BARRED WARBLER. 23 



eastern parts of Europe. It is found on the shores of 

 tlie Mediterranean, and thence to Sweden and Norway, 

 the north of Germany and some parts of Russia, and 

 in Hungary. It is more rare in Austria, but is found 

 in Lombardy, in Piedmont, Central Italy, and the coast 

 of Barbary. Count Miihle doubts if it occurs in the 

 Pyrenees. According to Temminck it is found acci- 

 dentally in Provence, and during its passage in 

 Tuscany; less rare in the Levant, and common in the 

 neighbourhood of Vienna. 



The Barred Warbler belongs to the same division as 

 the Whitethroats, and, like them, though of considerable 

 size and somewhat clumsy appearance, it is swift and 

 active. It lives generally very much concealed, and is 

 not, therefore, so often observed as the other members 

 of the group. It has a particular predilection for 

 thorny bushes. Avoiding mountainous districts, it is 

 found in field hedges and young thickets, particularly 

 where blackthorn and whitethorn abound. In spring it 

 is observed in woods on high trees about the period 

 of migration, getting again into the thickets in the 

 autumn. It is a restless bird, never known to sit 

 still, hopping about from branch to branch, and gliding 

 along the fence with considerable rapidity. When met 

 with suddenly, it raises up the feathers on the top of 

 its head, like the Common Whitethroat, jerks up its 

 tail, and utters a harsh cry. 



Count Miihle does not give our bird a very high 

 character. He says it is not only a very restless, but 

 also a very quarrelsome and jealous fellow, driving away 

 all other birds out of its hunting district; and while 

 the lady bird is performing the duties of incubation, 

 her lord is assiduously employed in driving off all 

 disturbers of the peace. , 



