THE MELODIOUS WARBLER. 

 Hypotais polyglotta (Vieillot). 

 Plate 7. 



The Melodious Warbler has thrice been obtained in England, viz. at Burwash, 

 Sussex, April 30, 1897 ; Ninfield, Sussex, May 10, 1900 ; and Looe, Corn- 

 wall, May 12, 1905. 



This species has a less northern and more western range than the preceding, 

 being found, principally during the breeding season, in Portugal, Spain, western 

 and southern France, and Italy. It winters in Africa. 



Colonel Irby {The Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar, p. 65) describes it 

 as "exceedingly plentiful near Gibraltar. . . . The birds frequent trees and 

 bushes, especially willows and sallows ; and the nest, neatly built and cup-shaped, 

 in a great measure composed of sallow-cotton and thistle-down, is placed in 

 bushes and usually contains four pinkish-tinted eggs, marked with blackish 

 spots." 



The song, according to H. Saunders {Manual of British Birds, 2nd ed., p. 78), 

 is far finer, but less loud than that of the Icterine Warbler. 



45 



