BEITISH WARBLERS 



breeds in the south-western provinces, although occurring 

 there on migration. In the south-eastern part of European 

 Russia we find it on the south-western slopes of the Ural moun- 

 tains, in the province of Orenburg, and occasionally in the 

 Kirghiz Steppes, and further south still in the Caucasus and 

 and Trans-Caucasia. It is probable that it breeds in suitable 

 localities in Northern Africa. The Transcaspian Province, 

 parts of Persia, Asia Minor, Turkey, Palestine and Greece are 

 visited on migration. 



Its winter quarters in Europe may be said to begin in the 

 south of France and to extend through Spain, parts of Italy, 

 Sicily, Greece and Asia Minor. The majority, however, pass 

 on to Africa, where they have been traced to Morocco, Algeria, 

 Tripoli, the oases of the Sahara, Egypt and the vicinity of 

 the White Nile, Abyssinia, Somaliland, East Africa, Uganda, 

 the Congo Free State, Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Orange 

 River Colony, Cape Colony and up the west coast through 

 Namaqualand, Damara Land, Fernando Po and Sierra Leone. 



LIFE-HISTORY. 



Of the three members of the genus Phylloscopus which are 

 common summer visitors to this country, the Willow Warbler 

 is probably found in the greatest numbers, though not neces- 

 sarily in every district. In some parts the Chiff-chaff may be 

 the more numerous, or even to some extent take its place, 

 but on the whole the Willow Warbler is the more common 

 bird. It frequents localities similar to those in which we 

 find the Chiff-chaff common, but is not so partial in its 

 choice, for it can often be found in open places and even 

 in the centre of large woods and forests. Wooded banks, 

 dingles, small coppices, the outskirts of large woods, gardens, 

 and in fact plantations of almost every description are resorted 

 to, and made use of for the purpose of reproduction. If 

 there is any one locality for which the bird seems to show 

 some partiality, it is that in which a territory can be 

 obtained adjoining an osier-bed containing willows of some 



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