164 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The nest is usually built in the smaller carob-trees ; it is a 

 rather loose construction of hay and dried grass, with an inside 

 lining of roots and horsehair ; both the male and female take 

 part in its construction, and it is ready in six or eight days. 



The eggs, which vary from four to five in number, or some- 

 times even sis, are of a stone-colour spotted with grey and 

 several shades of brown; specimens are sometimes met with 

 having very bold blotches. 



I always found these nests in April, and do not know of a 

 single case of their being found during other months. 



4. Spectacled Warbler. 



Sylvia conspicillata, Marm. — Buchajla. 



Of all our Warblers this is certainly the most common, 

 being found also all the year round ; as a breeder it must be 

 considered as very common. 



Though it also builds its nest in carob-trees, it seems to have 

 a predilection for dwarf plants. 



The nest is a fine compact construction of dried stalks of 

 grass and fibrous roots, thickly interwoven with wool and vege- 

 table down. The inside is generally lined with different kinds 

 of hair and finer roots ; on the outside rags and even bits of 

 paper are sometimes found making part of the constructing 

 material. In shape these nests are mostly deeply cup-shaped. 

 Both male and female take part in their construction, which 

 takes them from six to eight days to complete. 



The eggs, which are very small, are from five to six in number ; 

 their colour is a light bluish-green or grey speckled with olive, 

 and sometimes clouded with darker grey or light brown ; the 

 speckling often forming a zone about the larger end. 



This bird is one of our earliest breeders, often beginning to 

 nest by the middle of February, and goes on to the end of May. 

 Two broods are usually reared during a season, though a third 

 one is by no means a raritj^. 



Schembri says that this species arrives here in April but not 

 in September, and that it nests here in May. Wright says that it 

 builds its nest in the Euphorbia dendroides ; I have never found, 

 however, any bird selecting this plant in which to build its nest. 



