Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 6 of 9.djvu/14

 breeds in the south-western provinces, although occurring there on migration. In the south-eastern part of European Russia we find it on the south-western slopes of the Ural mountains, in the province of Orenburg, and occasionally in the Kirghiz Steppes, and further south still in the Caucasus and and Trans-Caucasia. It is probable that it breeds in suitable localities in Northern Africa. The Transcaspian Province, parts of Persia, Asia Minor, Turkey, Palestine and Greece are visited on migration.

Its winter quarters in Europe may be said to begin in the south of France and to extend through Spain, parts of Italy, Sicily, Greece and Asia Minor. The majority, however, pass on to Africa, where they have been traced to Morocco, Algeria, Tripoli, the oases of the Sahara, Egypt and the vicinity of the White Nile, Abyssinia, Somaliland, East Africa, Uganda, the Congo Free State, Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, Cape Colony and up the west coast through Namaqualand, Damara Land, Fernando Po and Sierra Leone.

Of the three members of the genus Phylloscopus which are common summer visitors to this country, the Willow Warbler is probably found in the greatest numbers, though not necessarily in every district. In some parts the Chiff-chaff may be the more numerous, or even to some extent take its place, but on the whole the Willow Warbler is the more common bird. It frequents localities similar to those in which we find the Chiff-chaff common, but is not so partial in its choice, for it can often be found in open places and even in the centre of large woods and forests. Wooded banks, dingles, small coppices, the outskirts of large woods, gardens, and in fact plantations of almost every description are resorted to, and made use of for the purpose of reproduction. If there is any one locality for which the bird seems to show some partiality, it is that in which a territory can be obtained adjoining an osier-bed containing willows of some