ICTEBINE WARBLER. 53 



it was in splendid song at the time that it was obtained. " It 

 rose up from some willows after the manner of Flycatchers, 

 and returned singing to the branch again " (Ussher, ' Birds of 

 Ireland,' pp. 23, 24). It evidently was vigorous. 



General Geographical Distribution. 



With respect to the general geographical distribution of the 

 Icterine Warbler, Saunders states : "In Norway the Icterine 

 Warbler breeds up to a little beyond the Arctic circle, although 

 in Sweden, Finland, and Eussia its northern range is less 

 extensive. Eastward, the Ural and the valley of the Tobol 

 form its known limits, while further south it has been obtained 

 at Lenkoran, on the western side of the Caspian. In Asia 

 Minor, and south-eastern Europe as far as Malta, it is only 

 known on its migrations to and from Africa — where it winters 

 down to about 25° S. lat. ; but in Sicily and on the mainland 

 of Italy, where it arrives in April, it remains to breed ; 

 though Sardinia and Corsica are seldom, if ever, visited. 

 In Central and Northern Europe, up to the Baltic Provinces, 

 Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Belgium, it is common from 

 the middle of May until autumn. In the north-east of France 

 it is very abundant, and extends westward as far as the valley 

 of the Seine, in and beyond which is found the next species, 

 H. polyglotta* often confounded with our bird both as regards 

 specimens and nomenclature. The Icterine Warbler appears 

 to be rare in Savoy and unknown to the westward. Both 

 species meet in Tunisia." 



* It is interesting to note that H. polyglotta, the Melodious Warbler, a 

 species closely-allied to the Icterine Warbler, and a bird which does not 

 penetrate nearly so far north in Europe, the limit of its range being Nor- 

 mandy, north of which it only occurs as a mere straggler, has been taken a 

 few times in the south of England, and once in Ireland, in Co. Cork. All 

 these records are of recent date. 



