CETTI WARBLER.

Salicaria? Cetti.

La Bec-fin bouscarle, ou Cetti.

We have not been able satisfactorily to determine the true situation of this curious little Warbler: in its
general contour and also in its actions, it strongly resembles the species of the genus Zroglodytes, or true
Wrens, while at the same time it possesses many characters that ally it to the Reedlings, Sezcarve, among
which we have provisionally placed it. M. Temminck states in his Manuel that it has been killed in England ;
but on this point we fear that this eminent naturalist must have been misinformed, as we ourselves have
never been able to ascertain the existence of any authenticated British-killed specimen. We are inclined to
consider this bird as strictly a native of the southern and eastern portions of the European continent and
the northern regions of Africa. M. Cantraine informs us that he has found it in the marshes of Ostia, on the
borders of the Lake Castiglione, and in the neighbourhood of Rome generally. It is abundant in Sicily, and
Professor Savi states that it is a common species in Tuscany, where it breeds, building in large thickets near
the ground: the nest is composed of the leaves and stems of dried grasses, and the eggs are of a reddish
brown without spots.

The sexes appear to be perfectly similar in the colouring of their plumage, which may be briefly described.
All the upper surface of a deep rich brown, passing into blackish brown on the quills and tail-feathers ; an
obscure line of greyish white over each eye ; throat and under surface greyish white, with a tinge of brown
on the flanks; beak and feet brown.

The Plate represents two adults of the natural size.