NATTERER’S WARBLER. 
Sylvia Nattereri, Temm. 
Le Bec-fin Natterer. 
Tus delicate little Warbler appears to be a species of common occurrence in the district of Algesiras, in the 
South of Spain, where it was first discovered by M. John Natterer of Vienna, after whom it has been named. 
Since the period of M. Natterer’s visit to Spain, about the year 1820, this indefatigable naturalist has passed 
sixteen years in the Brazils, whence he has lately returned to Vienna, with an exceedingly rich collection of 
the productions of that vast country. As a naturalist, and particularly as an ornithologist, we can speak of 
M. Natterer in terms of the highest praise; and it is by his discerning and ardent research during his short 
residence in Spain, that the Fauna of Europe has been enriched with several species which but for him 
would, even at this time, have been unknown to us. 
The species here figured is extremely rare in all the collections of Europe: it is in every respect a true 
Sylvia, as the genus has been restricted by modern classifiers, and is allied in all its affinities to the Chiffchaff 
and Willow Wren of our own island. ' 
Besides the locality above mentioned, M. Temminck informs us, in the third part of his Manuel, that it is 
common in Provence and Switzerland, that it has been killed in the Tyrol, but that it is never seen in the 
North of Europe. 
Its food consists of flies, small spiders, and other insects. 
M. Temminck also informs us that the nests found in Italy were placed on the ground among the grass, 
in hilly situations ; were of a spherical shape formed externally of dead leaves, with a lateral opening ; 
and that the eggs are of a globular form, four or five in number, and white minutely dotted with reddish. 
The top of the head and upper surface ash brown tinged with olive ; from the gape to the upper part of 
the eye extends a conspicuous stripe of greyish white; all the under surface silvery grey; wings and tail 
brownish ash fringed with olive ; bill and feet brown. 
The female differs only in having her tints less clear. 
We have figured a male of the natural size. 
