THE ORPHEAN WARBLER. 

 Sylvia orphea, Temminck. 

 Plate 5. 



Four examples of this southern Warbler have been recorded in England. 



Abroad it is found in Central and Southern Europe and North Africa, wintering 

 still further south on the latter continent. 



Lord Lilford, in his book on British Birds, describes it as being common in 

 Spain, especially in the neighbourhood of Madrid and Aranjuez. He says : " The 

 nest is very much more substantially built than that of the other Warblers of 

 this family ; the eggs much resemble those of the Lesser Whitethroat. The song 

 of this bird, though more powerful than that of our Blackcap, cannot, in my 

 opinion, be compared with it for melody or sweetness, in fact, I have always been 

 puzzled to know why the name of Orpheus should have been bestowed on this 

 species." 



The female is duller in colour than the male, the head being greyish-brown 

 instead of black. 



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