OLIVE TREE WARBLER. 51 



tliough. so long unknown, does actually exist in the whole 

 of the south of Europe. But Count Miihle remarks 

 upon this statement that if true, it must have been 

 discovered, as no country has been so well investigated 

 by distinguished ornithologists as Italy. 



The Olive Tree Warbler is described by Count Miihle 

 as a brisk lively bird, teasing and pecking its companions 

 with as much pertinacity as its congener, S. hypolais. 

 It lives only in olive plantations, is very shy and diffi- 

 cult, I am happy to say, to kill. Hence specimens are 

 fortunately scarce, and I have been content to give a 

 copy of Count Miihle's excellent figure. When its song 

 betrays its whereabouts, it can hardly be distinguished 

 from the shining olive trees, being like them, above 

 greenish grey, below whitish — a beautiful adaptation, and 

 one frequently met with, by which nature seems to 

 protect her living creatures from the ruthless and often 

 cruel and wanton destroyer. 



It moves constantly about among the trees, and care- 

 fully shuns water-reeds and bushes. 



It builds in the olive trees, and fastens its nest to 

 a branch, having a twig going through it. The nest is 

 pretty substantial, being formed of grass and lined with 

 thistle-down, which makes it warmer, while it is even 

 more elegant than that of most other Warblers. 



The eggs are three to four in number, long oval, grey, 

 with a rosy reddish gloss, which wears out when the 

 egg is kept, and dark brown large angular spots, be- 

 tween which are scattered small clots. Count Miihle 

 supposes they only breed once in the year. 



Brehm in Badeker's work on European eggs, gives 

 a description in all essential particulars, the same as 

 that above. He says "The nest is built with dry grass 

 blades and panicles, with down of plants woven through- 



