THE RUFOUS WARBLER. 

 Aedon galactodes (Temminck). 

 Plate 7. 



This southern species has been taken five times in the British Islands : the first 

 was shot on September 16, 1854, near Brighton ; the second at the Start in 

 Devonshire ; the third at the Old Head of Kinsale in September 1876 ; the fourth 

 near Slapton, Devonshire, on October 12, 1876; and the fifth, and last, in 

 September 19 13 at Brede, Sussex. 



It is plentiful in the southern parts of Spain and Portugal, though rare in Italy, 

 and is also met with in North Africa. 



Lord Lilford found it not uncommon in Andalucia, haunting gardens and vine- 

 yards, and he states that the Rufous Warbler " seems to find some special attraction 

 about the plants of prickly pear which is so abundant in Andalucia." 



It winters in Africa. 



The tamarisk tree furnishes the favourite site for the rather large nest, lined 

 with wool and other soft materials, prominently placed on some branch or in a fork. 

 To the other materials comprising the nest, a piece of cast serpent's skin is usually 

 added. 



The eggs, varying in number from four to five, are in ground colour light grey, 

 marked with brownish-ash and violet-grey. 



The Rufous Warbler is insectivorous and has a rather low, sweet song. Canon 

 Tristram, in The Ibis for 1882 (p, 409), describes its characteristic habit of " expand- 

 ing, jerking, and fanning its tail, with its conspicuous white bar." 



The female is slightly paler in colour than the male. 



Two examples of the Eastern form of this Warbler are recorded as having been 

 obtained in England. 



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