hypolais caligata, though he keeps a species which he describes as Ilypolais 

 opaca (from a single specimen obtained at Shiraz) distinct. After a most careful examination of 

 his series of specimens, as well as a large series from other localities, I cannot agree with him in 

 this conclusion, though I must confess that amongst the Persian specimens brought home by 

 Mr. Blanford there are some most puzzling birds which could with equal propriety be referred 

 to either species. I find, however, that, taking a series of Indian specimens of Hypolais rama 

 and comparing them with an equal number of our European Ilypolais pallida, it will be found 

 that the latter are invariably larger and paler ; and on comparing a series of nests and eggs of 

 our bird with those of //. rama, obtained by Mr. Blanford in Persia, the difference of size and 

 general character in these is very striking. Up to the present time I have not succeeded in 

 obtaining the nest and eggs of Ilypolais caligata, which is the small-billed form of//, rama, and 

 which is not uncommon in Eastern Europe, whereas it appears doubtful if H. rama occurs 

 within the limits of the Western Pahearctic Region, being there replaced by Ilypolais pallida and 

 //. caligata, which fact strengthens me in my opinion that they should be kept distinct. It is, 

 however, one of those cases where those naturalists who prefer to regard all three (or even, 

 including Hypolais opaca, all four) as races or forms of the same species have as much right on 

 their side as those who, like myself, raise each form to the rank of subspecies and treat them as 

 distinct. 



As above stated, the present species does not occur in Western Europe ; but it has been 

 recorded from Italy, Signor Magni-GrifR having obtained two specimens in April 1863, which 

 are now in the Museum at Pisa, where they were examined by Count Salvadori, who states that 

 they arc undoubtedly referable to the present species. Nor does it appear to be at all common 

 further westward than Greece, where, however, it is stated to be numerous. My friend Mr. H. 

 Seebohm, who collected in company with Dr. Kriiper in Greece and Asia Minor, writes to me as 

 follows: — "If there be any truth in the theory that every animal has a centre of distribution, 

 whence it originally sprung, and where it continues to be most plentiful, then we must assign the 

 island of Naxos, in the Grecian archipelago, to Hypolais pallida. Dr. Kriiper has often given me 

 an animated description of the abundance of this bird in this locality, especially in the gardens, 

 where it frequents the olive-trees, pomegranates, lemons, and other fruit-trees, and is the com- 

 monest bird on the island. Its habits are almost precisely the same as those of//, olivetorum; 

 but it is by no means so shy and retiring, its cheerful little song being often heard in the gardens 

 close to the cities of Athens and Smyrna. It is pretty generally distributed throughout the 

 whole of Greece, becoming rarer as you enter Turkey ; but it is only found in the wooded valleys, 

 not ascending the mountains higher than the regions of the olive. It arrives in Greece and Asia 

 Minor amongst the latest migrants in the last week in April, and leaves again early in August, 

 remaining little more than three months in the countries where it breeds." It is said to be rarer 

 in Turkey ; but I have specimens obtained by Mr. Robson near Constantinople. In Southern 

 Russia it does not appear to occur, or at least it is not recorded, being replaced, it seems, by 



