575 



with it on the banks of the Garonne, at Moulin-du-Chateau, but adds that he never observed it on 

 large sheets of stagnant water. It breeds throughout the French Pyrenees. Professor Barboza 

 du Bocage includes it in his list of birds occurring in Portugal ; but Colonel Irby did not meet 

 with it in Spain, though Mr. Howard Saunders records it from Aranjuez, near Madrid, and he 

 has lent me examples from Malaga for examination. It is stated by M. Bailly to occur in Savoy. 

 In Italy it is tolerably common ; and I have received several specimens from Count Salvadori. It 

 occurs in Lombardy, Venice, Modena, Liguria, and Piedmont ; and Malherbe includes it in his 

 list of the birds of Sicily, though (Salvadori states) without foundation ; and Hansmann says that 

 it occurs on passage in Sardinia, but is rare. I do not find any record of its occurrence in Greece, 

 where, however, it is probably to be met with in suitable localities. 



It appears to be tolerably common in Southern Germany ; and Dr. A. Fritsch, who says 

 that it is by no means rare in Bohemia, adds that it frequents the willow bushes bordering ponds 

 and rivers. It is found, Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown state, commonly in Transylvania, 

 and is also to be met with on the Danube, and doubtless occurs in Turkey, though I have not 

 received specimens from there. It also occurs in Southern Russia, where, Mr. Goebel says, it is 

 tolerably common in the Uman district, being met with most frequently in the spring. Canon 

 Tristram obtained it on one occasion in Palestine ; according to Riippell it occurs in Egypt ; and 

 Lichtenstein states that it visits Nubia. Captain Shelley also obtained it at Durban, in S. Africa, 

 as recorded by him (Ibis, 1875, p. 72). 



To the eastward the present species is found as far as Persia, whence Mr. Blanford brought 

 a single specimen, obtained at Shiraz in December. 



In habits this bird differs not a little from the true aquatic Warblers, and has some affinity 

 to the sylvan Warblers. It is far less frequently seen in the marshes, and never in the dense 

 thickets of aquatic herbage, where the true aquatic Warblers are so thoroughly at home ; but 

 it is often seen at some distance from water, and most frequently in places where bushes are 

 intermixed with reeds, on the borders of ponds or small pieces of water. It is lively and active, 

 both on the wing and in its movements amongst the foliage ; for it not only frequents the bushes 

 but is often seen at some height in the trees, where, in its general movements, it reminds one 

 not a little of the Icterine Warbler; but the body is held more depressed, as in the aquatic 

 Warblers. It climbs about amongst reeds and bushes quite as nimbly as the Reed- Warbler, but 

 is much quicker on the wing, and has a habit of occasionally shooting down from a bough at 

 some height into the low bushes, and will fly up again as suddenly. Naumann remarks that if 

 one finds and follows a Reed- Warbler in a ditch overgrown with tangled herbage, it will creep 

 along amongst the foliage and allow itself to be driven from end to end without showing itself, 

 whereas the present species will at once fly off sideways and take refuge in the bushes, seeking 

 refuge there rather than in the reeds or sedge. Its call-note, which is comparatively seldom 

 heard, is harsh, resembling that of the Reed- Warbler ; but the song of the male is exceedingly 

 rich and sweet, far excelling that of any of the aquatic Warblers, and even of many other 

 songsters. It somewhat resembles that of the Icterine Warbler {Ilypolais icterina), but is richer 

 and more flute-like, and exceedingly rich in compass. Naumann says that it is as sweet and 

 more varied even than the song of the Blackcap and Garden- Warbler, and differs widely from 

 that of any of the true aquatic Warblers. It is also an accomplished mimic, and reproduces the 



