539 



Hypolais caligata ; but in Asia Minor it is common, and, according to Canon Tristram (Ibis, 

 1867, p. 81), in Palestine it "abounds everywhere, and, returning in the end of March (our first 

 specimen was shot March 23rd), takes the place of the Willow- Wren (Phijllopneuste trochilus), 



which has by that time moved its camp northwards H. elaica is the most common species 



in Palestine, frequenting, however, chiefly the warmer valleys and the plains of Jordan ;" and, 

 again (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 438), he writes that it is " extremely abundant in all parts of the country 

 in summer. Returns to Jericho in March, and to the slopes of Hermon in April. Eesorts to 

 low shrubs and thickets, and especially to marshy spots, in preference to groves. In North- 

 eastern Africa it is common; and Captain Shelley (B. of Egypt, p. 100) says it "is the most 

 abundant Warbler in Nubia, and is not unfrequent in Egypt; but I have not met with it 

 north of Dendera, although it must be found over the whole country, as it is not very uncommon 

 in South-eastern Europe. In Nubia it takes the place of the Willow- Warbler and Chiffchaff, 

 but prefers to live among the higher boughs of the sont trees instead of the low thick herbage." 

 Mr. Jesse met with it at Gelamet and Rairo, in Abyssinia ; and Mr. Blanford includes it in his 

 list of the birds of that country. In North-western Africa it appears to be replaced by H. opaca, 

 with which it has been confused. 



To the eastward it occurs as far as Persia, where it is common ; and here its range joins that 

 of H. rama, by which species it is replaced eastward of that country. Sabanaeff states that the 

 present species occurs in Western Turkestan, in the Karatau Mountains, and from the rivers 

 Aris, Kallas, and their tributaries, to the mouth of the Syr Darja and Lake Aral, and through- 

 out the Zarevshan valley. It breeds at an altitude of from 1000 to 6000 feet — that is to say, in 

 the grassy steppes and apple-district. In the district below 1000 feet altitude it is a partial 

 migrant, but does not breed there. Count von cler Miihle (Monogr. eur. Sylv. p. 95) says that, 

 " like the Olive-tree Warbler, it is always seen in the tops of the olive-trees, and never elsewhere. 

 More uneasy and restless than its congener, it is much more shy, and when disturbed flies from 

 tree to tree, but, after flying some distance, returns quickly to where it first was, after having led 

 the pursuer astray from its nesting-place. It sings continuously, and is quarrelsome, driving all 

 intruders away from the nesting-locality it has taken possession of. Its song is more melodious 

 than that of Hypolais olivetorum ; and its clear note reminds one much of that of the Icterine 

 Warbler. Although its song and uneasy habits render it easily observable, it is most difficult to 

 obtain, as it is continually moving about amongst the olive-tree foliage, to which it so well 

 assimilates in colour ; and being so small in size it is not easily distinguished amongst the dense 

 foliage." 



The Olivaceous Warbler breeds numerously in Greece ; and Mr. H. Seebohm, who obtained 

 many of its nests, informs me that "it builds a very neat and compact little nest under the 

 slender drooping branch of an olive-tree, not exactly suspended, like that of the Goldcrest, but 

 so placed as to be almost entirely concealed by overhanging leaves. The nest, like that of 

 E. olivetorum, is composed chiefly of brown thistledown and dry grass; but moss, roots, and 

 lichens are often found mixed up with the other material, and the lining has generally one 

 horsehair at least. The eggs are laid about the first of June, and are generally four in number, 

 very rarely five. They exactly resemble the eggs of II. opaca, but are on an average a size 

 smaller, measuring usually about f^ by f§ of an inch. They are grey, with a tinge of dove- 



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