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As above stated, it is rare in the western portions of Northern and Central Germany ; but 

 Von Homeyer writes (J. f. O. 1859, p. 54) that it nests annually in the city moat at Mayence. 

 In Holland, according to Schlegel, it is found throughout the country in damp localities, and 

 breeds commonly; it arrives early in May, and leaves about the end of August. In Belgium, 

 where it is said to be abundant in the great reed-beds and wooded marshes of Flanders and the 

 Campine, it is said to arrive earlier, about the middle of April. It occurs also on the islands of 

 the Moselle, but is local ; and it is common throughout the greater part of France in suitable 

 localities. In Provence it is resident throughout the year around the Etangs de Berre and the 

 Camargue. It occurs in Portugal, and Dr. E. Rey met with it near Lagos. In Spain, Mr. 

 Howard Saunders writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 215), it is abundant in every reed-bed, where it breeds; 

 and Colonel Irby says that it is exceedingly plentiful in Andalucia, where it arrives in April, and 

 nests late in May. Passing eastward, again, I find it recorded as generally distributed in Savoy, 

 but found only in small numbers ; but it is common in Upper Italy, Tuscany, Modena, and the 

 Romagna, where it arrives in April and leaves in October. It is said to be rare in Sardinia, 

 where a few breed ; but in Sicily it is common, and generally distributed in marshy localities. I 

 have received examples from Corsica through Mr. C. Bygrave Wharton ; and Mr. C. A. Wright 

 says it is found sparingly in Malta in the spring and autumn. According to Lord Lilford it 

 is common and resident in Corfu and Epirus ; and Dr. Kriiper says that it arrives in Greece in 

 April when the reeds begin to grow, but most pass further north, those which remain com- 

 mencing to nest late in May. Late in August or in September they migrate southward again. 

 In Southern Germany it does not appear to be very common. Dr. Anton Fritsch says that it is 

 a rather uncommon summer visitant in Bohemia ; he obtained it from the vicinity of Elbekostelec, 

 and has seen examples in collections at Pardubic and Frauenberg. The late Mr. Seidensacher 

 informed me that a few pairs breed near Cilli, where it arrives between the 1st and the middle 

 of May, and has eggs late in that month ; and in Transylvania, Messrs. Danford and Harvie- 

 Brown write (Ibis, 1875, p. 309), it is very common in the Mezoseg. It is found in the countries 

 bordering the Southern Danube, and is very common in the marshes of Southern Russia from 

 April to September. Lord Lilford found it common near Limasol, in Cyprus, in May ; and it 

 breeds in Asia Minor, where it arrives, Dr. Kriiper writes, about the middle of April in the 

 vicinity of Smyrna, at first frequenting the reedy and overgrown ditches and then retiring to the 

 larger swamps to breed. Keyserling and Blasius record it from Tripoli ; and Canon Tristram 

 states that it is very common in Palestine, where there appears to be, he adds (Ibis, 1807, p. 78), 

 two distinct forms of this species, " one decidedly darker and larger than the other — the wings 

 being in the one 3-0 inches, in the other 4-1, from the carpal joint, and the tail respectively 3 

 and 3-75 inches in length. There is also a very slight difference in the relative length of the 

 second and third primaries." He adds, however, that, with a large series before him from 

 different localities, he could not discover any specific difference. This Warbler is widely distri- 

 buted in Africa ; but Von Heuglin says that it is only an occasional winter visitant to Lower 

 Egypt. According to Brehm it was seen by him on the upper portion of the Blue Nile in 

 January ; and Riippell states that it is common in Arabia. On the west side of the continent it 

 is commoner. Loche says that it breeds numerously in Algeria ; and Mr. O. Salvin writes (Ibis. 

 1859, p. 305) that it is " the commonest species of the Sylviina; in the marsh of Zana, where its 



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