OLIVE-TREE SALICARIA.

Salicaria Olivetorum, S¢rick.

For the knowledge of this new and elegant species of Warbler we are indebted to H. E. Strickland, Esq., by
whom it was discovered during the spring of 1836, in Zante, one of the Ionian Islands ; and we feel assured
that this addition to the European Fauna will be viewed with considerable interest by all lovers of Ornithology,
but by no one more than ourselves, who have for a long time entertained a belief that more new species will
yet be found to inhabit the smaller islands of the Mediterranean, particularly those in the Grecian Archi-
pelago.

From its being nearly allied to the Great Sedge Warbler, Mr. Strickland has provisionally placed this bird
in the genus Swlicaria; but it will, if we mistake not, together with two or three others, be found sufficiently
distinct from the smaller members of that genus to warrant their separation under a distinct generic title.
We have no recollection of having seen this bird in any collection either from Africa or India; which leads
us to believe that the southern parts of Europe constitute its true and native habitat. Mr. Strickland having
obliged us with some short notes on this species, we have considered it best to transcribe them here in his
own words.

“This bird belongs to that division of the Swicarie in which the tail is but slightly rounded, and the
colours sombre and uniform; including the Sydvia arundinacea, Lath.; 8. palustris, Bechst.; 8. Turdoides,
Meyer, and other foreign species.

‘*T first noticed this bird, in May, 1836, at Zante, where it is by no means rare; but from its shy and
restless habits I was only able to procure two specimens, both of which were males. One of these I gave to
M. L. Coulon of Neufchatel, and the other is in my collection. It frequents the olive-groves, and is less
aquatic in its habits than some of its congeners. Its note is a rambling warble, closely resembling that of
S. arundinacea.

‘From the proximity of Zante to the Morea, it is probable that this bird exists there also, but it seems
hitherto to have escaped the notice of ornithologists.

«The male has the whole upper plumage greyish brown, with a tinge of olive; the space between the bill
and the eye lighter; primaries and secondaries dark brown, the latter edged with whitish ; tail slightly
rounded, and of a dark brown, with the outer feather on each side margined all round, and the two next
slightly tipped with white; under surface greyish white becoming darker on the flanks; chest and under
tail-coverts tinged with yellow; legs and feet lead colour; beak, orange yellow at the base, darker towards
the tip; irides hazel.

Total length 6 inches ; wing, 34; tail, 3; tarsus, 7; bill, from gape to tip, é.

Our figure is of the natural size.

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