jee z ie a ale Eee ees acct iat poh meteors cers - pele ee yescteoe z Se ein fit cor ees ee sat PACS sii more 1S SSS aa % ta 4 SOS gi cee {ae am GEE CCE Ge on ee FEE © eee SS EM aE. 2 SS —S “SSS ES hoe. ee 1880 80 Ht 373 HO eeelUamiUsyexculbItOKe mame nel Oral 2 6 375-380 lo Seelbaniusplabtorayyme) cee ees ee Sie 11, 12 5 381-385 ooR animus smeridionalis.s se) 4s LS y 4 387-390 NG ORs waninspaloeriensis ss epi an eee oral 3 2 391, 392 GIL, ILavmhog tabi g G6 4g 5 “eo 4 Se 13 6 393-398 NG 2awinantasicolluriOme ae eee een eonnl: 4 8 399-406 HiGSeelaniusauniculatusss-se-n ee Tee elon if 6 407-412 GAs waniusnsabellimus eee ee SiS 67, 68 4 413-416 loose laniuspnubicusiees ae ery ey ele 2 4 417-420 Alpe DREMPHONUSt unis uuciers tsi nee le L880 80 1 421 166. Telephonus erythropterus . . . . 1872 11,12 4 423-426 A AMPELIS Nate Ne eh. &, by 4. 1880 80 1 427 Gee Ampelishcarrulus! | ewes ese Lid ado 24 16 429-444 A MMU SCION Are ew eo kee sk. sald 80 1 445 Goa Miuscicapalerisolan 6 9 0). ) NSia 45 5 447-451 169. Muscicapa atricapilla . . . . . 1875 35, 36 6 453-458 WiOmeviiscicapaicollanish 22-9). lore 34 5 459-463 pine Muscicapaupanyay 22) Olom (eaiiee2 6 465-470 AAMBEMIR UND OMe earns esse mt ve 2, LOSO 80 I ATI i eeelinundoysayionie es ayes LOMO 37 4 473-476 eel dommusticam Wheto) htt 6 OKO 39 9 477-485 iW /Aaerinundopnuculagine se) oc yas Lovo 37 5 487-491 45, CHELIDON. . . ee) see ng ASO 80 It 498 Nie Onelidonsmurbicauss. ee) ee LSila 40 a 495-501 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. (oda! bo 53. «BA. Vi Genera and Species. CoTiLe . ers OS 176. Cotile riparia . 177. Cotile rupestris 178. Cotile obsoleta CaRDUELIS fe 179. Carduelis elegans . CHRYSOMITRIS se es 180. Chrysomitris citrinella 181. Chrysomitris spinus . SERINUS SER 182. Serinus hortulanus 183. Serinus canonicus . 184. Serinus canarius 185. Serinus pusillus LiguriInus ait a 186. Ligurinus chloris . CoccoTHRAUSTES . Soe: (8 187. Coccothraustes vulgaris . . PASSER 188. Passer italic 189. Passer domesticus. 190. Passer hispaniolensis . 191. Passer montanus . 192. Passer simplex . PETRONIA . abate 193. Petronia stulta. 194. Petronia brachydactyla . MONTIFRINGILLA . Ae 195. Montifringilla nivalis Date of publication. 1880 1874 1874 1875 1880 1877 1880 1877 1876 1880 1875 1876 1877 1876 1880 1875 1880 1875 1880 1876 1876 1876 1875 1876 1880 1877 1877 1880 1876 Issued in Part 80 32 28 37 80 60 80 63, 64 49 80 43, 44 49 63, 64 55, 56 80 45 80 41, 42 80 47, 48 47, 48 47, 48 46 5d, 96 80 59, 60 59, 60 80 47, 48 Pages in article. i Come es Re oR NOQPRONEHE TAH oY PRY TH AOAH QE Final paging. 503 505-511 513-519 921-523 525 527-532 539 535-540 541-546 547 549-553 555, 556 557-560 561-564 565 567-571 597-602 603, 604 605 607-610 611-613 615 617-620 100. 101. 102. 105. 104. 105. 106. 107. PAE Ss; LO VO. IM: ELGG. ae )6. Cisticola cursitans . 61, 62 . Drymeeca gracilis. hoe 0 Spica eAteya tulvale ties 2e0 0A SQUATMAtA Gene pene n ot ay ake Lo ' Accentor collaris = 272 =s 2 ie Accentor montanellus . 43, 44 Accentor modularis. . . . . 21 Calamophilus biarmicus . . . 3 Ncredulasroseay he ey 2 IA Acredula caudata .... . I4 Fig. 1, Acredula irbii; fig. 2, A. tephnonotamn 9-0 lt JEENATS MAO ib kd spa Bi a olan Fig. 1, Parus ledouci; fig. 2, P. britannicus; fig. 3, P. ater . 11,12 108. 109. 110. Is 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. Hels: 118). 120. Parus palustris . . : i cts) Figs. 1 & 2, Parus ay fhe 3, Pe yore j iil, 2? Parus camtschatkensis . 47, 48 Parus lugubris 11,12 iParus)cimetus) co) 4) 4 ST pA G Figs. 1 & 2, Parus ae fig. 5, IPACeneLitee na een te te 8 MUSEO VAMUSH sree, Hoe a ee) AL) opiophanes:cristatus): 7 23 fEgithalus pendulinus . . . . 43 Bsithalusscastaneus| 59 3. 5 2 oll 52 Siftamemmopccamwers ea tyes i) ALG Sitta cesia. . . uingenwtee! ise) 18 Sitta neumayerl (Sime syriaca on JPG) c/o bon cee eae = 2 © e bo pw bw bo fae = e oo bo <4 . Sitta krueperi . . Certhia familiaris Plates. . Tichodroma muraria. peHicwelr Troglodytes parvulus ; fig. 2, T. borealis . . Figs. 1 & 2, Motacilla alba ; aC 3, M. lugubris . 26. Fig. 1, Motacilla alba; fig. 2 2, M. lugubris: winter dress . Motacilla citreola . Motacilla melanope (J. sup PB OD INE) 6. a 9. Figs. 1 & 2, Motacilla flava ; Se 3, M. viridis . Motacilla faclanues pale . Motacilla raii . : . Fig. 1, Anthus pratense: ‘fie. 2 2, A. trivialis 3. Anthus bertheloti 34. Anthus seebohmi. 5. Anthus cervinus (in winter) . Anihus cervinus (in summer) . . Anthus campestris . Anthus richardi . ). Anthus ludovicianus . Anthus spinoletta . Anthus obscurus . 2. Pycnonotus barbatus Boe, 3. Fig. 1, Pycnonotus xanthopygus ; fig. 2, Pycnonotus capensis . . Oriolus galbula Issued in Part 13 _ 29, 30 161. 162. Plates. . Lanius excubitor . . Lanius lahtora . Lanius meridionalis . . Lanius algeriensis . Lanius minor . . Lanius collurio . Lanius auriculatus . Lanius isabellinus . Lanius nubicus . Telephonus Sry thropeenie’) . Ampelis garrulus (Bombycilla garrula on Plate) . . Muscicapa grisola . Muscicapa atricapilla (9 and young) M. atricapilla . Muscicapa parva . BY otha . Fig. 1, Hirundo rustica; fig. H. savignii . Hirundo rufula Chelidon urbica . . Fig. 1, Muscicapa Eotlaniet fig. 2, 2, Vili Plates. 3. Cotile riparia . . Cotile rupestris . Cotile obsoleta . Carduelis elegans . Chrysomitris citrinella (Grinter plumage) . . Chrysomitris citr ells (summer). . Chrysomitris spinus . . Serinus hortulanus . Serinus canonicus . Serinus canarius . 3. Serinus pusillus . . Ligurinus chloris. . Coccothraustes vulgaris . Fig. 1, Passer domesticus; fig. 2, Passer italize . Passer hispaniolensis . Passer montanus . . Passer simplex » Big, 1) Retronia uinchydactsiae fig. 2, Petronia stulta . Montifringilla nivalis Issued in Part B 5, 36 Subfamily DRYM@CIN AZ. Genus CISTICOLA. Sylvia apud Temminck, Man. d’Orn. i. p. 228 (1820). Cisticola, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 119 (1829). Prinia apud Franklin, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 118. Drymoica apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 242 (1837). Salicaria apud Keyserling & Blasius, Wirbelth. Eur. p. 55 (1840). Caricicola apud C. L. Brehm, Vogelf. p. 237 (1855). Calamanthella apud Swinhoe, Journ. N. China Br. As. Soc. May 1859. ALTHOUGH the present genus in many respects approaches near to the true Aquatic Warblers, the species belonging to it differ so appreciably in habit, form, and mode of nidification as to fully justify generic separation. The Cisticolw inhabit the southern portion of the Palearctic Region as well as the Ethiopian and Oriental Regions, one species only (Cisticola cursitans) being found in the Western Palearctic Region. It is a restless, active bird, frequenting grassy or bush- covered places, usually near water, and is a resident in the Western Palearctic Region. It feeds chiefly on insects of various kinds, which it obtains both on the ground and on the bushes and grass. It flight is feeble and short ; but it climbs with ease amongst the grass, reeds, and bushes. The nest is purse-shaped, and is fastened in the middle of a bunch of high grasses; and the eggs are pale blue or white, spotted with rufous. It is only a moderately good songster, and has a harsh, grating call-note. Cisticola cursitans, the type of the present genus, has the bill rather stout, rather broad at the base, moderately long, decurved towards the tip; the nostrils basal, oval; gape furnished with a few short bristles; wings moderately long, first quill short, but considerably longer than the coverts, second shorter than the seventh, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth nearly equal ; tail moderately long, much graduated; tarsus long, covered in front with five plates and three inferior scutelle ; feet moderate ; general plumage loose, spotted. 25 yy. AG in 96 J.GKeulemans hth. FANTAIL WARBLER. CISTICOLA CURSITANS. M&N Hanhart imp CISTICOLA CURSITANS. (FANTAIL WARBLER.) Sylvia cisticola, Temm. Man. d°Orn. i. p. 228 (1820). Cisticola, Kaup (Sylvia cisticola, Temm. Natiirl. Syst. p. 119 (1829). Cysticola cisticola (Temm.), Less. 'Traité d’Orn. p. 415 (1831). Prinia cursitans, Frankl. P. Z. 8. 1831, p. 118. Drymoica cisticola (Temm.), Swainson, Classif. of Birds, ii. p. 242 (1837). Cysticola schenicola (Temm.), Bp. Comp. List, p. 12 (1838). Salicaria cisticola (Temm.), Keys. & Blas. Wirbelth. Eur. p. 55 (1840). Cisticola cursitans (Frankl.), Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. xi. p. 884 (1842). Drymoica uropygialis, Fras. P. Z. 8. 1843, p. 17. Prinia subhimalayana, Blyth, J. A. Soc. Beng. xiii. p. 377 (1844). Prinia cysticola (Temm.), Blyth, tom. cit. p. 377 (1844). Drymoica terrestris, Smith, Il. Zool. S. Afr., Aves, pl. 74. fig. 2 (1849). Salicaria (Cisticola) brunniceps, Temm. & Schl. Faun. Japon. p. 134, pl. xx. ¢ (1850). tCisticola homalura, Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. xx. p. 176. Caricicola cisticola (Temm.), C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 237 (1855). Cisticola arquata, V. Mull. J. f. Orn. 1856, p. 223. Calamanthella tintinnabulum, Swinh. Journ. N. Chin. Branch As. Soc. May 1859. Cisticola tintinnabulans, Swinh. Ibis, 1860, p. 51. Cisticola ayresvi, Hartl. Ibis, 1863, p. 325, pl. 8. Cisticola europea, Hartl. tom. cit. p. 325. Cisticola terrestris (Smith), Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 29. no. 273 (1871). Cisticola munipurensis, Godw.-Aust. P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 47. Bec-fin cisticole, French; Bolsicon, Tin-tin, Spanish; Beccamoschino, Italian; Cistenrohr- sdnger, German. Figure notabiles. Temminck, Pl. Col. 6. fig. 3; Werner, Atlas, Jnsectivores, pl. 59; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 113; Temm. & Schl. Fauna Japon. pl. 20c; Smith, /. c. g ad. pileo, dorso et tectricibus alarum nigricantibus, cervino rufescente striatis: uropygio et supracaudalibus rufescenti-cervinis, indistincté nigro notatis: remigibus nigro-fuscis, extus angusté cervino marginatis, secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus: rectricibus centralibus nigro-fuscis, pallidé fusco marginatis, reliquis fuscis, versus apicem vitté nigré notatis, externis albo terminatis: corpore subtus albo, pectore ceryino et hypochondriis et subcaudalibus sordidé rufescenti lavatis: rostro fusco-corneo, ad basin flavicante: iride fuscé: pedibus fusco-corneis. 9 ad. mari similis. 3 2 Juv. adulto similis sed ubique magis rufescens: corpore subtts rufescenti-ochraceo lavato. Adult Male (Corsica, 30th April). Crown, back, wing-coyerts, and upper parts generally black, broadly striped with warm buff, the ground-colour of the feathers being black and the margins warm buff; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous buff, slightly marked with black ; quills blackish brown, externally narrowly margined with warm buff, the inner secondaries marked like the back; central rectrices blackish brown, broadly margined with light brown, the rest of the tail-feathers dark brown, termi- nated with a blackish patch, the lateral ones with a final broad white termination ; underparts white, the breast washed with buff, and the flanks and under tail-coverts with dull rufous ; bill horn-brown, yellowish at the base; iris brown; legs brownish flesh-colour. Total length about 4:25 inches, culmen 0°48, wing 1:9, tail 1°85, tarsus 0°75. Adult Female (Smyrna). Does not differ from the male in plumage. Young (Sardinia). Resembles the adult, but the entire plumage is much more rufous, and the underparts are washed with rufescent ochreous. Obs. Examples of this species from different localities, as well as from the same locality; differ not a little, some being much paler and greyer, and others more rufous and darker ; and some have the head darker and less striped than others. One, in particular, from Corsica has the head dark brown with scarcely any markings on the fore part of the crown. In order to show the variation in colour I have figured a very grey adult male from Smyrna and a rather reddish-coloured bird from Sardinia, both of which are in my collection. In the breeding-season the old male is said to have the gape of a purple colour, and the female yellowish flesh; and the sexes may then be distinguished by this difference in the coloration of the gape. The variation in size in specimens of Cisticola cursitans from different localities is not very great. I have measured almost the entire series I have examined, and find that examples from Europe vary as follows—culmen 0:45-0:48 inch, wing 1:9-2:0, tail 1:8-1°85, tarsus 0°75-0°8; those from Africa— culmen 0:42-0:46 inch, wing 1°85-2:0, tail 1:5-1°7, tarsus 0°75-0°78; those from India—culmen 0:44-0:48 inch, wing 1:9-2-09, tail 1:65-1°8, tarsus 0°7-0°8; and those from China—culmen 0:45-0:48 inch, wing 1:9-2:0, tail 1:65-1°8, tarsus 0°75-0°8. A COMMON species in Southern Europe, the present bird is also found far south in Africa, and in Asia as far east as China. Both in Africa and in Asia there are not a few tolerably closely allied species; but in Europe there is certainly only the one form, subject to some variation, which inhabits the Mediterranean region from west to east, not ranging into Central or Northern Europe. In France it is confined to the southern districts, being very numerous in the marshy portions of the Camargue, and in similar localities along the Mediterranean. M. Adrien Lacroix records it from the French Pyrenees, where, he says, it arrives in April and leaves in September. In Portugal it is stated to be tolerably common. Mr. Saunders informs me that it is very common in Southern and Eastern Spain, as far north as the Ebro, but he did not observe it in Catalonia ; nor did I ever meet with it when collecting there. Colonel Irby says that he found it common and resident near Gibraltar, and very common in the winter. Mr. Saunders remarks that it has several names in Spanish, being called Bolsicon on account of its purse-shaped nest, Tin-tin from its sharp note, and Chispita (7. e. little spark) from its rapid quick flight. 3 Mr. A. von Homeyer states that it is common in the Balearic Islands, especially in Majorca, where he found it less numerous in the marshes of Albufera and on the Prat than in the corn- fields, in which localities he met with it near Palma, not far from the coast. In Minorca he frequently observed it near Port Mahon in the corn-, tobacco-, and hemp-fields in a very moun- tainous locality, which, he says, rather surprised him. In Italy it is said by Salvadori to be found in the Roman territory, Tuscany, Modena, Liguria, and Lombardy, not so commonly in Piedmont and Venetia, and common and resident in Sicily and Sardinia, but not found in Malta. Mr. C. Bygrave Wharton met with it in Corsica; and Mr. A. B. Brooke, referring to its occur- rence in Sardinia, says that he found it extremely numerous about the large marshy swamps in the neighbourhood of Oristano, where they breed; and it is, he adds, to be found, but more sparingly, in all suitable localities. In Greece, Dr. Kriiper says, it is found throughout all swampy districts, and is to be met with at all seasons of the year. In Acarnania he observed it in the wheat-fields. It raises two, or even three, broods in the year. It is also resident in the Cyclades. I do not find it recorded from Southern Germany or Turkey; but it appears to be common and is said to be resident in Asia Minor. Canon Tristram says (Ibis, 1867, p. 77), it “ rejoices in the moist maritime plains of Palestine, where we found it all the year round, starting up from the long grass in front of our horses, jerking up in the air for a few seconds as it rapidly repeated its single note pink, pink, and then dropping suddenly again, when it was very difficult to put it up a second time.” In Africa it has a very wide distribution. Captain Shelley speaks of it as being one of the most abundant birds in Egypt and Nubia; and Von Heuglin writes (Ibis, 1869, p. 133) as follows:—“'This species is a permanent resident in Egypt, Nubia, and Northern Arabia, goes southwards to Abyssinia, and probably also to Sennaar, and certainly does not live among sedges, but chiefly in clover- and wheat-fields, in meadows and acacia and date-palm thickets, especially when these are overgrown by climbing plants and grass, in gardens, and also far from the cultivated land, close upon the borders of the desert.” It is, according to Messrs. Layard: and Sharpe, found down to South Africa. It occurs in Algeria, where Canon Tristram and Mr. Taczanowski met with it; and Baron J. W. von Miller, who found it near Philippeville, Constantine, Bone, &c., separates the Algerian species from our European bird under the name of Cisticola arquata on account of its curved bill; but I cannot think that this distinction holds good. According to Favier (fide Col. Irby, Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 91) “this is the most common of the aquatic Warblers around Tangier, and is seen migrating in lots of from ten to twelve during March and April, returning in October, November, and December. Many remain to breed, nesting twice in the season.” It is found in many parts of West Africa. Mr. Ussher sent specimens from the Volta; and it was obtained by Du Chaillu at Cape Lopez and on the Camma river. Mr. Andersson says (B. of Damara L. p. 88) that it came under his notice in Great Namaqua Land in about 24° or 25° S. lat., and he also met with it abundantly in Southern Damara Land, and obtained it in Ondongo, and it was most common at some large waters on the Omaruru river. Specimens from Damara Land were, he adds, of a lighter tint than those from Ondonga. Messrs. Layard and Sharpe (B. of 8. Afr. 2nd ed. p. 276) say that it was found abundantly by Mr. Atmore in the George District, in 8. Africa, by Major Bulger at Wind- B2 4 vogelberg, by Lieutenant H. Trevelyan at King William’s Town, and by Mr. Atmore at Eland’s post. Mr. Ayres and Mr. T. E. Buckley found it common throughout Natal and in the Transvaal. To the eastward the Fantail Warbler is found as far as China and Japan. Severtzoff did not meet with it in Turkestan; nor does Mr. Blanford record it from Persia; but it is, Dr. Jerdon states, distributed throughout India, where it is found in long grass, corn-, and rice-fields. Mr. Holdsworth records it as common in Ceylon, and puts as a synonym Cisticola homalura, Blyth : and in this he is probably correct; for Mr. Hume states (Stray Feathers, 1. p. 439) that he has Indian specimens which would answer very well to Blyth’s diagnosis. Mr. Hume records it from the Nicobars, and writes (Stray Feathers, il. p. 235), “I have compared the Nicobar bird with others from all parts of India, from Ceylon on the south to Goorgaon on the north, and from Sindh on the west to Decca and Cachar on the east; and they appear to me to be perfectly identical. Davison says, ‘Comparatively common at the Nicobars in the large tracts of grass that occur on many of these islands, it is also very abundant, perhaps more so than in any other locality, all about the cleared portion of the settlement of Camorta, frequenting the patches of guinea-grass and low scrub that cover the hill-sides where forest has been felled and burned.” Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub say that there is a specimen in the Bremen Museum from Java. According to Mr. Swinhoe it is found commonly throughout China, Hainan, and Formosa; and he also identifies the Japanese bird with the present species. I have not been able to compare a specimen from Japan; but it appears to me from the plate and description in the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ that Mr. Swinhoe is correct in his identification. Owing to the want of a sufficient series of specimens, I have found it difficult to determine the validity of the various closely allied species from Asia. I am indebted to the Marquis of Tweeddale for his entire series of specimens from India &c., and to Mr. Swinhoe for his Chinese examples, and have examined the collection in the British Museum; and the following remarks, being the result of what I have been able to ascertain by an examination of these specimens, may perhaps be of interest to my readers :— Cisticola munipurensis, from the Naga hills, is, judging from a specimen in Lord Tweeddale’s collection, not specifically separable from Cisticola cursitans. Cisticola melanocephala, Anderson (P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 212), from Yunnan, differs from C. cur- sitans in being darker on the upper parts and in having the crown blackish brown. There is a specimen in Lord Tweeddale’s collection, from the Khasi hills, which measures—culmen 0°4, wing 1°82, tail 1:95, tarsus 0-7. Cisticola ruficollis, Walden (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. vii. p. 241, 1871). I have not had an opportunity of examining this species, which is said to occur throughout all Assam ; but Lord Tweeddale says that it is very distinct, and in its style of coloration greatly resembles Graminicola bengalensis, Jerd. Cisticola volitans, Swinh. (Journ. N. China B. As. Soc. May 1859), from North Formosa, differs from C. cursitans in being paler and in having the crown light creamy isabelline, and the rump darker isabelline, both being unspotted. The type (in Mr. Swinhoe’s collection) measures— culmen 0°42, wing 1°7, tail 1:1, tarsus 0:77. Cisticola grayti, Walden (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. ix. p. 400, 1872), from Celebes, 5 resembles C. volitans, but has the crown pale rufescent ochreous, and the rump rather darker, both unmarked. The type (in Lord Tweeddale’s collection) measures—culmen 0-45, wing 1:8, tail 1:4, tarsus 0°8. Dr. Cabanis gives (J. f. O. 1866, p. 10), without description, as a new species, Cisticola semirufa, from Luzon and Jagor, and he writes (J. f. O. 1872, p. 316) that it “seems to replace the Australian C. ruficeps, Gould, which it much resembles, but is less in size, and more rufous in coloration on the underparts.” In Lord Tweeddale’s collection there is a specimen from the island of Bouru, obtained by Mr. A. R. Wallace, and labelled Cisticola rustica, Wallace. This bird is more rufous in colora- tion than C. cursitans, especially on the underparts; but otherwise it does not differ from it, and . it is, on the whole, rather a doubtful species. ‘The specimen in question measures—culmen 0-45, wing 1-7, tail 1:62, tarsus 0°77. Cisticola fuscicapilla, Wallace, from the island of Flores, differs from C. cursitans in being much greyer, and in having the upper parts less marked, the crown and rump being entirely unmarked, the former being dull brownish. Three examples in Lord Tweeddale’s collection measure—culmen 0°48, wing 1:9-1-95-2:0, tail 1-68-1:8-1°85, tarsus 0:78—0°8. Cisticola exilis (Lath.), from Australia, is very closely allied to Cisticola cwrsitans; and, judging from the specimens I have examined, it differs in having the sides of the head and the hind neck rufous, being otherwise like our European bird. One specimen in Lord Tweeddale’s collection so closely resembles European examples that I am doubtful as to whether the Australian bird should not be united with the Indian and European species. This specimen measures— culmen 0°45, wing 1°70, tail 2-0, tarsus 0°77. According to Mr. Gould (Handb. B. Austral. i. p-. 390) Cisticola exilis inhabits New South Wales and South Australia, where it is abundant. Besides Cisticola exilis, Gould discriminates three allied forms of Cisticola which inhabit Australia, viz.:—C. lineocapilla, which inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, in North Australia, and which, he says, is a much smaller and more delicately formed species than C. exilis, and may be distinguished by the lineated form of the markings of the head; Cisticola ruficeps, which has the crown, hind neck, rump, chest, flanks, and thighs delicate fawn-colour, being deeper and redder on the crown and rump, and which has a wide range in Australia; and Cisticola isura, which he includes with doubt as being distinct from: C. ruficeps, from which it is distinguished by a shorter tail. He obtained it from the same localities as C. ruficeps. I have not deemed it necessary to enter into details respecting the various allied species of Cisticole inhabiting Africa, as Von Heuglin and Messrs. Layard and Sharpe have entered so fully into details respecting these; I may, however, mention that Cisticola madagascariensis, from Madagascar, appears to me to be fairly distinct. I have examined specimens, and find them larger and much greyer on the upper. parts than Cisticola cursitans, and they have but little trace of rufous in the plumage. The present species inhabits not only marshy localities but grass-covered plains, fields, and places covered with tangled herbage. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that when disturbed it rises angrily into the air, going straight up with a jerky flight, and uttering its note loudly. Von Heuglin, speaking of its habits, writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 268) that it is usually found in pairs in the clover- and wheat-fields, in Arwndo-hedges, on pastures, in acacia and date-bushes, 6 especially when these latter are overgrown with creepers, and the ground is covered with dense grass; and it also occurs in gardens, alongside of ditches, and far from cultivation to the very edge of the desert. Not unfrequently several pairs inhabit a small place, which they rarely quit. This species lives much hidden, though it is not, strictly speaking, shy, and is usually seen in tangled places close to the ground, and descends not unfrequently to the ground, where it runs with ease amongst the grass. Only the male, when singing, will show itself on an exposed twig or a long grass-stem standing apart from the rest. The song is rather poor than otherwise, and the call-note is a harsh teck teck. During the breeding-season the male will often fly round the place where the nest is and ascend into the air, like the Whitethroat, describing circles, flying low, with a jerky fluttering flight, and continually uttering its call-note. The food of the present species consists chiefly of small insects and their eggs; and Brehm _ says that the indigestible portions of their food, which he found chiefly to consist of minute beetles, Diptera, caterpillars, and small snails, are cast up in the form of pellets. Nidification commences in North Africa in March, and in Southern Europe a little later, and two or even three broods are in some countries raised in one year. I have received several nests from Spain, all purse-shaped, neatly made of thistle-down and plant-cotton, interwoven with bits of grass, and closely worked to the grass stems amongst which they are built. Von Heuglin gives (/. ¢.) the following description of its breeding-habits in North-east Africa :— This bird probably breeds in wheat- and clover-fields; but I found its nests only in date-palm groves and low thorn-hedges; they were placed from one to two feet above the ground, and were from 43" to 6” high, the deep cavity of the nests being 2" to 23" in diameter. The entire structure is not very thick and solid; the form is governed by the locality, and more or less approaches that of the Reed-Warbler, but is sometimes rather more bulging in the middle. The nest never hangs freely, like a purse-nest, but it is interwoven with leaf-sheaths, thorns, twigs, and even grass-stalks, and composed of fine dry grass and rootlets. The interior is care- fully lined with wool, hair, and fibres. The four vividly reddish-white very thin-shelled eggs exhibit numerous ferruginous spots and points, which are usually brought together into the form of a ring at the obtuse end so closely that the ground-colour entirely disappears. ‘There are also some with a greenish white ground and light violet and rusty red points and spots. Their form is obtusely oval, their length being from 6" to 64", and their breadth only 5’. On the 27th June I found three nests in Central Nubia, one of which contained two young birds and two unincubated eggs, the second two incubated and the same number of unincubated, and the third two fresh-laid eggs.” Mr. A. O. Hume, in his work on the nests and eggs of Indian birds, has published some notes on the nidification of the present species, from which I transcribe the following, viz.:— “The Rufous Grass-Warbler, as Jerdon calls it, breeds pretty well all over India and Ceylon, confining itself, as far as my experience goes, to the low country, and never ascending the mountains to any great elevation. ‘The breeding-season lasts, according to locality, from April to October; but it never breeds with us in dry weather, always laying during rainy months. Very likely, at the Nicobars, where it rains pretty well all the year round, March being the only fairly dry month, it may breed at all seasons. I have myself taken several, and have had a great many nests sent tome. With rare exceptions all belonged to one type. ‘The bird selects 7 a patch of dense fine-stemmed grass, from 18 inches to 2 feet in height, and, as a rule, standing in a moist place; in this, at the height of from 6 to 8 inches from the ground, the nest is con- structed; the sides are formed by the blades or stems of the grass, in situ, closely tacked and caught together with cobwebs and very fine silky vegetable fibre. This is done for a length of from 2 to nearly 3 inches, and, as it were, a narrow tube, from 1:0 to 1-5 in diameter, formed in the grass. To this a bottom, from 4 to 6 inches above the surface of the ground, is added, a few blades of the grass being bent across, tacked and woven together with cobwebs and fine vegetable fibre. The whole interior is then closely felted with silky down, in Upper India usually that of the Mudar (Calotropis hamiltoni). The nest thus constructed forms a deep and narrow purse, about 3 inches in depth, an inch in diameter at the top, and 1°5 at the broadest part below. The tacking together of the stems of the grass is commonly continued a good deal higher up on one side than on the other; and it is through or between the untacked stems opposite to this that the tiny entrance exists. Of course above the nest the stems and blades of the grass, meeting together, completely hide it. The dimensions above given are those of the interior of the nest; its exterior dimensions cannot be given. The bird tacks together not merely the few stems absolutely necessary to form a side to the nest, but most of the stems all round, decreasing the extent of attachment as they recede from the nest-cavity. It does this too very irregularly; on one side of the nest perhaps no stem more than an inch distant from the interior surface of the nest will be found in any way bound up in the fabric, while on the opposite side perhaps stems fully 3 inches distant, together with all the intermediate ones, will be found more or less webbed together. Occasionally, but rarely, I have found a nest of a different type. Of these one was built amongst the stems of a common prickly labiate marsh-plant which has white and mauve flowers. ‘There was a straggling framework of fine grass, firmly netted together with cobwebs, ° and a very scanty lining of down. ‘The nest was egg-shaped, and the aperture on one side near the top. Mr. Brooks, I believe, once found a similar one; but the vast majority of the others that any of us have ever got have been of the type first described, which corresponds closely with Passler’s account. Five is the usual complement of eggs; at any rate I have notes of more than a dozen nests that contain this number; and in more than half the cases the eggs were partly incubated. I have no record of more than five ; and though I have any number of nests containing one, two, three, and four eggs, yet these latter in almost all cases were fresh.” The eggs of the Fantail Warbler run into several varieties, two of which appear to be equally common in Europe—viz. pale blue spotted with rufous and pure white, also spotted with rufous. Besides these I possess one egg of a third variety, viz. pale blue entirely unspotted, but have never seen any specimens of a fourth variety which is said to occur, viz. pale pink unspotted. In the blue spotted eggs in my collection the spots are of a dull light-red colour, and are more profuse towards the larger end; and the white eggs are spotted with lighter and darker red, the spots being in these also more profuse at the larger end. In size the eggs of this Warbler vary from 24 by 42 to 23 by 3¢ inch. The specimens figured are a pale greyish adult male, from Smyrna, and a rufous example from Sardinia. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 8 E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a. South Europe. 6,6, ¢,9,d. Bastia, Corsica, April 30th, 1875 (C. B. Wharton). e, ad., f, pull. Sardinia (Salvadori). g,&. Acarnania, December 19th, 1868 (Dr. Kriiper). h. Smyrna, July 20th. 7. Smyrna, July 21st, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). k. Smyrna, July 29th, 1871. 7. Smyrna, May 24th, 1874 (Dr. Kriiper). m. Syria (Rogers). n. N. Africa (J. H. Gurney, jun.). 0, p. Egypt (G. E. Shelley). 7,2. Damietta, May 7th, 1863 (G. H. Shelley). s. Fantee, 1870. ¢. Cawnpore, India, April 29th, 1869 (Marshall). E Mus. Lord Tweeddale. a. Gaboon. 6,6. Shillong, May 29th. c,d. Dunsiri valley, Naga hills (Godwin-Austen), c. Dacca. d. Bengal. e, f, g, h. Maunbhoom, March 1864. 7. Formosa, March 1856 (R. Swinhoe). k. Togian Islands (Dr. Meyer). E Mus. Brit. Req. a. Villacedro, Spain. 6, c. Oristano, Sardinia. d. Africa. e. Cape Coast. e, f,g,h,i. Riva Volta. k,l, m. Damara Land. 0, p. Ondonga. r,s. Accra. ¢, u. Hlands Post. v, w. Transvaal. wz, y. Pinetown. z. Zanzibar. aa. Nepal. ab, ac. Madras. E Mus. R. Swinhoe. a, b, c, d. Formosa, March and April (R. S.). e, Shanghai. f. Hainan, February 1868 (R. S.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 3 ad. (from nest). Valencia, April 7th. 4, c, 2 (from nests). Malaga, July 8th. d, ¢ (from nest). Malaga, July 13th. e,3. Malaga, July llth. f, d yuv. Valencia, November 23rd. g,d,h,Q2. Palermo, Sicily (Doderlein). i, ju. Smyrna, July 20th (Kriiper). Genus DRYMCECA. Sylvia apud Lichtenstein, Verz. Doubl. p. 34 (1823). Malurus apud Cretzschmar, in Riipp. Atlas, Vogel, p. 3 (1826). Drymoeca, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 168 (1827). Cysticola apud Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 415 (1831). Prinia apud Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xiii. p. 376 (1844). Drymoica apud Riippell, Syst. Uebers. p. 56 (1845). Suya apud Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 281 (1850). Burnesia apud Jerdon, B. of India, ii. p. 185 (1863). Drymeca apud Blanford, Geol. & Zool. of Abyss. p. 373 (1870). THE present genus, which is closely allied to Cisticola, is found in the extreme south-eastern portion of the Western Palearctic Region, but is more essentially an Ethiopian and Indian genus, though the single species which is found within our limits is resident. In habits it assimilates tolerably closely to Cisticola; and, like those birds, it is usually found in well- watered or damp localities. It is a tolerably good songster; but its song, though sweet, is somewhat short. Its flight is weak and uncertain; and it seldom traverses any considerable distance without resting. Its food consists chiefly of insects of various kinds, which it obtains either amongst the bushes or low trees or on the ground; and its nest, unlike that of the Cisticole, is domed, having an entrance in the side, and is deep, almost purse-shaped, and large for the size of the bird. It is built suspended above the ground in a bunch of grass; and the eggs are speckled with deep red on a pale greenish ground. ‘The type of the present genus is Drymeca maculosa (Bodd.), an African species not found in the Western Palearctic Region ; so I give the characters of the single species which occurs here, and which is congeneric with it (Drymeca gracilis), as follows, viz.:—Bill somewhat slender, rather broad at the base, moderately long, decurved towards the tip; nostrils basal, oval; gape furnished with tolerably long bristles ; wings short, broad; first quill well developed, half the length of the second, which is about equal to the ninth, third and fourth nearly equal, the latter being the longest; tail very long, much graduated, consisting of ten rectrices; tarsi long, covered in front with four plates and three inferior scutelle; feet moderate, claws rather short, curved. 24 Il JGKeulemans lith. STREAKED WREN WARBLER. DRYMACA GRACILIS. Hanhart imp DRYM@CA GRACILIS. (STREAKED WREN WARBLER.) Sylvia gracilis, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 34 (1823). Sylvia textrix, Audouin, Expl. somm. Pl. Ois. de ’Egypte, p. Malurus gracilis (Licht.), Cretzsch. in Riipp. Atlas Vogel, p. Cysticola (Licht.), Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 415 (1831). Prinia lepida, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xiii. p. 376 (1844). Drymoica gracilis (Licht.), Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 56 (1849). Drymoica lepida, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 460 (1847). Suya lepida (Blyth), Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 281 (1850). Burnesia lepida (Blyth), Jerd. B. of Ind. i. p. 185 (1863). Suya gracilis (Licht.), Adams, Ibis, 1864, p. 17. “ Prinia gracilis, Riipp.,’ Adams, ut supra. Drymeca gracilis (Licht.), Blanf. Geol. & Zool. of Abyss. p. 373 (1870). 277 (1825, nec Vieill.). 3 (1826). Figure notabiles. Riipp. Atlas, tab. 2. fig.@; Temm. Pl. Col. 466. fig. 1; Savigny, Ois. de Egypte, pl. 5. fig. 4; Gould, B. of Asia, part vii. g ad. supra olivaceo-cinerascens umbrino tinctus, nigricanti striatus, subtus sericeo-albus, hypochondriis brunneo-cervino lavatis: remigibus et rectricibus fuscis, illis olivaceo-cinereo marginatis: cauda elongata, gradata, delicatissimé fasciolata, pallidiore terminata et fascidé anteapicali nigricante notata: rostro plumbeo-corneo, mandibula versus basin incarnatd: iride flavo-fuscd: pedibus rubello-flavi- cantibus. Adult Male (Adalia, 18th December). Upper parts olivaceous grey with a brown tinge, each feather with a broad blackish brown central streak, these streaks being broader on the crown and dorsal region, the rump being scarcely marked; quills blackish brown, margined with warm olivaceous grey ; tail brown above, obsoletely banded with narrow transverse lines, below paler than above, with lighter tips and a dark subterminal band to the feathers; underparts silky white with obsolete streaks on the throat; the flanks washed with pale warm buff; bill plumbeous, the lower mandible flesh-coloured, except at the tip; iris light yellowish brown; legs fleshy yellow. Total length about 5 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 1:7, tail 2°85, tarsus 0°7. Adult Female (Adalia). Undistinguishable from the male in colour. Tus interesting little bird, which is quite common in North-east Africa and India, only just comes within the scope of the present work; for the only portion of the Western Palearctic Region it inhabits is Asia Minor, where it is said to be resident and common in some parts; and it certainly breeds numerously in Palestine. In a letter from Dr. Kriiper written some time 5M D) ago, this gentleman says, “I am sure that this Warbler occurs at Smyrna; and both this year and eight years ago I observed a Warbler on some high trees in the Torbali cemetery which I believe to have been Drymeca gracilis. Near Beyrout it is resident and not uncommon.” Mr. Danford obtained several specimens in Adalia in December; and he informs me that it is common in marshy districts all along the southern coast of Asia Minor, and he observed it on the Giaour Dagh up to an altitude of 2000 feet. Canon Tristram remarks (Ibis, 1865, p. 82), the Streaked Wren Warbler is “one of the characteristic birds of Palestine, and, like all the others I have named, is a permanent resident. I had met with it in Egypt, where, however, I believe, it does not remain throughout the year, and it is certainly there neither so conspicuous nor so easy of observation in its habits as in Syria. It is here spread throughout the whole country wherever there is water, preferring the neighbourhood of streams, and remaining in the low plains during winter, but ascending to the hill-sides in spring. In its actions it has much of the character of the Salicarie, and even in its note also, excepting in tone, for it is without their jarring harshness. The little fellow will often run up a reed or tamarisk-twig just in front of your horse, and then, after giving forth his blithe shrill note for a few seconds, as he clings, with head erect and tail downwards, will suddenly rise into the air and hover overhead, warbling like the Cisticole, or as the Willow-Wren will sometimes, but rarely, do at home.” In North-east Africa Drymaca gracilis is resident and tolerably numerous. Von Heuglin says that it inhabits Arabia Petreea, Nubia, Takah, and the Bogos country, is resident and breeds in Nubia in June, July, and August, but earlier than that in Egypt; and, according to Captain Shelley (B. of Egypt, p. 98), it is ‘“‘abundant both in the fields and marshes of Egypt and Nubia, where it remains throughout the year. Its song is powerful and melodious, and is frequently to be heard amongst the reeds. ‘There are apparently two constant forms of this bird; but they hardly differ sufficiently to be separated as distinct species. I only brought home one specimen that exactly agreed with the plate in Rtippell’s ‘Atlas,’ while all those that I have seen from Lower Egypt belong to the other form; that is to say, they are darker in colour, have the whole of the shaft-markings more strongly pronounced, are rather larger, and have darker bills. In habits the former appears to be the common species in Upper Egypt and Nubia, and frequents the fields, while the latter is most abundant in the Delta, and usually to be met with in marshes or damp localities.” Mr. Blanford found it numerous amongst the low bushes on the plains near Zoulla, in Abyssinia. In Asia it ranges as far east as India. Mr. Blanford found it common in Baluchistan and Southern Persia, ascending to the southern portion of the highlands at Shiraz; and it probably inhabits South-western 'Turcomania, being, I believe, the Atraphornis platyura of Severtzoff, which species, he says, is found also on the western shores of the Caspian (in 1859). Mfr. A. O. Hume writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 195) respecting this species as follows:—‘ This bird was equally abundant with Drymoitpus longicaudatus, and in the same situations. It is a much commoner bird than is generally thought. I have it from various parts of the Doab, from the. Punjab, and from several localities in Rajpootana, notably the neighbourhood of the Sambhur Lake, where Mr. Adam informs me that it is very common. Along the banks of the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Sutlej, and the Indus, wherever there was any vegetation, but especially tamarisk-bushes, you could scarcely fail to meet with fifty specimens in an hour’s walk. Indeed, 3 in Sindh it was much commoner than Drymoipus longicaudatus, but not nearly so common as along the banks of the great rivers.” According to Dr. Jerdon it is found along the Hoogly, the Indus, and the Ganges; Captain Beavan says that it is common at Maunbhoom; Mr. E. A. Butler records it from Mount Aboo (where, however, it is sparingly met with), Mr. W. E. Brooks from Mussouri and Gangaotri; and, according to Mr. A. O. Hume (Stray Feathers, iii. p. 136), Mr. Oates obtained it at Thayetmyo, in Upper Pegu. In habits this bird is said to be very active and restless, frequenting the thickets and low bushes, from which it is extremely difficult to drive it out. It creeps and climbs about in the close foliage with ease, resembling in that respect our comnon Wren, and is not unfrequently seen on the ground in search of insects, and amongst dense reed-growth; and as it hops and climbs about it carries its tail high, sometimes quite erect, especially when it utters its clear low call-note. The male is said to be of a jealous and quarrelsome temperament; and during the pairing-season they may often be seen fighting and pursuing each other. In Maunbhoom, Captain Beavan says (Ibis, 1867, p. 454), this bird often “goes about in parties of seven or eight, sometimes more, frequenting the low and thick bushes of Zizyphus jujuba. In watching a flock of them, some are seen diligently searching every twig and leaf, others on bare twigs near the ground prying intently among the leaves, another, mayhap, on a fallen leaf, with his tail cocked up, and whole attitude one of the greatest consequence. Another, on the top of the bush, is preening himself, twisting his body, and stretching his wings; and the last, on the point of flying off to a neighbouring bush covered with scarlet flowers, gives a preparatory circular sweep with his tail, and is off, soon to be followed by all the rest. “The male has a very sweet but short song. ‘The peculiar silky texture of the feathers of the breast is remarkable. ‘They are sometimes, but not often, seen in low trees. The whole flock, when they see any thing unusual, will commence their chirping-call of tee-tee-tee, whence the native name ‘Teep-tee-pee.’” Mr. Blanford, who met with it in Persia, says (KE. Pers. ii. p. 207) that he always saw it in sandy semi-desert localities or salt swamps. ‘Sometimes it is found in thick bushes, but more frequently in the scattered shrubs and small bushes scattered about deserts and sandy shores. It is an active little bird, constantly in motion inside the bushes, hunting for insects amongst the twigs and occasionally on the ground under the bush, and flying the shortest of distances with the feeblest of flights. Its nest, which I saw on the Abyssinian coast, is like that of other Drymece, made of grass, oval, and with an entrance at the side near the top. The eggs are described by Von Heuglin as white spotted with brownish. Specimens killed on the 17th of March at Jalk were breeding.”” In his notes on the ornithology of Abyssinia this gentleman also remarks that ‘this bird has the usual hiding, skulking habits of the genus; and consequently it was by no means easy to procure specimens. In general it is only seen for an instant flying with a weak uncertain flight from one bush to _ another, which it immediately enters, and is lost amongst the roots and branches. It is always solitary or in pairs, never in flocks. Mr. Jesse found the nest, with two young birds apparently only hatched a few days before, on June 12. It was neatly constructed chiefly of grass, with the entrance at the side, and placed in a hedge which surrounded the Commissariat enclosure.” The nest of the Streaked Wren Warbler is fully domed, having the entrance at the side. Mr. Andrew Anderson, who found it breeding on the Ganges, writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 237):—“TI 5M 2 Oo + first became acquainted with this interesting little bird in April 1871; but although it was far from uncommon, I found it very local and confined entirely to the tamarisk-covered islands and ‘churs’ along the Ganges. From dissections made it was evident that these birds were then breeding: and any doubts there may have been on this score were speedily removed; for shortly afterwards I saw young fledgelings being fed by the parent birds. I need hardly say that the acquisition of the nest and eggs of this diminutive bird was looked forward to with no small degree of pleasure; but, unfortunately, it was then too hot for me to work at the subject per- sonally, and the matter was left in the hands of my native collectors, with the usual unsatis- factory results. “This season, having returned from my cold-weather tour somewhat earlier than usual, I devoted my mornings to exploring the islands, determined to become possessed of this deside- ratum; but fresh difficulties had to be overcome. Not only had the river changed its course, but the favourite haunts of the Thao Warblers had been washed away by the late unprecedented heavy rains. This added to the distance I had to travel before productive hunting-ground could be reached, which, with the delay in crossing the river, &c., left me only two hours for actual collecting, notwithstanding I frequently got up at 2 a.m. “ Under these circumstances any great success was hardly to be expected; and the acquisi- tion of two nests has been the sole result of my exertions. But these, I pride myself, are unique, so far as Indian-taken specimens are concerned; another week and it would have been again too late. The first nest was taken on the 13th of March last, and contained three well- incubated eggs; of these I saved only one specimen, which is now in the collection of Mr. Brooks. The second was found on the following day, and contained two callow young and one perfectly fresh egg. In both cases one of the parent birds was shot off the nest; so that the eggs have been thoroughly identified. “In its actions, habits, and nest-architecture Burnesia lepida resembles the true Drymece. The nest is domed over, having an entrance at the side; and the cavity is comfortably lined or, rather, felted with the down of the madar plant. It is fixed, somewhat after the fashion of that of the Reed-Warbler, in the centre of a dense clump of surput grass, about two feet above the ground. On the whole, the structure is rather large for so small a bird, and measures six inches in height by four in breadth.” An egg sent to Mr. A. O. Hume by Mr. Anderson is described by him as being “ very broad, oval in shape, a good deal compressed, however, and pointed towards the small end. The shell is very fine, and has a decided gloss. In colouring the egg is exactly like that of some of the Blackbirds, a pale-green ground, profusely speckled and streaked with a bright, only slightly brownish, red; the markings are densest round the large end, where they form a broad, nearly confluent, well-marked, but imperfect and irregular zone. It measures 0°55 by 0°41.” Von Heuglin and Mr. Jerdon, and Mr. E. A. Butler all agree tolerably well in their description of the eggs of this species, except that Von Heuglin describes the ground-colour as white; but, curiously enough, Canon Tristram, who assures me that he could not possibly be mistaken in the eggs of this Warbler, as he has taken so many, describes the eggs as being “‘ richly-coloured pink with a zone of dashed red near the larger end, in shape and colour resembling some of the Prinia group.” 5 I must confess that I am quite unable to reconcile these conflicting statements, especially as I have assured myself, by a careful comparison of examples from Asia Minor, Palestine, North Africa, and India, that there is no specific difference between the birds from the different localities. Some are paler than others; but these, I observe, were in every case obtained in desert places, where all birds appear to be paler in general coloration. The specimen figured is an adult male from Adalia in my own collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. FE. Dresser. a, 3,6, c,?. Adalia, December 18th, 1874 (C. G. Danford). d,3. Egypt, February 28th, 1870 (G. E. Shelley). E Mus. Brit. Req. a. Gennesareth. 6. Brook Kishon. c. Tiberias (H. B. Tristram). d. Nile. e, 3,f,2. Zoulla, Abyssinia, January 1868 (W. T. Blanford). g,&. Jal, Baluchistan, March 17th, 1872. h, 2. Bahu Kelat, Baluchistan, February 3rd, 1872 (Blanford). 7. N.W. Himalayas (Capt. Pinwill). E Mus. H. Seebohm. a, 3. Adalia, December 18th, 1874 (C. G. Danford). 6, 6. Carmel, Palestine, March 24th, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). L7 Subfamily CRATEROPODINA. Genus ARGYA. Turdus apud Desfontaines, Mém. de Acad. Roy. Sc. 1787, p. 498. Malurus apud Cretzschmar, in Riipp. Atl. p. 19 (1826). Sphenura apud Ehrenberg, Symb. Phys. fol. cc (1828). Argya, Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 402 (1831). Crateropus apud Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 278 (1850). UnbovusTEDLY the Bush-babblers must be ranged near the Warblers, and in the large family Turdide, though they form a clearly distinct subfamily, in which there is only the present genus. The Bush-babblers inhabit the extreme southern portion of the Palearctic Region, the northern portion of the Ethiopian, and the Indian Regions, two species only being found within the limits of the regions of which I treat. In habits these birds are somewhat peculiar, differing considerably from the Thrushes and Warblers. ‘They frequent the rough scrub in desert places, creeping about amongst the thickets with ease; and they are said to run with facility on the ground from bush to bush. Their flight resembles that of the Starling; and they are as garrulous as that bird. They build a large nest of roots and grasses, which is placed on a bush, and deposit uniform dark-blue eggs. They feed on insects, berries, and seeds. Argya squamiceps, the type of the genus, has the bill moderate in size, curved towards the tip; nostrils oval, placed in the anterior portion of the nasal depression, which is posteriorly feathered; gape without bristles; wings broad, rather short, first quill about three quarters the length of the second, which is shorter than the eighth, the third to the seventh nearly equal, the fourth being the longest; tail long, much graduated ; legs and feet strong, the tarsus covered in front with five plates and three inferior scutelle. 25 19 he) {-ALGERIAN BUSH-BABBLER. ARGYA FULVA. 2.PALESTINE BUSH-BABBLER. ARGYA SQUAMATA. ARGYA FULVA. (ALGERIAN BUSH-BABBLER.) Turdus fulous, Desfont. Mém. de l’Acad. Roy. Sc. 1787, p. 498, pl. x1. Malurus numidicus, Levaill. jun., Expl. Sc. de ’Alg. Atl. Ois. pl. 9. fig. 1, fide Malh. Faun. Orn. de l’Alg. p. 11 (1855). Crateropus acacie, Malh, Faun. Orn. de lAlg. p. 18 (1855, nec Riipp.). Crateropus fulvus (Desf.), Bp. Cat. Parzud. p. 18. sp. 23 (1856). Crateropus numidicus (Lev.), Loche, Cat. Mamm. et Ois. obs. en Alg. p. 75 (1858). Figure notabiles. Desf. J. c.; Levaill. J. ¢. ¢ ad. corpore supra rufescenti-isabellino vix brunneo tincto: pilei et dorsi plumis centraliter pallidé brunneo notatis: alis et caudd sordidé brunnescenti-isabellinis, remigibus extus pallidé isabellino marginatis : mento et gula albis: corpore reliquo subtus pallidé rufescenti-isabellino, abdomine centraliter fere albo : rostro nigricanti-corneo: iride fusca: pedibus pallidé brunnescenti-flavis vix viridi tinctis. © ad. mari similis. Adult Female (Algeria). Upper parts rufous isabelline with a faint brownish tinge, the centre of the feathers on the head and back rather darker and browner; wings and tail dull isabelline with a dusty brownish tinge, the quills externally margined with pale isabelline; chin and upper throat pure white ; rest of the underparts pale warm rufous isabelline, fading to creamy white on the centre of the abdomen; bill blackish horn; iris ight brown; legs pale brownish yellow with a faint shade of greenish. Total length about 10 inches, culmen 0°9, wing 3°85, tail 5:5, tarsus 1°3. Sexes alike. Tue range of the present species, like that of its near ally Argya squamiceps, is extremely limited ; for it inhabits only North-western Africa, being chiefly met with in Algeria, where Loche says that he met with it in the vicinity of Sidi-Maklouf, Laghouat, in the oases of Alica, Ait el Chebrok, and various other localities in the Sahara; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake states that he met with it between Morocco and Mogador; but M. Favier does not appear to have observed it in the northern portions of Tangier. It was first discovered by Desfontaines in Tunis, the locality given by him being Cafsa. The chief information I can glean respecting the habits and nidification of the present species is what has been published by Loche and Canon Tristram. The latter gentleman writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 420) as follows:—“ This bird forms one of the features of Saharan ornithology, numerous wherever there are trees either wild or cultivated, and as noisy and garrulous as the Starling, whom it much resembles in its manner of flight. It flies very straight, with its long tail expanded, and is very wary. Often secreting themselves by threes and fours in a shrub, 3N2 re) 92 _ these birds remain closely concealed, till at the pursuer’s near approach they silently steal away close to the ground to the next bush. ‘They are generally in companies of seven or eight. Invariably do they alight at the foot of the tree or bush, and then noiselessly creep up to the very top, descending in line on the other side, except one sentinel, who remains perched on the topmost bough to give the alarm of danger. Often as I have watched them, I never saw them omit this precaution. The note is very peculiar—chur-chur-r-r, wheer-wheer-wheer. ‘The nest is a loose fabric of sticks and fine roots and straws; and I was told by the Arabs that they lay a blue egg, which Captain Loche has since had forwarded to him, and of which I have received a specimen. ‘They are considered good eating by the French Spahi officers, and have wonderful medicinal qualities according to the Arab Hakeems. I found the flesh bitter and dry. The sexes are alike in plumage. On dissection I have found the gizzard filled indiscriminately with beetles and seeds.” Loche says that it is only met with in the southern portion of Algeria, where it frequents the oases, in which it finds its food, which consists of insects, seeds, and small berries. It is sprightly in its habits, and runs more than it flies, and retreats when pursued by running from one bush to the other. It only perches on low bushes; and its flight is short and jerky. It is usually found in flocks of seven to ten individuals, is noisy and restless; and its song is a plaintive and often repeated whistle. It nests close to the ground, on bushes; and its nest is large and somewhat carelessly built of grass-bents and a few roots, and lined with a little wool and a few feathers. Its eggs, three or four in number, are clear azure-blue, unspotted, and measure about 24 millims. by 19 millims. The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Argya squamiceps, is an adult bird from Algeria in my own collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, Q. Algeria (Fairmaire). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 2. Laghouat, November 18th, 1856. 6, ¢. Blad el Amer, Algeria, December 24th, 1856 (H. B. T.). E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. a¢d,b,@. Algerian Sahara, April 26th, 1870 (J. H. G., jun.). 23 ARGYA SQUAMICEPS. (PALESTINE BUSH-BABBLER.) Malurus squamiceps, Cretzschm. in Riipp. Atl. taf. 12. p. 19 (1826). _ Sphenura squamiceps (Cretzsch.), Ehr. Symb. Phys. fols. ce et dd (1828). Argya rueppelli, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 402 (1821). Crateropus squamiceps (Cretzsch.), Bp. Conspectus Gen. Av. p. 278 (1850). Crateropus chalybeus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 765 (1856), Crateropus chalybetus (Bp.), Tristram, Ibis, 1865, p. 79, Crateropus chalybius (Bp.), Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 6. Figura unica. Rupp. 0. ¢. 3 ad. corpore supra pallidé umbrino-cinereo, plumis in pileo, capitis lateribus et dorso centraliter fusco notatis : alis et caudd pallidé umbrino-cinereis, remigibus in pogonio interno saturatioribus: corpore subtus pallidiore, mento, gula et abdomine centraliter fere albis, gula: et pectoris plumis centraliter fumoso notatis: hypochondriis et subcaudalibus pallidé brunnescente cervino lavatis: rostro brunnescenti- corneo, ad basin flavicante: iride brunned: pedibus pallidé brunneis. mari similis. Adult Male (Engedi, Palestine, January). Upper parts of a peculiar greyish dust-brown, most nearly resembling that of the dry but unroasted coffee-bean; feathers on the crown, sides of the head, and back with lighter edges and dark brown centres; wings and tail greyish dust-brown, the inner webs of the former rather darker; underparts paler than the upper parts, the chin, the centre of the throat, and of the abdomen nearly pure white; feathers on the throat and breast with dark centres; flanks and under tail-coverts tinged with warm buff; bill horn-brown, yellowish at the base; iris reddish brown ; legs light brown. ‘Total length about 11°5 inches, culmen 1:0, wing 4°3, tail 5:7, tarsus 2°45, outer tail-feather 2 inches shorter than the central ones. Female (Jericho), Undistinguishable from the male in colour or markings, but, if any thing, a very trifle less in size. Young (Jericho, 14th April). Resembles the adult, except that the feathers are short, and the plumage is rather loose and lax. Tue range of this Babbler is very limited. First described by Riippell from Akabah, in Arabia, it was subsequently obtained in Palestine, and redescribed by Bonaparte, and has also been met with in Arabia Petrea; thus it only just comes within the limits of the Palearctic Region. It appears to be most numerous in Palestine, whence all the specimens I have examined have been obtained. Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1865, p. 80) as follows :—“ It is strictly confined to the 31 CN 2 larger oases round the Dead Sea, and is well known to European residents as the ‘ Hopping Thrush’ of Jericho, and is evidently the ‘ Mocking-bird’ of Lynch’s ‘ Narrative.’ It is abundant in the rich oases of Ain Sultan and Ain Duk at the north-west of the Dead Sea, in the sultry corner at the north-east under the hills of Moab (the ancient plain of Shittim), and at the south- east end in the luxuriant tangles of the Safieh. A few inhabit the shrubs of Engedi; and we found it once or twice at the Wady Zuweirah, at the south-west of the Dead Sea. Nowhere else did it come under our observation; and thus we find a distinct and most characteristic species limited to an area of forty miles by twelve, and not occupying more than ten square miles in the whole of that area, so far as our present knowledge extends.” Von Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.- Afr. p. 389) that it inhabits the bushes and trees, in pairs and small families, in Arabia Petrea and Hedjaz, especially on the borders of the Gulf of Akabah, and he believes that he saw it at Sauakin. In the collection made by Hemprich and Ehrenberg, now at Berlin, I found two specimens, both from Arabia. It is said to occur in Nubia; but I think it probable that A. acacie may have been mistaken for the present species. Except what has been published by Canon Tristram, there is scarcely any thing on record respecting the habits of the present species. This gentleman writes (/. ¢.) that the Bush- Babblers are “ most sociable and noisy birds, always in small bands, though not in large flocks, hopping along the ground in a long line with jerking tail, and then, one after another, running up a bush, where they maintain a noisy conversation till the stranger’s approach, when they drop down in single file, and run along the ground to repeat the same proceedings in the next tree. The nest is a large clumsy structure, placed always in the centre of a thorn-tree, and requiring some little labour with the hatchet to clear a way to it. It is composed entirely of strips of bark loosely woven together, and without any other lining. One in my collection looks much like a very large nest of Savi’s Warbler, from this peculiarity of the employment of but a single material. The eggs are four to six in number, dark rich green, smaller than those of the common Thrush, and a little larger than the eggs of Crateropus fulvus. The parent birds continue their attention to the young for some time after they leave the nest; and I have been amused in watching the manner in which the old bird will remain at the top of a bush, scolding and screaming at the intruder till all her brood have dropped down one after the other, and are running to the next tree, when she suddenly runs down and follows them in silence, to repeat the same manceuvre so long as she is followed. ‘Their food consists principally, if not entirely, of the berries of the zizyphus or jujube, which are to be found at all seasons of the year.” I possess eggs of the present species received from Canon Tristram, which agree with his description above given, but have never had an opportunity of examining a nest of this bird. The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Argya fulva, is the male above described, and was obtained in Palestine by Canon Tristram. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— Q v E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 3. Engedi, Palestine, January 22nd, 1864. 6,92. Jericho, January 7th, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 3. Jericho, March 29th, 1858. 6,¢,¢,d,@. Jericho, January 1864. 1864. g,juv. Jericho, April 14th, 1864 (H. B. T.). E Mus. Berol. a. Arabia. 6. Mecca (Hempr. & Ehr.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, @. Jericho, January 4th, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). é,f, 2: Engedi, January 22nd, yee5) Family ACCENTORIDZ. Genus ACCENTOR. Curruca apud Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 394 (1760). Motacilla apud Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 829 (1766). Sturnus apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 131 (1769). Sylvia apud Latham, Ind. Orn. ii. 511 (1790). Accentor, Bechstein, Orn. Taschenb. i. p. 191 (1802). Prunella apud Vieillot, Nouv. Analyse, p. 43 (1816). Spermolegus apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 152 (1829). Tharrhaleus apud Kaup, op. cit. p. 137 (1829). Laiscopus apud Gloger, Naturg. p. 267 (1842). Nartvratists differ not a little in opinion as to the proper place for this genus, some having placed it amongst the Thrushes, and others amongst the Warblers. Sundevall goes so far as to place it very far distant from the Thrushes and Warblers, amongst the Conirostres, making a separate “ phalanx,” which he calls Decempennate, for the Accentors alone. This course appears to me to be inexpedient ; and I have deemed it more advisable to make a separate family for these birds, placing them between the Crateropodine and the Panuride. This genus is but a small one; it is confined to the Paleearctic and northern portions of the Oriental Regions, and has, though rarely, been met with in North Africa. In the Western Palearctic Region three species only have occurred, two of which are resident, and the third is only a straggler from the Kastern Palearctic Region. In habits the Accentors vary somewhat iter se; and the Hedge:Accentar differs not a little from its congener the Alpine Accentor, in general habits, mode of nidification, and choice of habitat; for whereas the latter affects lonely, rugged, mountainous places, and places its nest in a cleft of a rock or on the ground under a stone, the Hedge-Accentor affects gardens and cultivated places, and builds in a bush or hedge. All the Accentors deposit uniformly-coloured greenish-blue eggs, and build somewhat bulky nests of grass bents and fine roots &c. lined with wool or hair. ‘They are good songsters, and may be heard singing even during the winter in fine clear weather. They feed on seeds as well as insects, and have the stomach very muscular. They are resident, only changing their quarters in winter when driven away from their summer haunts by the severity of the season and consequent scarcity of food. Accentor collaris, the type of the genus, has the bill moderately long, straight, rather conical, broad at the base, compressed towards the tip, nostrils rather elongated in shape, placed in the anterior portion of the nasal depression; gape without any perceptible bristles; wings moderate, rather rounded, the first quill very small, the third and fourth the longest; tail tolerably long, nearly square; tarsus moderately strong, covered in front with four plates and three inferior scutellz, tarsus feathered at the upper end; feet tolerably strong, the outer and middle toe joined at the base, claws strong, curved, that on the hind toe much the strongest. 26 te) ALPINE ACCENTOR ACCENTOR COLLARIS. 151 , ACCENTOR COLLARIS. (ALPINE ACCENTOR.) Sturnus collaris, Scop. Ann. 1. Hist. Nat. p. 131 (1769). Fauvette des Alpes, Montb. Pl. Enl. vi. pl. 668. fig. 2 (1783). Alpine Warbler, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 2, p. 434 (1783). Motacilla alpina, Gm. 8. N. 1. p. 957 (1788, ex Lath.). Sturnus moritanus, Gm. 8. N. i. p. 804 (1788). Accentor alpinus, Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. i. p. 191 (1802). Accentor major, Brehm, Naum. 1856, p. 286. Accentor subalpinus, Brehm, Naum. 1855, p. 285. Accentor collaris, Newton, ed. Yarr. Brit. B. i. p. 296 (1872). Fauvette des Alpes, Accenteur alpin, French; Alpen-Flihvogel, German. Figure notabiles. Montb. Pl. Enl. vi. pl. 668. fig. 2; Naum. Vog. Deutschl. iii. taf. 92. fig. 1; Gould, B. Kur. i. pl. 99; id. B. Gt. Br. pt. xiii. (1868); Bettoni, Ucc. Lomb. pl. —. Ad. supra cinerascens, pilei dorsique plumis medialiter saturaté brunneis, his etiam pallidé stramineo mar- ginatis: dorso imo et uropygio ochraceo-cinerascentibus, supracaudalibus vix rufescentibus fulvo marginatis et medialiter brunneo striatis: scapularibus pallidé rufescentibus, medialiter saturate brunneis: tectricibus alarum cinerascentibus, reliquis nigris albo apicaliter punctatis, majoribus ad basin cineraceo lavatis: remigibus saturaté brunneis, extus ochrascenti-rufo lavatis et albido apicatis : rectricibus brunneis, extts cineraceo marginatis, verstis apicem rufescentibus, pogonio interno apicaliter albo maculato: gutture albido, nigro fasciatim transnotato: pectore et abdomine medio claré cinera- scentibus, hujus plumis brunneo transfasciatis et albido marginatis: corpore laterali pallidé castaneo, plumis hypochondriacis albo marginatis, his imis medialiter brunneis: subcaudalibus nigricanti- brunneis, laté albo marginatis: subalaribus fulvescenti-brunneis, vix rufescentibus, carpalibus nigris albo marginatis quasi transfasciatis: rostro nigricante, ad basin flavicante: pedibus pallidé brunneis : iride brunnea. ® mari similis, Pull. similis adulto sed supra magis olivascens: dorso medio nigro et stramineo vario: tectricibus alarum brunneis rufescenti-ochraceo lavatis et fulvo apicaliter punctatis: subtus ochraceus, brunneo striatus, gula albicante. Adult Male (Savoy Alps). Upper parts dull ashy grey, the head and neck indistinctly striped with dark grey ; feathers of the back with dark brownish central stripes; scapulars washed with bright rufous ; quills dark brown, slightly edged with ashy brown on the outer web, and tipped with dirty white ; secondaries more broadly edged with ashy grey and rufous, the innermost having the inner web broadly 25 e) nd v 2 margined with dull rufous ; wing-coverts blackish brown, the larger ones being broadly margined with brownish grey at the base, and all having pure white apical spots; tail blackish brown, narrowly margined with dull rufous brown, the central feathers with rufous brown, and the outer feathers with white patches at the tip of the inner web; throat white, each feather having a black tip, thus giving almost the appearance of scales; breast and abdomen dull ashy grey, the feathers on the latter having a narrow oblique line of blackish brown across the tip, the terminal portion being dull ashy white; flanks rich light chestnut-red, most of the feathers beimg margined with white ; under tail-coverts blackish brown, broadly tipped with white; under wing-coverts blackish brown tipped with white; beak blackish brown, yellowish at the base; legs and feet cimnamon-brown; claws black; iris brown. Total length 7-5 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 4:1, tail 2-9, tarsus 1:0. Female. Undistinguishable in plumage from the male. Young Female (Sierra Nevada, August 1870). Very similar to the adult, but having rufous edgings to the feathers on the back, the grey underparts being duller, and washed with buff, and the white on the throat of the adult bird being entirely absent. Nestling. Upper parts very similar in character to the adult, but with the quills, especially the secondaries, broadly margined and tipped with rufous; the short stumpy tail dark brown, broadly tipped with dull rufous ; entire underparts buffy white, on the flanks washed with yellowish buff, and everwhere striped with dark brown, each feather having a broad central line of that colour. As its name implies, the present species is an inhabitant of the high mountains; but its range does not extend far to the north; and if we say that it is found in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, we give as nearly as possible its geographical range. In Great Britain it is known but as a very rare straggler, having only occurred a few times in the southern part of England; and we cannot do better than quote our friend Professor Newton, who, with reference to the various instances of its occurrence which are on record, writes, in his edition of Yarrell, as follows :—‘ By the kindness of the late Dr. Thackeray I am enabled to give a figure of the Alpine Accentor from the female specimen killed in what was then the garden of King’s College, Cambridge, on November 22nd, 1822, and recorded in the ‘ Zoological Journal’ for 1824 (i. p. 134). At that time two of these birds had been occasionally seen climbing about the buildings, or feeding on the grass-plots, and were so tame that one of them was supposed to have fallen a victim to a cat: the other was shot as stated; and the specimen is preserved at Eton. The species, however, had been previously observed in England, though the fact was not recorded until April 1832 (Mag. Nat. Hist. v. p. 288); for so long ago as August 1817, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informed the Editor, an example, still in the possession of Mr. Pamplin, was shot by him in the garden of Forest House, near Walthamstow, in Essex. About March 1824 Mr. Richard Lubbock attentively observed a third at Oulton, near Lowestoft, in Suffolk, as he mentions in his ‘Fauna of Norfolk.’ I am indebted to the late Dean Goodenough for the knowledge of the occurrence of another example, which was shot in his garden at Wells, in Somersetshire, in 1833. On January 9th, 1844, a bird was shot by Mr. Jordan on the rocks near Teignmouth, which, though originally taken for a Richard's Pipit, is stated by Mr. W. S. Hore (Zool. p. 566) to have been an Alpine Accentor; and the same gentleman subsequently recorded (Zool. p. 879) a specimen obtained soon after near Torbay, which the Editor believes 3 to have been killed at Berry Head, and shown to him by its owner, Mr. F. M. Lyte, in December 1850. Mr. Porter states (Zool. p. 5958) that on December 26th, 1857, two were shot on the Downs near Lewes, and on January 10th, 1859, Mr. Gatcombe obtained a pair of this species, which he had seen about three weeks before, on the rocks of Plymouth Citadel. In addition to the record he made at the time (Zool. p. 6377), he has been so good as to inform the Editor that their ‘ actions, when hopping about on the cliffs, resembled those of the Hedge- Sparrow, and the reddish mark on their sides appeared as nearly as conspicuous as that of the Redwing. They were very tame, but when frightened took refuge in a sort of cave, uttering notes which resembled the words tree, tree, tree,—similar to those made by many small birds when fighting. Another specimen was, according to Colonel Newman, writing in February 1860 (Zool. p. 6889), shot some time previously near Cheltenham; and Mr. W. W. Boulton mentions (Zool. p. 8766) his having seen one, in 1863, which had been shot near Scarborough ; while the Editor has been informed by Mr. Howard Saunders (who is perfectly well acquainted with the Alpine Accentor) that on August 20th, 1870, he watched one for about a quarter of an hour on one of the highest Welsh mountains, most admirably refraining from shooting it, or even mentioning the fact to his guide.” In Scandinavia the Alpine Accentor does not occur; but it has been recorded from Heligo- land; and in Northern Germany it is occasionally met with, when, during the cold season, it is driven down by the severe cold from its home in the high mountain-ranges. Our friend Mr. Taczanowski informs us that it is found in the ‘latra Mountains of Galicia; and Count Wodzicki, in his excursion in the Tatra and Carpathians of Galicia in 1851, says:—‘“ I found the Alpine Accentor less shy in the Tatra Mountains than in the other mountains of Europe, as the appearance of man in these solitary parts does not cause them to show any signs of fear; and they did not seem to be aware of danger until I had fired several times, when they took refuge in the rocks, from which I could not dislodge them. If, however, a person hides himself, they soon return. I never met with them below the altitude of 4000 feet; in many mountains in the Tatra range they are found in small colonies of twenty to forty pairs, nesting on the Polish Tomanova and Czerwony-wierzch ; but in the Alps I have never found them so gregarious during the nesting-season. Clothed as they are with an abundance of soft plumage, they withstand the most severe cold; and only when the snow covers the seeds do they descend the slope of the mountains on the Hungarian side, and not on our side. Like the Larks, they feed in the autumn on seeds of various Alpine plants, and in summer on coleoptera and other insects. They are greedy, and get as fat as Buntings.” It occasionally straggles during the winter season into Belgium and the north of France. Baron de Selys refers to one having been taken in a garden near Antwerp during the severe winter of 1835, when a pair were seen, but only one bird secured ; and Degland and Gerbe state that it has been killed at St. Omer and near Bergues. In the south of France it is met with in the valleys of Provence during severe winters, but is by no means a common species there. In Portugal, according to Professor Barboza du Bocage, it is rare; but in Spain it appears to be more numerous. Mr. Howard Saunders writes that he “observed the Alpine Accentor in the Sierra Nevada; and a friend who this year ascended the Pichaco de la Veleta found it extremely abundant there. Mr, J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that he saw one clinging to the masonry outside the signal-station at Gibraltar in December.” 2F2 ww 4 Major Irby also informs us that he has seen it three or four times in the month of January on the rock of Gibraltar. Mr. A. Basil Brooke writes to us stating that he found it “common in the Pyrenees, where he saw them in small flocks, in the months of April and May, at an elevation of about 5000 feet.” It is, however, in all probability, most numerous in the Alps, where Bailly writes that “it is found during the breeding-season in the Alps of Maurienne, Mont Cenis, and Chamounix, and is met with as high as the regions of eternal snow. It also inhabits, though sparingly, the rocky localities of the Tarentaise Alps (especially near the glaciers of Allues), the mountains of Bauges, amongst others those of Margeriaz, Rozannas, and Tréloz, and has been observed at Grand-Son, Arpétaz, Mount Grenier, and other places.” In Italy it is not common, but descends there from the mountains in the cold season ; and in Sardinia, according to Salvadori, it is only accidental; this gentleman further states that there are two Sardinian-killed specimens in the Museum there. Mr. A. Basil Brooke also writes that “this bird is of very rare occurrence in Sardinia; but my brother, Sir Victor Brooke, who was there with me in November 1869, observed a small flock hopping about the rocks at the back of Villacidro.” As regards its occurrence in Greece, Lindermayer considers that it is resident in that country, as he observed it both in winter and in summer, and found the nest with eggs and young. During the breeding- season it inhabits the mountains in the north of Greece, and perhaps also the heights of the Peloponnesus, but does not occur on the islands. In the winter season it descends to the plains, and there inhabits the dense thickets. It is found in the mountains of Southern Germany; and Seidensacher found it in Styria, on the Bachergebirge, in May 1862, and states that many descend from the heights in winter, and that numbers have been caught at Tiiffer. In Austria it is usually called, as we are informed by Victor Ritter von Tschusi Schmidhofen, Steinlerche or Stonelark. It is common in all the Alpine regions of that country ; and our friend above referred to found it, in June 1869, breeding in the Riesengebirge, and shot a female on the Brunnberg. In the Hungarian and Siebenbiirgen Carpathians it is common. In the winter season they descend to the plains, and are often seen far from the mountains. They breed twice a year, about the middle of May and in the middle of July. In Southern Russia Professor von Nord- mann met with it in the mountains of Ghouriel and Abasia, where it was so little shy that it could be caught with a noose attached to a stick; he did not, however, meet with it in the Crimea, and thinks that its absence there is owing to the non-existence of high mountains. As regards its supposed occurrence in Siberia and the Amoor country, Von Middendorff certainly writes that it is not uncommon in the steep cliffs on the southern side of the Sea of Ochotsk, where he observed fledged young on the 16th of July; but he remarks that his specimens, com- pared with others obtained in Switzerland, agree exactly, except that they are rather smaller in size, and have the rump rusty brown, instead of yellowish grey. Von Schrenck also especially refers to the rich rusty red on the rump and upper tail-coverts; and, judging from these remarks, we certainly agree with our friend Mr. R. Swinhoe that the species referred to by these travellers is not Accentor alpinus but Accentor erythropygius, Swinh., of which we have now before us two examples, sent from Darasun in Dauria by Dr. Dybowski. ‘Thus the most eastern locality where it has undoubtedly been met with is Demavend, where De Filippi observed it. We may, how- ever, add that Colonel Drummond-Hay states that it breeds in Crete, where he met with it on the Sfakian range. 5 In its habits it somewhat resembles the Chats or the Rock-Thrushes; and, like the latter, it inhabits the rocky Alpine regions. Naumann says that it is not a lively bird, but that it often remains on one spot, sitting on a stone or edge of a precipice, with puffed-up feathers. It seldom or scarcely ever sits on a bough. Out of the breeding-season one often sees them in families; it is a harmless, confiding bird, flying off but a short distance when disturbed, or else hiding amongst the stones, or running away like a Stonechat, with which it bears considerable affinity. When sitting it often jerks its tail, flutters its wings, and makes quick movements with its head and the fore part of its body. Its flight is quick, being a succession of bow-shaped bounds; but it does not fly far. Its call-note, which it generally utters sitting, and but seldom on the wing, resembles that of the Snow-Finch, and may be reproduced by the syllables tri, tr7, tri. The song of the male is pleasant and varied, but rather melancholy. It resembles the song of the Lark and Pipit, and the more so as it sings not only when sitting on the rocks but when fluttering in the air. Naumann says that the song resembles more that of the Meadow-Pipit, but is some- what like that of the Tree-Pipit. During the breeding-season it is to be met with in the higher Alpine regions of Southern and Central Europe; its nest is placed under a ledge of rock or in some sheltered position. We are indebted to our friend Dr. A. Girtanner, of St. Gallen, for a beautiful nest of this bird, taken in Canton Uri, Switzerland, in July 1872. This nest is neatly constructed of dried grass bents and fine roots, intermixed with a few lichens, and is lined with the same materials of rather finer texture than those forming the outside of the nest; in size it measures five inches outside and three inches inside diameter. In Dresser’s collection are two sittings of the eggs of this bird, one five and the other four in number; these eggs resemble those of the Common Hedge- Accentor (Accentor modularis), but are larger in size. Our friend Dr. E. Rey informs us that he possesses five eggs, obtained on St. Gothard in June 1869, which in size vary from 23:0 to 23:5 millimetres in length and from 16°25 to 16-75 millimetres in diameter. The adult bird figured and described was obtained in the Savoy Alps, the nestling from near Barcelonette, both being now in Dresser’s collection; and the young bird described is in the collection of Mr. Howard Saunders. - In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 6. Savoy Alps (Count Ercole Turati). 6, 2. Piedmont, December 1859 (Count Salvadori). c. Switzerland. d, pullus. Environs de Barcelonette (E. Fairmaire). e, 3. Sierra Nevada, Spain, May 1872 (Sanchez). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 2. St. Gothard, June. 5. 3. Savoy Alps (Fuirmaire). c, 3. Picacho de Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada, Spain, July 1870. d, 2 juv. Picacho de Mulhacen, August 15th, 1870 (Sanchez). e, d. Sierra Nevada, May 1872 (Sanchez). E Mus. Sir V. Brooke. a. North Italy, 1869 (V. B.). vi Re wy £ ey, ‘i ie 100 MOUNTAIN ACCENTOR. ACCENTOR MONTANELLUS. ACCENTOR MONTANELLUS. (MOUNTAIN-ACCENTOR). Motacilla montanella, Pall. Reisen Prov. Russ. Reichs, iii. p. 695 (1776). Sylvia montanella (Pall.), Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 526 (1790). Accentor montanellus (Pall.), Temm. Man. d’Orn. i. p. 251 (1820). Spermolegus, Kaup (Accentor montanellus, Pall.), Natiirl. Syst. p. 152 (1829). t Accentor temmincki, Brandt, Bull. Ac. Sc. de St. Petersb. 1844, ii. p. 189, fide Midd. Sib. Reise, ii. p. 172. Prunella montanella (Pall.), Bp. Cat. Parzud. p. 7 (1856). ¢ Accentor fulvescens, Severtzoff, Turk. Jevotnie, pp. 66 & 132 (1873). Berg-Braunelle, German. Figure notabiles. Werner, Atlas, Jnsectivores, pl. 77; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 18. fig. 16; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 92. fig. 2; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 101; id. B. of Asia, part xxiii. 3 ad. pileo centraliter cinerascenti-brunneo, pilei lateribus, loris et capitis lateribus cum regione parotica nigris, strid superciliari circum regionem paroticam ducta, guld, gutture et pectore ochraceis: dorsi plumis castaneis cinereo-fusco marginatis: remigibus fuscis extus pallidiore marginatis, secundariis intimis et tectricibus alarum vix castaneo notatis: uropygio et supracaudalibus cinereo-fuscis: cauda fusca, rectricibus vix pallidiore marginatis: corpore subtts imo pallidé ochraceo-cervino, hypochondriis vix brunneo striatis, subcaudalibus centraliter fusco fumosis: rostro nigricante, pedibus brunneis: iride fusca vix flavido tincta. 2 ad. mari similis sed coloribus sordidioribus, corpore subtus albido vix ochraceo tincto. Adult Male (Kultuk, 14th April). Centre of the crown greyish brown, sides of the crown, lores, and sides of the head, including the auriculars, black; a broad yellowish buff band from the base of the bill over the eye and passing round the auriculars to the neck, joining the same colour on the throat and enclosing the auriculars and patch on the side of the head; back chestnut-red, all the feathers broadly margined with greyish brown; quills dark brown, with light-brown margins to the feathers, the inner secondaries and wing-coverts slightly marked with dull chestnut ; rump and upper tail-coverts greyish brown or ashy brown; tail dark brown, the feathers with slightly lighter margins; throat and breast warm ochreous buff, gradually fading on the abdomen to pale buff; flanks slightly striped with brown ; under tail-coverts with the centres of the feathers dull sooty brown; bill blackish; legs light brown ; iris brown, with a yellowish tinge. Total length about 6 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°85, tail 2°6, tarsus 0°75. e Adult Female (Kultuk, 20th April), Resembles the male, but is much duller in colour, the dark portions of the head brownish black, not black, and the underparts are buffy white instead of rich ochreous buff, 36 2 Male in winter (Pekin, December). Differs from the male in spring in having the black on the crown duller, sullied and edged with brown, and the abdomen is whiter. Young just fledged (Chamardaban, fide Taczanowski, J. f. O. 1872, p. 435). Resembles the adult, but is much paler in general coloration, and the breast and throat have brown pencillings or markings. AN inhabitant of Asia, and more especially the eastern portion of that continent, the present species is but a rare straggler to Europe, and, so far as I can ascertain, does not appear to have been met with west of Russia, where, however, it probably remains to breed; for Mr. Sabanaeff, who records it from the Ural, though he only seems to have found it in the Paydinsky Dacha, says that it certainly breeds there. It has once occurred near Jaroslaf, and probably breeds in that province. Early in July nine eggs were found there, which, Mr. Sabanaeff says, were in all probability those of the present species; but he omits to give any description of them. Temminck (J. ¢.) states that it “is not common in the Neapolitan states, Dalmatia, and in Southern Hungary ;” but Salvadori does not believe that it has ever been met with in Italy. It has, however, occurred within the Austrian dominions; for Herr A. von Pelzeln states that there is an Austrian-killed specimen in the Museum at Vienna. Professor von Nordmann (Démidoff, Voy. Russ. Merid. ii. p. 171) says that it appears in the Crimea during the autumn passage, and is also seen in the gardens of Odessa, but he does not believe that it is resident or breeds there. The true home of the Mountain-Accentor is Central and Eastern Asia. Pallas, who first discovered it, states that it was common in the Transbaikal territory in the month of February, but on the Jenesei it was rarer. Dr. Severtzoff met with it in Turkestan, and divides the birds he obtained there into two forms, calling one Accentor montanellus, which he says occurs in the north-eastern district during the breeding-season, at an altitude of from 6000 to 10,000 feet; and the second form he calls Accentor fulvescens, and says that it is found in the north-eastern and south-eastern districts during the breeding-season, and the same districts as well as in the north- western portion of the country in the winter. In the MS. notes furnished to me he states, however, that in all probability there is no specific difference between these two forms, the latter being Accentor temmincki of Brandt. Von Middendorff met with the present species in Siberia, but obtained only a single specimen in the Stanowoi mountains; but Dr. Radde collected sixteen examples, all obtained in Mongolia during migration. He states that in the western mountain- covered portion of the country he visited he did not meet with it either in the Eastern Sajan or at Lake Baikal; but during migration it was by no means uncommon at the Tarei-nor, where the first stragglers appeared on the 16th March 1856 (O.S.), but the main body did not arrive before the 17th April. In the autumn he did not observe it; but the year after, when the migration season was over in the Bureja mountains, and the Amoor was becoming covered with ice, he shot two specimens in the willows on the banks of that river. Dr. Dybowski has of latter years obtained many specimens in Dauria (Darasun), where the present species appears to be common. ‘This gentleman states (J. f. O. 1872, p. 434) that it is “ tolerably common in the spring, arriving in the latter half of March and remaining until the latter part of April. Only a few remain to breed; and these are scattered in the more elevated portions of the mountains. We met with the old birds, in company with their fledged young, in the forests of cedar and pine at the foot of the Chamardaban mountains. In the autumn they again appear in tolerable 3 numbers about the middle of September, and occasionally remain as late as the early part of October.” It has been met with in China, and has occurred near Pekin during severe cold; but I do not find any record of its occurrence in Japan. As yet nothing appears to be recorded respecting the habits of the present species, which is even yet a somewhat rare bird in collections; nor is any thing definitely known respecting its nidification. Dr. Bree certainly figures what is supposed to be its egg, and states that it was sent to him by Professor Moquin-Tandon, who wrote that two eggs in his collection were taken in the south of Hungary, and sent to him by M. Raoul de Baracé D’Angers; but when at Pesth some years ago I made careful inquiry respecting the occurrence of the present species in Hungary of Herr Johann von Frivaldsky, the curator of the Museum, a first-rate oologist, who assured me that there was not even any authentic instance of a specimen having been obtained in Hungary, and he was quite sure that it had never been known to breed there. Under these circumstances, and as Professor Moquin-Tandon gives no further particulars respecting the identification of the eggs in question, I think that, to say the least, they must-be looked on with great suspicion. Mr. Taczanowski states (J. f. O. 1872, p. 434) that an egg sent to him from Jakutsk as that of the present species, but for the authenticity of which he will not vouch, resembles the egg of the Blue-throated Warbler, but is a trifle larger, and less marked with pale ‘reddish spots, and he thinks it possible that it may be nothing but a Blue-throated Warbler’s ege. Brandt expressed doubt as to the identity between the Siberian and European birds, and proposed to separate the latter, the Accentor montanellus of Temminck, from the bird described by Pallas under the same name, and proposed to call the former Accentor temmincki; but after carefully examining the plate in Werner’s ‘ Atlas,’ as well as the one in Gould’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ I cannot discover that there is any specific difference between the birds there figured and examples in my collection from Dauria, and have therefore put both Accentor temminchi, Brandt, and Accentor fulvescens, Severtzoff, as synonyms of the present species, but with a query ; for Dr. Severtzoff informs me that he is still doubtful, and I have not been able to examine and compare a series of specimens so as to speak with certainty on the question. The specimens figured are an adult male and female, from Kultuk, in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 3, 6,9. Kultuk, Lake Baikal, April 14th and 20th, 1870 (Dr. Dybowsk:). E Mus. R. Swinhoe. a, gad, Kultuk, April 12th, 1870 (Dybowski). 6,2. Kulussutajeffsk, May 4th, 1856 (Dr. G. Radde). c, 3. Pekin, December 12th (Pére David). Swi rem RANT BE, 101 HEDGE SPARROW. ACCENTOR MUDULARIS 187 ACCENTOR MODULARIS. (HEDGE-SPARROW.) Curruca sepiaria, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 394 (1760). Motacilla modularis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 329 (1766). Le Traine-buisson ou Mouchet, Buff. Hist. des Ois. vi. p. 58 (1783). Sylvia modularis, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 511 (1790). Motacilla modularis, Bechst. Gemeinn. Naturg. Deutschl. iv. p. 570 (1795). Sylvia modularis, Bechst. Orn. 'Taschenb. i. p. 183 (1802). Prunella modularis, Vieill. Nouv. Analyse, p. 43. no. 141 (1816). Accentor modularis, Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 196 (1816). Tharraleus modularis, Kaup, Nat. Syst. pp. 137, 192 (1829). Accentor pinetorum, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 457 (1831). Hedge-Sparrow, Dunnock, Nettlecreeper, Hedge-Chanter, Shufflewing (Wrens-man, south of Ireland; feefogue, in Wexford), English; Mouchet, Traine-buisson, French; Hecken- braunelle, German; Boeren-nachtegall, Dutch; Brumellen, Danish; Jernsparf, Swedish ; Blaairisk, Jernspuv, Norwegian; Rautiainen, Finnish; Zavirooshka lwisnaya, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 615. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Jnsectivores, pl. 76; Kjerb. Orn. Dan. taf. xxiv.; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. pl. xxv. fig. 15; Sundevall, Sv. Fogl. pl. xv. fig. 1; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 100; Naumann, Vog. Eur. taf. 92. figs. 3, 4; Schleg. Vog. Nederl. pl. 122; Bettoni, Ucc. Lomb. tav. 52. Ad. capite et nucha cinereo-fuscis brunneo notatis, hac cinereo lavaté: dorsi plumis saturaté brunneis rufescente marginatis: uropygio saturaté brunnescenti-olivaceo: remigibus saturaté fuscis vix pallidé brunneo terminatis, primariis in pogonio externo saturaté cervino, et secundariis ferrugineo marginatis: tec- tricibus alarum scapularibusque dorso concoloribus, tectricibus majoribus maculis minutis albicanti- Cervinis apicatis : rectricibus saturaté fuscis brunnescenti-olivaceo marginatis: gula sordidé albida: facie laterali sordidé cinerea: regione paroticé brunnescente adumbrata: jugulo, pectore superiore et sub- alaribus ceerulescenti-cinereis: abdomine albido: hypochondriis pallidé brunneo lavatis, plumis omnibus medialiter saturaté fusco notatis: subcaudalibus albis fusco maculatis: rostro brunneo ad basin saturaté carneo: iride brunned: pedibus flavicanti-brunneis. Adult Male (Olympus). Head and nape brownish grey, each feather with a dark brown centre; nape greyer than the crown; feathers of the back, scapulars, and upper wing-coverts dark brown in the centre, and broadly edged. with reddish brown; rump dark dull olive-brown; quills dark brown, slightly tipped with dull light brown, and on the outer web edged with dull buff on the primaries and rufous brown on the secondaries ; larger wing-coverts tipped with yellowish brown, forming an irregular band ; tail dull brown, most of the feathers edged with olive-brown; throat greyish white; sides of the head and ce 40 2 chest ashy grey, auriculars washed with brown, and having light shafts; abdomen greyish white; flanks and tibie pale brown, the feathers having a broad central dark brown streak; under tail-coverts dull brown, broadly edged and tipped with dirty white; under wing-coverts pale grey, washed with buff; bill brownish black, dark flesh-coloured at the base and along a considerable portion of the lower mandible; iris dark brown; feet dull yellowish brown. ‘Total length 6 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°7, tail 2-2, tarsus 0°75. Female. Very similar to the male. Tue Hedge-Sparrow, or Hedge-Accentor as some naturalists prefer calling it, is distributed throughout Europe, ranging eastward into Persia, but not occurring further to the east, being replaced in Japan by a closely allied race, Accentor rubidus. In Great Britain it is one of the commonest and best-known species, being equally common in all parts of the United Kingdom. In Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray writes, “‘the familiar Hedge-Sparrow is everywhere known, from Sutherlandshire to the Mull of Galloway, and on all the Hebrides, except the bleakest islands. On Ailsa Craig even—an isolated refuge, without hedge-rows or any attractive brushwood which make the home of the species unseen in the not far distant valleys of Ayrshire—it hops briskly among the broken boulders, and trills its wren-like song among the ungainly Guillemots with as much heartiness as if it never knew a more verdant spot. In the dull gloom of one of the numerous caves intersecting that remarkable rock, I have seen the nest of this bird placed in the ledge of rock, at the foot of a handful of the hart’s-tongue fern, the floor of the cave being covered with water, and forming a strange contrast to the site usually selected by the confiding Shuffle- wing near the abodes of men. “From its habit of breeding early in the season, this bird is’ often robbed of its eggs by wandering schoolboys, who treasure them for their pleasing colour; and in almost all rural districts these young persecutors indulge in the regular habit of prowling along the yet leafless hedgerows, scrubby bushes, or cast-up heaps of winter prunings, where their plunder is only too easy of discovery. ‘Tn our northern climate it is sometimes hard to withhold one’s sympathy for this modest little bird as it sits shivering on the withered sticks among which the nest is placed; frequently, indeed, a sudden change in the weather upsets the teachings of its own instincts by covering its haunts with a carpet of snow, on which it hops in sad wonderment at winter's return, although ready with a cheering note for its sitting mate the moment the breaking clouds show their silver lining and the peep of blue sky beyond.” From every part of England it is recorded as resident and very common; and in Ireland also, Mr. Thompson writes, it is distributed over the island in suitable localities. It is found in Scandinavia, more numerous in the northern than the southern portions of that country; and Mr. Robert Collett informs me that “it is a rather common bird in the conifer- woods, and above the Polar circle is tolerably abundant up to Tromsé and the valley of the Maalseto; in Finmark proper it breeds, though sparingly, in South Varanger. On the sides of the fells I have found it as far as the pine (Adzes) growth extends. Its chief habitat being in the young conifer-woods, the nest is almost invariably placed in small thick pine bushes, and is generally constructed of various species of moss. It is one of our earliest birds of passage, 9 oO arriving in the southern parts of the country in the first days of April, sometimes even as early as the end of March. In a few isolated instances it has been found wintering in Norway.” Its distribution in Sweden is peculiar ; for Mr. Meves writes to me that ‘it is a most curious fact that in Southern Sweden it is only observed during migration, and, according to Nilsson, occasionally in the winter, whereas in Germany, even in the flat country in Brunswick, it is common, and numbers breed in the gardens. The most southern locality from which I have Swedish-taken eggs is Skara; near Stockholm it is only observed during migration, and is a rare bird, being only occasionally captured by the bird-catchers; but it has been found breeding near Gefle by Dr. Hartman ; and I observed it commonly in Jemtland and Herjeadalen, and saw young birds, just able to fly, on the 24th of July. We obtained specimens from Quickjock; and Lowenhjelm states that it is found, but is not numerous, in Lulea-Lapland, where he observed it in the month of August.” In Finland it is occasionally observed in Nyland during migration; and Von Wright saw a pair near Haminanlaks in July 1837, which certainly had a nest in the neighbourhood, but it could not be found. I never saw it during my stay in Finland. It occurs in Northern Russia ; and Mr. Meves informs me that he “met with it here and there near the Onega and Ladoga lakes, and at Kargopol;” and when in Eastern Russia he ‘“ observed it commonly from the 25rd to the 26th of June, on the steep banks covered with conifer growth (probably old river-banks) near the town of Perm. The males were in full song, and were generally met with sitting on the top of a fir bush, but at the least approach of danger dropped into the underbrush, and slipped quietly away, and recommenced singing some distance off. In the Ural I only observed it on a few occasions; but, according to Sabandeff, it is tolerably common there also.” Borggreve writes that it is a common resident and partial migrant in all the mountains of Northern Germany, as also in the flat country in the North-western portion. He further states that it rarely breeds in the north-eastern portion of the country; but, on the other hand, Mr. A. von Homeyer states that he has found it breeding quite commonly in the Barnckow-Quitziner forest at Grimmen, near Stralsund. ‘Though formerly, as I am informed by Mr. J. C. H. Fischer, a tolerably common bird in Denmark, it has lately become very scarce; and whereas about ten years ago it used to breed near Copenhagen, at Holte, it is now but rarely seen. In Holland and Belgium it is common, and resident; and Messrs. Degland and Gerbe likewise record it as numerous throughout France, where its provincial name is ‘‘ Zraine-buisson.” In Provence it is, Messrs. Jaubert and Barthélemy-Lapommeraye write, common in the autumn and winter, but retires to the Alps during the breeding-season. In Portugal it isa rare bird. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in his list of the birds of that country, without, however, giving it a Portuguese name; and Dr. E. Rey informs me that during his sojourn in Portugal he only once saw it. It is, however, not uncommon in Spain; Lord Lilford, writing respecting his collecting- trip to the Sierras from San Ildefonso in the month of June, says:—‘ I was surprised to find the Common Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modularis) in great abundance high up on the mountains, haunting and breeding amongst the scrub which crops up amongst the detritus and scattered boulders below the crags, in just the sort of locality I should have expected to find A. alpinus, which species, however, I did not here meet with.” From Southern Spain Mr. Howard Saunders records it as being tolerably common in winter; but he believes that it goes north to breed. 41 i Passing eastward, again, we find it, according to Bailly, ‘“‘abundant and resident in Savoy throughout the year, frequenting the mountainous portions of the country from spring to autumn ;” and the various authors on the ornithology of Italy likewise speak of it as common in the lowlands during the autumn and winter, but residing in the mountains during the breeding- season. Doderlein writes that it is “much more abundant in Sicily in the winter than at any other season of the year;” and Mr. C. A. Wright records it from Malta as “rather rare. I met with it on the 26th November, 1860, and on the 3rd December, same year; and Dr. Adams observed two or three others, of which he obtained one. I have another, which was taken in May 1862. Individuals have also been captured in December and January.” Lord Lilford found it very common in Corfu during the winter, and observed one or two individuals during the summer months. Some eggs taken in Epirus were brought to him; and he believes them to have been those of this species. Lindermayer records it as common in Greece in the winter; but he never observed it on the islands; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley record it as common in Turkey. I never met with it on the shores of the Danube; but my friend the late Mr. Seidensacher told me that it passes through Styria in October and November, and again in March, and he found it breeding in the Bacher-Gebirge. It occurs in Southern Russia, being, Professor von Nordmann writes, “generally distributed along the shores of the Black Sea;” and Professor Brandt states that it occurs in the Caucasus, whence Mr. Kolenati sent several specimens to St. Petersburg. I do not find any record of its occurrence in Asia Minor, except that by Strickland, who obtained it at Smyrna in December, but considered it rare there. Canon Tristram writes that “ Accentor modularis only just makes good its claim as a bird of Palestine by residing in the Lebanon throughout the year, where, however, it is very scarce.” It has occurred in Northern Africa. Dr. von Heuglin mentions having seen one in Egypt ; and Loche records it as being of rare occurrence in Algeria. To the eastward it is met with in Persia, whence Mr. Blanford procured specimens, one of which he has kindly lent to me for examination. It is not recorded by any of the Siberian travellers; but Mr. Swinhoe writes that Pére David saw the head of a bird procured at Pekin, which he identified with that of the present species; it is possible, however, that it may have belonged to the Japanese form (4. rubidus)—of which I have not been able to examine a speci- men, but which Temminck and Schlegel describe in the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ as being very closely allied to A. modularis, merely differing in having the back washed with purple, and in lacking the dark brown stripes on the flanks. ‘The specimen obtained in Persia by Mr. Blanford agrees precisely with the measurements of Accentor rubidus, as given by Professor Schlegel in the ‘Fauna Japonica; and it likewise closely resembles the figure on his plate of that species; but the flanks are slightly marked with brown. It would thus appear to be an intermediate race between Accentor modularis and 2 white, the upper part of the breast ashy brown on the sides, and a slight shade of the same colour tinging the sides of the body; bill and feet lead-colour; irisdark brown. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 05, wing 2°8, tail 2°5, tarsus 0°75. Adult Female. In general colours resembling the adult male, but the crown and head brownish. It appears to be a little larger than the male. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2°9, tail 2°65, tarsus 0°8. Winter plumage. In both sexes the colours are more obscure than in summer, all the feathers being edged with dusky olive-brown, the head and throat strongly washed with this colour, as are also the white parts of the plumage more or less; the whitish edgings to the wing-coverts are much broader, and tinged with fulvous. The summer plumage is gained by the gradual wearing off of these edges. Young Male. Very much paler than the adult either in winter or summer, the head scarcely darker, and the back exhibiting distinct whitish shaft-lines to the feathers; sides of the face and underparts of the body dull white shaded with ashy brown; throat dull greyish brown, with whitish shaft-lines, very much paler than in the adults; greater wing-coverts tipped with white. Explanation of the Plate. The birds figured have all been procured in Greece and Asia Minor by Dr. Kriper, and are at present in our own collection: they represent the adult male and female, and the young male, the latter being the left-hand figure. Our descriptions are taken from the same birds. TuE Sombre Titmouse is entirely a bird of South-eastern Europe, extending westward as far as Hungary and Illyria, and southwards to Palestine. Its chief home seems to be Greece, whence it ranges into Southern Russia. The original specimens of this bird were obtained by the late Johann Natterer in Illyria; and examples of his collecting are still preserved in the Vienna Museum. In Hungary Herr Zelebor procured specimens in the Banat. Von der Mihle says it “arrives late in Greece, in the Morea towards the end of April or early in May, and inhabits the small valleys where wild prune- and other fruit-trees abound, never being found on the higher ones. Each pair has its regular district, which it visits daily. It isa shy, timid bird, and difficult to approach when followed. I never observed them later than the early part of September.” Lindermayer observes, “I can state with certainty that this Titmouse is a resident in Northern Greece, as I have shot it during the winter, and have obtained eggs and young in April and May from the neighbourhood of Athens. It lives a solitary life in pairs, and never congregates in larger numbers, like the other Titmice, although in its habits it resembles them. It climbs and hops from one branch to the other, continually uttering its call- note stzi, stzt, terrerr, hunting carefully after food in the crannies of the bark of the olive-trees ; it makes its nest in the holes of these trees, depositing seven or eight eggs of a pure white spotted with red. It breeds also in the north of Greece, in Acarnania, and on Parnassus.” Messrs. Elwes and Buckley state that “one specimen was shot, and others seen, on the banks of the Bistritza, in Macedonia ;” and Dr. Krtiper has procured many specimens in the same district. He writes to us as follows:—“ It is not rare in the plains of Greece; and I also found it in Asia Minor and Macedonia. On Olympus I met with it, tolerably high up on the mountain. It breeds twice in the year, building in holes in trees, sometimes high up and sometimes low down. 3 I observed a pair on Olympus, which probably had their nest in a hole in the rocks, as there were no trees in the neighbourhood. ‘This Titmouse does not appear to lay as many eggs as other species. I found eggs in Attica, and this year one nest, containing young birds, which was placed in a hollow olive-tree in the churchyard at Narlikevi. ‘This species can easily be distin- guished from other 'Titmice by its note.” In the well-known work on the ornithology of Southern Russia, Professor von Nordmann says that it inhabits the southern parts of the Black Sea. During his travels in Palestine Canon Tristram procured the present species in the Lebanon only. Dr. E. Rey tells us that he possesses three eggs of this species from Macedonia and Asia Minor, which average in size 17 by 13:75 millimetres. In Dresser’s collection is one egg, collected by Dr. Kritiper in Greece, which measures $5 by 32 inch, is pure white, spotted with bright red, similar in colour to the markings on eggs of Parus major, and the spots are chiefly collected in a zone round the larger end. In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. a, b, d ad., 3 juv. Smyrna, June 22nd and July 8th, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). c, g ad. Atolia, January 28th, 1869 (Dr. Kriiper). d, 9 ad. Acarnania, February 7th, 1869 (Dr. Kriiper). e, f. Mount Olympus, Macedonia, September 12th and November 13th, 1869 (Dr. Kriiper). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a. Russia (Hversmann). 6. Lebanon (H. B. T.). E Mus. Salvin and Godman. a,b, 6, 2. Mount Olympus, Macedonia, October 10th, 1869 (Dr. Kriiper). E Mus. T. E. Buckley. a. Macedonia, March 1869 (7. E. B.). 472 sy 9 Foo &) aay, 8 eal I ket ' AC 2 ») \ , Hz SCANDINAVIAN TITMOUSE PARUS CINCTUS 44 PARUS CINCTUS. (SIBERIAN MARSH-TITMOUSE,) La mésange de Sibérie, Montb. Pl. Enl. vi. 708, fig. 3. Parus cinctus, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 46 (1783, ex Montbeillard). Siberian Titmouse, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 2, p. 556 (1783, ex Montb.). Parus sibiricus, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 1013 (1788, ex Lath.). Parus lugubris, Zetterst. Resa Sver. och Norr. Lappm. p. 120 (1821, descr. orig. nec Natterer). Parus lapponicus, Lundahl, Notis Faun. et Flor. Fenn. Forh. Helsingf. 1848, p. 1, pl. 1. fig. 1. Pecila sibiricus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 230 (1850). Poikilis sibiricus, Blasius, List of Eur. B. p. 8. Lappsk mes, Swedish; Lapintiiténen, Finnish; Kada-pija, Lapp. Figure notabiles. Montbeillard, Pl. Enl. 708. fig. 3; Bree, B. of Eur. iii. p. 6; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. Taf. 21. fig. 8. 3 ad. pileo et collo postico fuscescenti-brunneis: dorso fulvescenti-brunneo, vix ferrugineo, uropygio concolori : tectricibus alarum minimis et scapularibus dorso concoloribus: tectricibus majoribus grisescentibus pallidé fulvo lavatis: remigibus nigricanti-brunneis, primariis angusté albido marginatis, secundariis latius, et pennis intimis dorsalibus fulvo lavatis: caud&é nigricante, griseo lavata, rectrice extima fulvescenti-albo marginataé: genis cum regione auriculari et collo toto laterali albis: gutture toto nigricanti-fusco, plumis paucis angusté albo marginatis: pectore summo et centrali albido: corpore reliquo subtus pallidé ferrugineo: subalaribus fulvescenti-albis: rostro nigro: pedibus pallidé violaceis : iride rufescenti-brunnea. 2 juv. supra fuscescens, minimé fulvescenti tincta: capite cucullato, circumscripté umbrino vix fulvescente : alis minus distincté albido marginatis: corpore subtus ut in ave adulta colorato, sed mult pallidiore, et ptilosi magis lanuginosa. Adult male. Crown of the head, extending backwards on to the upper part of the back, dusky brown, a little darker near the eye and along the sides of the head; rest of the back golden brown, slightly mclining to rust-colour; scapulars and wing-coverts uniform with the back, the greater coverts more greyish and edged with the same colour as the back; quills blackish, the primaries externally edged with narrow lines of white, the secondaries more broadly, giving a hoary appearance, the innermost or dorsal secondaries tinged with fulvous; tail black, more or less washed with grey, the outer feather edged and tipped with dull white; entire throat dusky blackish brown, with a few white margins to the feathers of the lower part; chest and centre of the belly whitish; rest of the under surface of the body pale rust-colour; under wing-coverts yellowish white; bill black; feet pale violet; iris reddish brown. ‘Total length 5-2 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2:8, tail 2’8, tarsus 0:7. Young. More woolly and not so fluffy as the adult; general colour above paler, slightly more grey in tone, with the least tinge of fulvous on the upper part, but with none of the clear rust-colour of the adult ; 25 26 2 the line of the head indicated by an indistinct hood, and not running so far back on the hinder neck ; the quills not so plainly edged with white; throat dull black, and the rest of the plumage of the under surface distributed as in the adult, but not nearly so bright. Ir is not yet clearly proved how far the present species extends its range to the eastward; and although we have here retained the English name by which it is generally known, we must remark that it has little or no claim to be considered “ Siberian,” and we shall hope to find that in future works the more appropriate term of “ Lapp Titmouse” may be employed when speaking of Parus cinctus. Certain it is that our European bird breeds in Lapland, descending southwards in winter ; and some notes on its range at this season of the year are given below. For critical remarks as to the species at present included under the heading of P. cinctus, we refer our readers to the end of the present article. Commencing with Lapland, its nesting-habitat, we quote the following account of the habits of the present bird, which was contributed by Professor Newton to Dr. Bree’s ‘Birds of Europe’:—“ My own opportunities of observing Parus sibiricus were not sufficient to enable me to say in what particulars (if in any) its habits differ from those of the other species of the genus with which I am acquainted, beyond the fact that its call-notes are easily recognizable as distinct from any thing else. Indeed, from the information I have at various times received from the late Mr. John Wolley, I should suppose that in manners it closely resembles the rest of the Titmice. It is resident throughout the year in the district around Muonioniska, and, he has often assured me, was the only species which he found to breed there, although in autumn the Marsh-Titmouse makes its appearance, and on one occasion a solitary Great Titmouse was obtained by him. Iam unable to give even an outline of the range of Parus sibiricus in Lapland ; but I do not remember seeing it until, in descending the river Muonio, we had entered the region of the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris). I never found a nest myself, or saw one én situ. It breeds in holes of trees, whether naturally formed by decay, or excavated by Woodpeckers. ‘The nest is a mass of hair, principally from the Lemming, or some of the Voles, but occasionally from the Alpine Hare, mixed with a little green moss, black fibrous lichen, and willow-down. Seven appears to be the usual complement of eggs; but eight, and even nine, are sometimes laid. ‘This Titmouse seems to pay as little regard to the law of priority as some ornithologists do; for several instances occurred, to Mr. Wolley’s knowledge, of its dispossessing the Common Redstart from a convenient hole in which the latter bird had begun its nest. ‘The ordinary ery of Parus sibiricus is perhaps best expressed by the words ‘ Pistéé-téé,’ pronounced in a hissing tone; and from this cry the bird gets its Finnish name. By those of the people who are inclined to superstition it is regarded as a bird of bad omen; and the squirrel-shooter or bear-hunter looks forward to a luckless expedition if, in starting in the morning, he is greeted by the notes of the busy little Pistee-tianen.” Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., sends us the accompanying extract from two of the late Mr. Wolley’s sale-catalogues now in his possession. That of “ May 12th, 1857,” has this remark: —‘‘ Parus sibiricus is the only Titmouse at all abundant in Keras Sieppi,”’ and in the one of “May 30th, 1860, he observes that it is “the only Titmouse which breeds in the Muonioniska district.” Pastor Sommerfeldt remarks :—“ This lively bird is, with Fringilla linaria, one of our true songsters found here in winter. Between the 20th and 23rd of March its call-note may be heard every year at Nyborg. It breeds here and there, having its nest in hollow trees into which 38 Picus tridactylus or P. minor have made an entrance. ‘The nest has a foundation of green moss, and upon that a thick layer of wool, reindeer-hair, and especially Lemming-hair. The eggs, seven to nine in number, are glossy white, with reddish violet and reddish brown spots, often collected at the larger end, and are broad in proportion to their length. They resemble those of the Willow-Wren (Sylvia trochilus), but when fresh are not so red, and are more glossy. The spots on the eggs of S. trochilus are more numerous, more reddish brown, and distributed over the whole egg. When one has the nest the eggs cannot be mistaken. Mr. Wolley found eggs of Parus sibiricus and of the Redstart (Sylvia phenicurus) in the same nest.” Mr. Wheelwright also gives the following note in his ‘ Spring and Summer in Lapland’ :—“ The nest of the Siberian Titmouse was always placed in a stub, the nest built of the blue fur of some species of field- mouse; a very thick wall, but flat, and with a little moss at the bottom outside; the eggs, six or seven, in shape, size, and colour much resembling those of the Crested Tit. The Siberian Tit seems to go to nest later than the Parws borealis; for the first nest we obtained was on June the 5th, whereas I found nests of the other as early as May the 20th.” Herr Magnus von Wright says that it occasionally occurs in Finland on its wanderings southward in the winter, but is a true inhabitant of Lapland. Those that have been observed there resemble the Great Titmouse in habits, and frequent the yards about inhabited places, picking up scraps. According to Nilsson it is found in the high north of Scandinavia during the summer, migrating southward as low as Upsala in the winter. In Lapland it is the commonest of the ‘Titmice; and Mr. Lowenhjelm found it from the boundary of Lycksele, Lapland, up to the fells, where it occurred into the birch-region. Professor Sundevall writes as follows :—‘ In Scandinavia it belongs properly to the conifer forests of Lapland and the sides of the fells, although it may sometimes in summer be found a little below these districts. It is common at Alten (70°), and is found in the same latitude in East Finmark, according to Nordvi, but not at Hammerfest, where the pine-woods cease. Its most southern range is on the Dovre (62°), and perhaps some of the southern fells, but only in the pine-forests above the spruce- growth. In Sweden it is found from 68° to 69° to the neighbourhood of Lycksele, 64° to 65°. But in the autumn and winter it migrates down to Vester Votten and Norrland, and occasionally, though rarely, reaches Upsala and Stockholm, as in the winters of 1838-39 and 1842-43. During the latter winter a small flock even wandered as far down as Bohuslan. The most eastern localities where it has been observed are Enare Lapland, and Kuopio in Finland, where it sometimes comes in the winter. It is unknown as to whether it has been seen on the White Sea or elsewhere in Russia and Western Siberia; but on the Jenesei Middendorff found, near the Polar Circle, a bird so closely resembling the Lapland one, that it must be looked on as the same species, although a variety that can be distinguished. Further eastward it seems that different though allied species occur. “The Lap-Titmouse affects pine-forests, and is more seldom found amongst alder and birch, and in its habits much resembles the Marsh-Titmice. Like them it is chiefly found amongst scattered large trees, or their young growth. Its general call-note is shorter than that of the Parus borealis, and consists partly of a harsh arrr or wrrr, and of a softer prré. It builds in hollow trees like the others.” Mr. Collett gives the following note in his ‘ Norges fugle’:— “Resident in most of the birch- and pine-woods in Finmark. . . . . Found down about 272 a ad t27 128 4 ‘Troms6 and Trondhjem, and common on the southern fells, particularly on the Dovre and Langfjeld, as also on the Hallingdal fells, where it was first observed in 1827 by Professor Lovén. It is most abundant on the upper boundary of the fir-growth on the fells between Gudbrandsdal and Valders, and particularly so at Vaage; in 1863, however, Dr. Printz found it breeding as far down as Odnes, below 603°, and scarcely 800 feet above the sea.” As will be seen from the foregoing, this Titmouse inhabits the extreme north of our continent, only ranging somewhat further south when compelled by the severe cold of the arctic regions to seek other and more congenial localities to sustain life. Like all the rest of the Titmice, it is an active, lively, and noisy bird—during the winter season fond of visiting human habitations, and pecking amongst the refuse that has been cast out, in search of any particles of fat that may be found. In its habits it much resembles the Marsh-Titmouse, and when wandering it is often found in company with these. Its note is also very similar to that of this bird, but is louder and much deeper in tone. Its food consists, like that of the Great Titmouse, of insects and, to some extent, of seeds of the various northern plants; and, like the latter bird, it is especially fond of fat. Its Lapp name (Hada-pija) means literally hoof-pecker, as when the Lapps slaughter a Reindeer this bird is said to peck in search of fat at the hoofs of the slaughtered beast, which have been thrown out. ‘The above short résumé is taken from Dresser’s note-book, and is principally founded on the account of its habits communicated to him by a brother of Magnus von Wright, who was a great sportsman and knew the bird well. In Dresser’s collection are four eggs taken by the late Mr. H. A. Wheelwright near Quickjock, in Lapland. These eggs measure £6 by $$ of an inch, are pure white covered with indistinct light red shell-markings and rich red overlying surface-spots, which are collected chiefly at the larger end. The following records have reference to the occurrence of the species in Siberia :— Middendorff speaks of a large variety, as big as P. lugubris, which he procured on the Jenesei, below the Polar Circle. In April the typical Parus sibiricus passed in flocks through the woods between the Amga and Oldan, but moved on and did not seem to nest in the Stanowoj moun- tains. Radde only procured one specimen, in August, on the Amoor, and considers it to be one of the rarest of the birds of Eastern Siberia. Schrenck did not meet with it. The Siberian bird to which Von Middendorff refers is not identically the same as the European species; and Von Wright, who first observed this fact, proposed to call the latter by Lundahl’s name of P. lap- ponicus, believing (doubtless from its designation) that the true P. s¢biricus of Gmelin was the Siberian species. Whether the European bird ever occurs in Siberia has yet to be determined ; but there can be no doubt of its being the species figured by Montbeillard in the ‘ Planches Enluminées’ (pl. 708); and as both Boddaert’s and Gmelin’s titles were founded on this plate, Von Wright’s name must be added as a synonym of P. cinctus of the first-named author. Respecting the eastern form, Professor Sundevall writes as follows:—‘‘ Parus sibiricus, forma major, ad Jeniseam sub cire. polari” (Midd. JU. c.), differs from the Lapland bird merely by being a little paler in coloration, and by the paler rufous tinge on the sides of the body. The differ- ence in the length of the wing and tail referred to by Middendorff (62 millims. and 72 millims.) does not appear in a specimen brought back by that author, and procured for our Museum from St. Petersburg. In this bird the wing measures 68 millims., and the tail 69 millims. The other 5 Siberian form, “ P. sibiricus, forma typica, inter Amga et Aldan, 16 Apr. (Sibir. Orient. 60° lat.),” by Middendorff (0. ¢.) is said to be exactly similar in colour to the former “ without reddish brown on the sides of the body,” but much less in size. “ Wing 55 millims., tail 65 millims.” ‘To this latter form doubtless belongs Parus cinereus lenensis, “vertice fusco,’ which, Pallas (Zoogr. i. p- 598, nota sub P. palustri) states, was seen by Gmelin, senior, on the Lena river, not far from where Middendorff found it more than one hundred years afterwards. Further to the eastward, at Ochotsk and Kamschatka, this bird is replaced by another species with a brown (not a black) head, Parus rufescens, Audubon,=P. ferrugineus (Lundahl, /. c. fig. opt.), which is also found in the north-western part of North America. It is richer-coloured, has the back and sides of the body dark reddish brown, and is less in size. ‘ Wing 62 to 68, tail about 52 millims.” We happen to have in our collection an example of a Titmouse from the southern part of Lake Baikal, which formed part of a series of specimens sent to our friend M. Jules Verreaux by Dr. Taczanowsky ; and all these specimens agreed inter se, and were not the same as P. cinctus of Europe. ‘They differ in being clearer grey, with the head almost uniform with the back, the white on the neck and breast much purer, and far less rusty on the flanks; the wing and outer tail-feathers are also more plainly edged with white. In fact this species, which we propose to call Parus grisescens, seems to bear the same relation to P. sitiricus that P. borealis does to P. palustris, and we feel confident that further research will result in the discovery of differences in the habitats and economy of the two species. P. grisescens is doubtless the bird procured near _ Peking by Pere David, unless, indeed, the small form of P. stbiricus referred to above by Professor Sundevall is the bird intended. In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. a. Quickjock, Lapland (A. Dahlberg). 6. Ropathjera, Sweden (Meves). c¢. Norway (Collett). d. Southern part of Lake Baikal (type of P. grisescens). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a. Siberia (Verreauz). a ls Lis peren 44 paniihe vt Ae ay inn lees SAN RA quail te onlacoe he ne id Eaned ate 4 ng epee, pt Pe hire ay Pili im Was tac = aod te swat Byte 4 yn ae ste bry a ca mc) COM tains noch shot iy wy mr, hl By : ae a am ae ¥ fe aero oe si oh * A) wnt se ‘beg ik ruuiat ts He) eh pond ph ae fh ae TROGLODYTES BOREALIS. (NORTHERN WREN.) “ Sylvia troglodytes, Lath.,” Faber, Leben d. hochn. Vogel, p. 321 6 (1826, nec Lath.). “ Troglodytes europeus, Leach,” P. A. Holm, Nat. Tids. 1847, p. 482 (nec Leach). Troglodytes punctatus auct., P. A. Holm, tom. cit. p. 523. Troglodytes borealis, J. C. H. Fischer, J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 14. “ Troglodytes parvulus, Koch,” Preyer, Reise n. Island, p. 393 (1862, nec Koch). Troglodytes borealis, Fischer, Newton in Baring-Gould’s Iceland, App. A, p. 408 (1863). Gjerdesmutte, Danish; Mousabrouir, Feroese ; Musarbrodir, Musarrindill, Icelandic. Figura unica. J.C. H. Fischer, J. f. Orn. 1861, pl. i. Ad. Troglodyte parvulo persimilis, sed major et saturatior, corpore subtus usque ad pectus conspicué fasciato, rostro majore et robustiore, pedibus robustioribus. Adult Male (Feroes). Resembles Troglodytes parvulus in general colour and markings, but is darker and has the underparts more strongly barred; beak rather longer than in 7. parvulus and much stouter, measuring in width at the base of the lower mandible 0°3 against 0:15 in 7. parvulus ; legs and feet much stouter than in that species, measuring—tarsus 0°88, hind toe with claw 0°68, against tarsus 0°6, and hind toe with claw 0°55; soft parts as in the common Wren. Total length about 4 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 2:1, tail 1:5, tarsus 0°88. Tus northern representative of our common Wren, differing chiefly in being much larger and stouter-built than Troglodytes parvulus, is found only in Iceland and the Feroe Islands, from which latter locality it was first described by Mr. J. C. H. Fischer in 1861. In Iceland it is said by Preyer (/. c.) to be rather rare, and he only met with it in the thickets of the Finjoska- dalur. Professor Newton, speaking of this Icelandic Wren, says that he considers it to. be midway between our bird and Troglodytes aédon of North America. In the Feroes this species appears to be tolerably common, especially where neither cats nor rats are found. Mr. Fischer states that it frequents the neighbourhood of habitations, and is protected by the inhabitants, who do not like to see it molested, and hence he had at first some difficulty in procuring skins and eggs. Captain Feilden, who visited the Feroes this last spring, brought back nest, eggs, and skins of the Northern Wren, which he has kindly lent to me for examination. Writing in the ‘ Zoologist,’ this gentleman states that “this species of Wren is spread throughout the Feroe Islands, abundant in those parts where there are no rats or mice, and consequently where cats are not encouraged ; but where the cat is numerous you may look in vain for this sweet songster. I made my first acquaintance with it on the Island of Skue on 4K2 2 the 23rd of May; there they are to be seen about the village in considerable numbers, running in and out of the chinks between the stone-built cottages like mice, then alighting on the grass roofs and, with outspread wings and swelled throat, pouring forth a stream of melody far exceeding that of 7. parvulus. As soon as it was known that I wanted ‘ Mousabrouir’ nests and eggs, a brisk search commenced, boys, girls, and women aiding in it. I was taken from outhouse to outhouse to look at nests: all were exactly alike—outwardly a firm structure of hay, next a lining of moss, then a snug bed of down and sea-fowl feathers. All the nests I saw were placed in the same position—namely, between the blocks of stone of which the outhouses are built, the entrance to the nest invariably facing inwards. I examined seven or eight nests in this village: one only had eggs; the rest had young two or three days old. On the Island of Great Dimon I found the Wren numerous, and discovered its nest in a cave close to the landing-place, far away from the habitations of men. At Porkerri, on the 30th of May, 1872, I noticed a brood of five following their parents in and out of the boat-houses. In the northern islands it is abundant ; in Swinoe, on the 7th of June, I saw a brood following their parents, who collected them together with a chirp, and then fed them with insects that they had picked out of the gutter. The same day I put my hand into a nest and drew an old one out of it; it flew a few feet from me, perched on the gunwale of a boat, and broke out into a merry song. Before I left the boat-house the Wren returned to its nest. When I staid in the pastor’s house at Videroe I was awakened in the morning by the song of this bird close to the open window, so loud and so melodious that no one could help noticing the difference between its note and the more feeble efforts of our common Wren.” Captain Feilden kindly sent me one of the nests he obtained in the Feroes for examina- tion; and on comparing it with one of ZT. parvulus it is noticeable by being much stronger and more solidly constructed, besides having the entire outer shell of coarse hay. Five eggs of this Wren which I have in my possession, and which were collected on the Feroes by Mr. H. C. Miiller, differ from those of 7. parvulus in being considerably larger, measuring from 28 by 2% to $3 by 73 inch, but do not differ in colour or markings. The specimen figured is one in my collection obtained on the Feroes. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a,é, 0. Feroes (H. C. Miiller). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, juv. Suderoe, Feroes, 3lst May 1872 (H. W. Feilden). Family MOTACILLIDZ. Genus MOTACILLA. Ficedula apud Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 461 (1760). Motacilla, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 328 (1766). Parus apud 8. G. Gmelin, Reise, iii. p. 101 (1774). Pallenura apud Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 500 (1811). Budytes apud Cuvier, Regne Animal, p. 871 (1817). Calobates apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 33 (1829). Tue Wagtails and Pipits have by many authors been placed near the Larks; but they certainly assimilate much more closely with the Thrushes and Warblers, though differing from these in haying nine primaries. This genus ranges throughout the Palearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental Regions; and one species (Motacilla flava) is found in the north-western portion of the Nearctic Region. Eight species inhabit the Western Palearctic Region, all of which are constant residents and breed within its limits. The Wagtails frequent pasture and grassy open country where there is plenty of water, and are usually seen on the borders of streams and lakes. One species (Motacilla melanope) evinces a partiality for mountain-streams, and is not unfrequently met with in rocky and even in almost sterile places. ‘These birds feed on insects of various kinds, small Crustacea and Mollusca, usually searching for their food near water. They run with great ease, and almost always vibrate their body like some of the small Waders; they fly with tolerable rapidity and ease, their flight being undulating. ‘They build an open cup-shaped nest of dry grass, moss, &c., lined with wool, hair, or feathers, and deposit five or six greyish-white, buffy-white, or pale brownish eggs, marked or spotted with grey or brown. The genus Motacilla has by many authors been subdivided into Motacilla, Budytes, and Calobates, the first containing all the black-and-white species, the second Motacilla flava and its allies, which have a long hind claw, and the third Motacilla melanope only; but it appears to me unnecessary to do this, and I have preferred to retain all under the present genus. Motacilla alba, the type of the genus, has the bill moderately long, straight, slender, rather broader than high at the base, the notch obsolete, nostrils small, elliptical; bristles on the gape very small, scarcely perceptible; wings long, rather broad, first quill long, the three first quills about equal in length, these being the longest; inner secondaries very long, one being nearly equal in length to the first three primaries; tarsus very long, much longer than the middle toe with the claw, covered in front with four large plates and three inferior scutelle ; tail very long, slender, nearly even or slightly rounded. 36 201 > Lat re ie 1.2. WHITE WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA ALBA 3. PIED WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS 295 126 1. WHITE WAGTAIL ano PIED WAGTAIL. (Winter Plumage.) 282 MOTACILLA ALBA. (WHITE WAGTAIL.) Ficedula motacilla, Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 461 (1760). Ficedula motacilla cinerea, Brisson, tom. cit. p. 465 (1760). Motacilla alba, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 331, “Europe” (1766). La Lavandiére, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. vy. p. 251, “ Europe ” (1778). La Bergeronnette grise, Buff. tom. cit. p. 261, “ Europe” (1778). Motacilla cinerea, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 961, “Europe” (1788). Motacilla albeola, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 506, “ Europe, Russia, and Siberia” (1811). Motacilla septentrionalis, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 347, “N. Germany to Iceland” (1831). Motacilla sylvestris, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 348, “ Germany ” (1831). Motacilla brachyrhynchos, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 348, ‘East Germany” (1831). Motacilla dukhunensis, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 91, ‘ Deccan.” Motacilla brissoni, Macg. Man. Brit. B. i. p. 160, “ Continent of Europe” (1846). Motacilla baicalensis, Swinhoe, P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 363, “ Lake Baikal.” Lavandiére, Hochequeue grisé, French; Pispita, Spanish; Ballerina, Italian; Lic-zak, Zakak, Maltese; Msissi, Arabic; Dizizi, Moorish; wetsse Bachstelze, graue Wasserstelze, German; witte Kwikstaart, Dutch; Hvid Vipstjert, Danish; Eria Kongsdottur, Feroese ; Linerle, Norwegian; Sddesdrla, Swedish ; Valkonen Vastdrakki, Finnish ; Bieloe Treso- gushka, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 652. figs. 1, 2, 674. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 79; Kjeerb. Orn. Dan. taf. xix.; Frisch, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 23. fig. 4; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 21. fig. 14; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 86; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pl. ix. figs. 7, 8; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 143; id. B. of G. B. iii. pl. 2; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pls. 100, 101. Ad. ptil. est. fronte, capitis et colli lateribus et corpore subtis albis: pileo postico cum nucha, mento, gula et gutture nigris: dorso cinereo, uropygio saturatiore: remigibus nigro-fuscis extus albido marginatis, secundariis intimis elongatis et tectricibus alarum nigris conspicué albo marginatis : rectricibus duabus externis utrinque albis, in pogonio interno vix nigro marginatis, reliquis nigris : hypochondriis cinereo lavatis : rostro et pedibus nigris: iride fusca. Ad. ptil. hiem. corpore ut in ptilosi xstivali sed paullo sordidiore, pileo cinereo immixto: corpore subtus, mento et gula albis, his vix sulfureo lavatis, pectore lunula nigra notato. Adult Male in spring (Schleswig, April). Forehead nearly to the centre of the crown, and sides of the face and neck pure white; hind crown, nape, chin, throat and upper breast jet-black; back ashy grey, 3B Zoe 2 becoming rather darker on the rump; quills blackish brown, externally narrowly margined with white, the elongated inner secondaries and wing-coverts blacker, and broadly margined with white; tail black, except the two outer rectrices on each side, which are white, narrowly margined with blackish on the inner web; underparts, except as above stated, white; flanks washed with dark ashy grey; bill and legs black ; iris dark brown. Total length about 7 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3°55, tail 3°65, tarsus 0°9. Adult Female in spring. Resembles the male; but the black on the nape and on the throat does not extend so far down, and the general tone of coloration is duller. One specimen I have from Asia Minor, shot late in April, resembles the male, except that the crown is grey, not black, and the sides of the head are washed with grey. As a rule the female is a little smaller than the male. Adult in winter (Malta, November). Upper parts as in the male in spring; but the black on the head and nape is intermixed with grey, underparts white, the black on the throat reduced to a crescentic patch on the lower throat, the chin and upper throat being white with a primrose-yellow tinge, which latter also pervades the rest of the white on the head. Young of the year (Stockholm, Ist October). Resembles the adult in winter; but the upper parts have an olive tinge, the crown is coloured like the back, the sides of the head and throat have a more yellow tinge, and the crescentic mark on the lower throat is narrower. TOLERABLY widely distributed throughout the Palearctic Region, at least as far east as Lake Baikal, the present species is met with in almost all parts of Europe, except in the extreme north ; and in the winter season it passes as far south as Senegal, in Africa. In Great Britain it is a rare bird, being almost entirely replaced by its close ally Motacilla lugubris, which is the predominant British species. The White Wagtail, however, not only appears to have been met with as a straggler, but has also bred with us; for Mr. More, in his article on the distribution of birds in Great Britain during the nesting-season, gives several instances on record of its having been found nesting. It appears first to have been recognized as a British species by Mr. F. Bond, who, in May 1841, shot three specimens at Kingsbury reservoir near London ; and since then it has been tolerably often, indeed almost regularly, recorded. Mr. Rodd speaks of it as being not uncommon in Cornwall in the summer months; and Mr. Gatcombe informs me that he has shot a few specimens near Plymouth. Mr. A. G. More states that a pair were shot and their nest taken at Freshwater, Isle of Wight, and it has been often obtained on the south coast of England, in Sussex and Kent. Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that he never met with it in Somersetshire, but believes that it has been obtained near Bristol. Referring to its occurrence on the east coast, Professor Newton states that, curiously enough, it does not appear to have been met with in Suffolk or Norfolk; but Mr. Cordeaux says (B. of Humber Distr. p. 42) that he has on two or three occasions during the last ten years met with specimens on the north-east coast of Lincolnshire during the spring migration. Macgillivray obtained it on several occasions in the south of Scotland. My. Robert Gray states that he obtained a single example at Dunbar in the winter of 1847; and Dr. Saxby writes (B. of Shetl. Isl. p. 82) that he saw a pair near Lerwick on the 11th June, 1854. In Ireland, Thompson states, it is very rare; Dr. Ball saw a specimen on the 18th June, 1846, at Roundwood, near Dublin; and Professor Newton writes (Yarr. Brit. B. i. p. 549) that Mr. R. Warren, jun., killed one on the Island of Bartra, in Killala Bay, on the 25th April, 1851. 3 Professor Newton states that it has occurred twice in Greenland, as one was sent from the Southern Inspectorate in 1849, and another was obtained by Dr. Walker at Godhayn in August 1857. It is a tolerably common summer visitant to Iceland and the Feroes, and is numerous in Scandinavia. Mr. Collett informs me that it is everywhere to be met with in Norway from Lindesnes to the North Cape, and in the fells to as high an elevation as inhabitants are found. It breeds numerously near the coast, generally close to human habitations; and occasionally stragglers remain over winter on the south coast during mild seasons. Professor Sundevall states that in Sweden this Wagtail is found as far north as settlers have taken up their residence in the wood-region, as for example, at Quickjock, Juckasjarvi, Karesuando, &c., but it does not occur on the fells and in Finmark proper. I observed it everywhere in Finland, where it is a common summer visitant, and the bird most earnestly looked for and welcomed by the peasantry, who say that when the White Wagtail appears they are sure to have summer at once. Throughout Russia in Europe it is common, ranging far north in the Archangel Government, and being very generally distributed; and the same may be said respecting its occurrence in the Baltic Provinces, Germany, France, &c., where it is a summer visitant, though sometimes remaining over winter, especially in the southern parts. Mr. Carl Sachse informs me that it arrives in Rhenish Prussia early in February in mild seasons, and as late as the early part of March in severe ones: thus in 1864 and 18665 the first arrived on the Ist March, in 1866 on the 13th February, 1867 14th February, 1870 3rd February, 1871 2nd March, 1873 5th February, and 1875 7th March, the males always arriving about a week before the females. It seems that it arrives much later than this in Denmark; for, according to Kjerbélling, it arrived at Elsinore in 1829 on the Ist April, in 1837 on the 26th April, and in 1844-46 from the Ist to the 7th April. Mr. Labouchere informs me that it arrives in Holland in March and leaves again in October; and the same may be said as regards the north of France. It is stated by Professor Barboza du Bocage to be common in Portugal; and it is said by the various authors on Spanish ornithology to be numerous in that country in the winter; but Colonel Irby states that he never observed it later than the 16th March in Andalucia. It also both winters and breeds in Italy, but is more numerous during the summer. Mr. C. A. Wright says (Ibis, 1864, p. 62) that in Malta it is “common in autumn, and stays the winter; is seen gene- rally in small flocks, or solitary by the sides of pools and in newly ploughed fields. Leaves early in spring, and is rarely observed in the breeding-plumage.” Lord Lilford states that it is resident in Corfu, but that he only observed it on the mainland of Greece during the winter season; and Dr. Kriiper says that it winters numerously in Greece, frequenting the plains and the vicinity of the towns, and breeds in the mountain districts. In Southern Germany it is numerous during the summer, but only remains over winter in mild seasons; and the same may be said of Southern Russia. Mr. Goebel, however, says that it rarely breeds in the Uman district. I have received many specimens from Turkey, chiefly shot during passage; and Dr. Kriiper informs me that it is common in Asia Minor. Dr. ‘Tristram writes respecting its occurrence in Palestine (Ibis, 1866, p. 290) as follows:—“It is very abundant everywhere in winter, but becomes scarce as the spring advances, and is not seen at all in the south in summer. A few remain to breed in Galilee, where, in the hills, we took the nest.” Mr. C. W. Wyatt found it universally distributed on the Sinaitic peninsula; and it is stated to be a common winter 3B2 22 FX 4 visitant to Egypt, but its numbers rapidly diminish in the spring. Von Heuglin says that it is resident in Egypt, but is much commoner in the winter than in the summer season. He met with it on the Red Sea and the Somali coast only in November and December, In the interior it is a winter visitant only, and ranges as far south as the Upper Abiad, Azrag, and Abyssinia. Mr, Blanford, who met with it in the last-named country, writes (Geol. & Zool. Abyss. p. 380):— “Common both on the highlands and near the coast. I cannot see that the specimens collected by me in Abyssinia show the slightest difference from others shot in Western India and belonging to the supposed species J/. dukhunensis, Sykes. On the lst of May there were still specimens on the highlands around Lake Ashangi, but only very few remained. A month earlier they had been numerous.” In North-west Africa it is said to be common during winter: Loche records it as numerous in Algeria; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 85) as follows :—“ Universally distributed during the spring and winter, but, on the whole, com- moner in the Tell than in the Sahara. On one occasion I observed a large flock on a newly ploughed field. They are decidedly gregarious at certain seasons, Numbers were seen one evening at Laghouat, settling to roost in a wet field of wheat. Though it was already the 26th of March, many were still in winter plumage.’ Mr. Salvin found it common at Tunis in February; Mr. Chambers-Hodgetts met with it in Tripoli; and Favier states (according to Colonel Irby) that “it is the most abundant of the Wagtails near Tangier, arriving during September and October, leaving in March. ‘They are to be seen in large flocks following the plough, twittering incessantly.” Swainson records it from Senegal, Verreaux from Casamanse, and Daubeny from Zanzibar. Mr. Godman does not include it in his list of the birds of Madeira and the Canaries; but Dr. ‘C. Bolle states (J. f. O, 1854, p. 455) that it visits the Canaries every winter. To the eastward the present species occurs at least as far as Lake Baikal. Mr. Blanford says that it breeds in Persia; Mr. A. O. Hume speaks of it as being abundant throughout Sindh. In India its range is somewhat difficult to trace, as it has been confused with allied species, and I find no reliable data to work on. Dr. Henderson did not meet with it in Yarkand; but Severtzoff states that it occurs in Turkestan, but was generally seen on passage. Von Midden- dorff, Schrenck, and Radde all refer to it as being found in Siberia; but as they unite the present and other allied Asiatic species, it is impossible to decide as to which they speak of without comparing their specimens. It certainly, however, occurs at Lake Baikal; for I possess specimens collected there by Dr. Dybowski which I cannot specifically separate from European examples of Motacilla alba. A very closely allied species is IZ. ocularis, Swinhoe, which differs merely in having a narrow dark streak passing through the eye In its habits the White Wagtail does not in the least differ from our common British species (Motacilla lugubris); and what I have written respecting the habits and nidification of that species is equally applicable to the present bird. I may, however, give the following translation of some notes sent to me by Mr. Carl Sachse, of Altenkirchen. ‘‘ Here,” he writes, ‘‘ this bird is very common. In the spring the males arrive about a week before the females; and they do not immediately resort to their old nesting-places, but wander about in the meadows, where, in bad seasons, they have some difficulty in finding food. Soon after the female arrives the pair take possession of their nesting-place and commence nidification. This Wagtail affects the vicinity of © 5 human habitations, and is by no means shy. It is certainly one of the most elegant of our birds, taking the same place amongst our familiar birds that the Roebuck does amongst the mammals. It always reminds me of a neat pretty country maiden as it trips along—not a town beauty disfigured by crinoline or a long train, but a neat fresh country lass with a short dress and well- turned ankles. As it trips lightly along, the head is held erect, and every now and again it nods slightly and moves its tail. In the breeding-season it may frequently be seen paying its addresses to its mate, with spread tail and the feathers on the crown erected, the wings being also slightly opened ; and it is certainly then an elegant and pretty bird. It is, however, quarrelsome towards other birds, and will even follow a Crow or bird of prey, uttering anxious cries. It breeds twice in the season, in April and in June; but I found fresh eggs in 1874 as late as the 29th of July, and on one occasion on the 4th of October. The number of eggs deposited varies from five to seven, five or six being the normal number. With us they nest most frequently in stony places, and therefore are more seldom seen breeding in wooden than in stone houses or in walls or stone- heaps. It is frequently found in company with Motacilla melanope and the Dipper, in the vicinity of water-mills, and nests in the banks of the streams or under the bridges, taking care that the nest is well covered above. This spring, however, I took a nest, with five eggs, out of a hole in the ground; and some years ago I found one in a quite open place, in a strawberry-bed. When it nests in the faggot-stacks (as it not unfrequently does here), the Cuckoo often deposits her eggs in its nest. I must, however, not forget to name a rather curious circumstance to you. I was sitting at our window, upstairs, with my wife, and we observed a White Wagtail fly several times in and out of our neighbour’s chimney, which was smoking, the fire being on. Doubtless the bird had its nest inside the chimney.” Most of the eggs of this species in my collection are french white, minutely freckled with greyish brown or hair-brown; but some have a buffy tinge, and the freckles are of an olive-brown colour; in size they vary from 3§ by $3 to 34 by 24 inch. The nest is similarly constructed to that of the Pied Wagtail, being composed of rootlets, moss, grass bents, and lined with hairs and sometimes a few feathers. The specimens figured are :—on one Plate an adult male, in full breeding-dress, together with the male of Motacilla lugubris, and in the background is a bird of the year of the present species ; and on the second Plate an autumn-plumaged bird is figured, with an adult of JZ. dugudris in the same dress. ‘The specimens figured are those above described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 6. Christiania, April 12th, 1866 (R. Collett). 6,3. Stockholm, September 7th, 1848 (Meves). c, 9. Stockholm, October Ist, 1845 (Sundevall). d. France (Fairmaire). e, 3. Piedmont, April 1869 (Sal- vadori). f,2,9,3,h, 3. Piedmont, April 1870 (Salvadori). 1,3,j,3,k,3,1,9,m,3,n,2. Leiden, October 1870 (Sala). 0,2,p,é. Silesia, April 1867 (Moeschler). gq. Jutland, May 1870 (Benzon). 7,3. Malta, November 1861 (C. A. Wright). s,3. Olympus, November 26th, 1869 (Kriiper). ¢, 3. Ortakeuy, April 2nd, 1869 (Robson). u,d,v,2. Asia Minor, March 1865 (Robson). w, 2. Asia Minor, z a7 6 March 24th, 1865 (Robson). 27,3,y,¢. Asia Minor, October 1867 (Robson). z, aa. Egypt (E. C. Taylor). ab. Tangier, 1874 (L. Irby). ac, ad. Tangier (Alcesa). ae, 2. Lake Baikal (Dybowski). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, juv. Hesse. 6,¢. Murcia, Spain, March 25th (H. S.). g. Tangier, February. c,d,3,e,f,2. Valencia, October and November. Zao MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS. (PIED WAGTAIL.) Motacilla lugubris, Temm. Man. d’Orn. ed. 2, i. p. 253 (1820, nec 1835, nec 1840). Motacilla lotor, Rennie, in Mont. Orn. Dict. 2nd ed. p. 377 (1831). Motacilla yarrellii, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 74. Motacilla alba lugubris, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. 37 (1 844), Motacilla alba auctt. Britt. (nec Linn.). Sreac-an-t -sil, Gaelic; Ballerina nera, Italian; Sortrygget vipstjert, Danish. Figure notabiles. Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 78; Kjzrb. Orn. Dan. taf. xix.; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 21. fig. 22; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 377. fig. 1; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 141; id. B. of Gepb ani ple ale 3 ad. ptil. est. Motacille albe similis, sed dorso nigro, capite concolori nec cinereo. 2 ad. ptil. est. mari similis sed minor, dorso saturaté plumbescenti-cinereo nigro notato. Ptil. hiem. Motacille albe similis, sed corpore supra conspicué saturatiore. Adult Male in summer (Cookham, 23rd April). Hind crown, nape, back, rump, scapulars, lesser wing- coverts, throat, and breast glossy jet-black ; forehead, nearly to the centre of the crown, sides of the head and of the neck, and underparts below the breast pure white; quills black, the primaries externally narrowly edged with white, the secondaries and larger coverts being broadly margined with the same colour; the two outer rectrices on each side white, narrowly margined with black on the basal portion of the inner web, the rest of the tail beg black; flanks washed with greyish black; legs and beak black; iris dark brown. Total length about 7-5 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 3:6, tail 3°75, tarsus 1-0, hind toe with claw 0°5, hind claw 0:3. Adult Female. Differs from the male in being somewhat smaller in size, and in having the back dark lead- grey, marked with black, not pure black.» In the winter dress it does not differ in coloration from the male. Adult in winter (Hampstead, 18th October). Hind crown and nape black; back deep lead-grey, mottled with black; rump black; forehead, sides of head and neck, and throat white, slightly tinged with sulphur-yellow; black on the breast forming a crescent with the points directed upwards; underparts white ; flanks washed with grey ; wings and tail as in the summer dress. Young (West Drayton, 20th July). Upper parts dull grey, with an olive-buff tinge; margins to the quills and wing-coverts dull buffy white; throat, sides of the neck, and breast buffy white, with a yellowish 27 240 2 tinge, and marked with black on the lower throat and breast; underparts dull white; flanks tinged with yellowish buff. An older bird, shot on the 6th October, resembles the adult in winter dress, but has the crown and nape coloured like the back, and the crescentic mark on the breast is smaller. In this plumage it very closely resembles the young of M. alba, being only a shade darker on the upper parts. TuIs, our common British species, though so numerous with us, can scarcely be called common anywhere else. It is essentially a West-European bird, but has been found as far south as the western part of North Africa. With us in Great Britain it is very generally distributed, and is, as a rule, a resident, though some leave us in August or September, and return again in March. From the extreme south of England to the most northern portion of Scotland this Wagtail is a common and- generally distributed species, and it is met with as far as St. Kilda and Unst. Mr. Robert Gray says that the Inner Hebrides are in the winter season nearly deserted by the present species, and that in the Outer Islands, including St. Kilda, it appears to be strictly migratory, arriving in March and departing about the end of September. It seems, indeed, that though we have this bird with us throughout the year, a regular southward movement takes place thus: those which winter in the southern districts are the birds which have passed the summer season in the northern portions of our isles, whereas those which breed in the south of England migrate across the channel to seek winter quarters on the continent of Europe; hence the extreme northern portions of Scotland are deserted during the most inclement season of the year. It has been observed by Mr. Cecil Smith on the Island of Guernsey, where it is not uncommon; and in Ireland, as in England, it is very common, and generally distributed throughout the island. It has not been met with in Iceland or the Feroes, but has occurred on the west coast of Norway. Mr. Collett writes that Mr. Schiibeler, the parish priest, observed an individual in the summer of 1866 at Aaseral, in Christiansands Stift; and Professor Esmark recorded its occurrence at Christiania in 1859, where it was also seen in 1867 and 1868 by Mr. Feragen. An individual was also observed at Bergen in May 1869, by Mr. Friele; and in a letter just received from Mr. Collett he informs me that another specimen was obtained there in May 1871. It is also recorded from Sweden; but Professor Sundevall cites only one instance of its occur- rence; and in Denmark it is said by Kjerbolling to have only once been known to occur, he having obtained an example at Veile in April 1847. It is, however, very probable that it may have oftener occurred and been overlooked; for it has been frequently observed in large numbers during passage at Heligoland. I do not, however, find any recorded instance of its occurrence in Germany; and it is rare in Belgium during migration, only two or three examples having been obtained. In Holland, however, it appears to be of more frequent occurrence ; and Heer van Wickevoort Crommelin states that it has been known to pair with Motacilla alba. According to Messrs. Degland and Gerbe it “occurs rarely in the north of France, where it probably breeds, as a fine male in full breeding-plumage was shot near Lille in June. It is common in Brittany and in Anjou. M. Millet (Faune de Maine-et-Loire) says that it arrives about the middle of the autumn, and leaves about the end of March, when in full breeding- plumage.” Professor Barboza du Bocage speaks of it as being a common bird in Portugal; and 3 it has also been met with in Spain. Mr. Howard Saunders obtained a specimen at Seville in March 1868; and Colonel Irby remarks that in summer dress it is rare enough in Andalucia, but probably escapes unnoticed in winter plumage. Count Salvadori writes (Ucc. d’Ital. p. 121) that it is of accidental occurrence in Italy, and has been obtained in Liguria and near Venice. In the Turin Museum is a specimen procured in Piedmont. Further east than this it does not appear to have been met with; but it occurs rarely on the southern side of the Mediterranean, being, according to Favier, Colonel Irby says, the rarest of the Wagtails near Tangier, where it is found at the same times and places as Motacilla alba. Loche (Expl. Alg. Ois. ii. p. 5) refers to a Wagtail under the name of Motacilla algira, Bp., which may possibly be the present species—though, as he lays special stress on the large amount of white on the wings, it is equally probable that it may be Wotacilla vidua, Sund. The Pied Wagtail, or Dishwasher as it is very frequently called, affects damp localities in preference to the more elevated dry places, and is most frequently to be met with on the margins of streams, ponds, near ditches, or in damp meadows, especially such places where cattle are pasturing; for, like its allies, it is fond of watching for the insects that are disturbed as the cattle move about grazing or picking amongst the herbage. It may frequently be seen wading in shallow streams or pools in search of worms or insects, or stepping quickly about on the mud or soft sand, carefully holding up its tail to prevent it from being soiled. It walks about with the greatest ease and grace, sometimes running swiftly after an insect, using its wings as it dashes at and catches it, sometimes walking daintily along; or flying a short distance it perches on a stone or some elevated perch, and vibrates its body and tail, uttering its shrill twittering note as it flies off again to recommence its search after food. It may not unfrequently be seen picking amongst the old cow-dung in the pastures, where it finds larvee of various sorts, or running about close to the cattle and seizing the gnats or flies. It is extremely tame and familiar, and will allow itself to be approached within a few yards without showing any sign of fear, and is therefore easy to shoot. As it feeds entirely on insects of various descriptions, it is an eminently useful and harmless bird, and should be protected from molestation. With us in England it is a resident, but in the winter season it appears to be more numerous in the southern than in the northern portions of Great Britain. At this season it is often seen about in the fields; and when ploughing is going on, it will follow closely after the ploughman in order to pick up the worms and larve exposed to view. Late in March or early in April they have paired and commence the ‘serious business of nidification. ‘The nest is placed in a convenient hole in a wall, in a bank, or stone heap, or, where I have not unfrequently found it, in a faggot stack. The nest is constructed of dried grass-stems, moss, or a few fine roots, and is tolerably well lined with hair, wool, or feathers, Usually it is somewhat heavily built, and scarcely with so much care as that of most of its allies. ‘The eggs, generally five or six in number, are greyish white or French white, closely dotted all over the surface of the shell with greyish brown, and are not, so far as I can see, judging from the series in my own collection, distinguishable from the eggs of Motacilla alba. Not unfrequently the nest is built in a curious and, one would almost think, unsuitable locality. Macgillivray speaks of one built in an old wall in a quarry, within a few yards of four men who 272 241 242 4 during the most part of the day wrought at the limestone, which they occasionally blew up with powder,—and of another which was built below the strike-board at a colliery; and although the hutches filled with coals struck against the strike-board every time they were brought up to the top of the pit, the Wagtails brought their young to maturity without showing signs of being disturbed. This careful observer gives some excellent notes on the habits of this species, from which I extract the following:—‘“ The ordinary note of this species is a sharp cheep. When alarmed or otherwise agitated, it flies about in a wavering manner, uttering a repetition of this note, and alarming the small birds in the neighbourhood. In sunny weather, especially in the mornings, it may be heard singing a pleasant, mellow, and modulated little song. Its flight is light, buoyant, and undulated; it propels itself by a repetition of smart flaps, ascends in a curved line, then ceases for a moment, descends in a curve, repeats the motion of its wings, and thus proceeds as if by starts, and with great velocity. Like many other birds it is not fond of flying down the wind, but prefers an oblique course. In its habits it is quite terrestrial; at least I have never seen it search for food on trees, bushes, or even herbaceous plants, although it not unfrequently perches on a hedge or bush when disturbed in the breeding-season. It is curious to observe this species pursuing its prey in different localities. Thus, if you watch it for some time when it has taken its station among stones or fragments of rock, you cannot fail to be pleased with the activity and dexterity which it displays. There it stands on the top of a stone, quietly vibrating its tail, as if poising itself. An insect flies near, when it starts off, flutters a moment in the air, seizes its prey, and settles on another stone, spreading and vibrating its tail. Presently it makes another sally, flutters about for a while, seizes two or three insects, glides over the ground, curving to either side, and again takes its stand on a pinnacle. Again, you perceive several Wagtails flying in a wavering and buoyant manner over the rushes that skirt a large pool. It is a calm, bright evening; the Coots are swimming about among the reeds and horsetails, uttering now and then their short, loud trumpet-like cry, and the White-rumped Swallows are glancing along, now dipping lightly into the water to seize a fly, then darting here and there amongst the tiny insects that sport over the rank weeds. A Wagtail tries an excursion over the water; and although its flight does not equal that of the Swallow in elegance or velocity, it yet performs its part with considerable grace, flutters here a while, seizing a few insects, sweeps away in a curve, as if to acquire sufficient speed to keep it up without fluttering, turns suddenly, then shoots forth in a straight line—and thus continues for several minutes, until at length, fatigued, it betakes itself to the top of a stone wail, where it rests a little, and then commences a new excursion. Not unfrequently it may be seen running along the roof of a house in pursuit of insects, which it seizes in the manner of the Flycatcher or Redstart. Often also it is to be found among rocks; and it is not uncommon in the streets of country villages, where it searches for insects chiefly along the gutters.” I follow Professor Newton in using the specific title of Jugubris instead of yarrelli for the present species, as there can be no doubt that the bird first described by Temminck under that name is our British Wagtail; and Vieillot almost simultaneously (Encyclop. Méthod. 11. p. 404) used the name in the same sense. In 1835 Temminck (Man. d’Orn. ed. 2, iil. p. 175) substituted for his original descriptions those of a species from Japan, and, though made aware of the 5 - blunder, in 1840 (op. cit. iv. p. 620) continued to use dugubris in a sense probably still more erroneous. The specimens figured are a male in full breeding-dress, on the same Plate with Motacilla alba, and an autumn-plumaged adult bird, also on the same Plate with JZ. alba in the same stage of plumage, both being British-killed examples, the same that are above described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 6 ad. Cookham, Berks, April 22nd, 1869 (J. Ford). 6,9. Cookham. c, 9. Cookham, January 21st (W. Briggs). d,3& ad., e, juv. West Drayton, July 20th, 1869 (Paraman). f, 3. Hampstead, April 20th (Davy). g. Hampstead, September 24th. h. Hampstead, October 13th, 1869. h, 7,7, k, l,m, n, o. Hampstead, October 1869 (Davy). p. Tangier (Colonel Irby). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 3,6,?. Orkneys, summer (Dunn). c. Hackford, Norfolk, February Ist. d, g ad. Seville Market, March 4th, 1868 (H. S.). iS) YELLOWHEADED WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA CITREOLA. 29) MOTACILLA CITREOLA. (YELLOW-HEADED WAGTAIL.) Die Bachstelze mit dem gelben Bauche (Russ. Sheltobrjuschka), Lepech. It. i. p. 187 (1775). Motacilla citreola, Pallas, Reise, ii. App. p. 696. no. 14 (1776). Motacilla citrinella, Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 503 (1811). Motacilla aureocapilla, Less. Orn. p. 422 (1831). Budytes citreola (Pall.), Bp. Comp. List, p. 19. no, 159 (1838). Figure notabiles. Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 81; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 377. figs. 2, 4; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 144; Middendorff, Sib. Reise, ii. taf. 14. figs. 4, 5. 3 ad. ptil. est. capite, collo et eorpore subtus pulchré citrinis, hypochondriis sordidé cinereo-schistaceis, dorso uropygio et tectricibus alarum minoribus cinereo-schistaceis, dorso indistincté flavido adumbrato, collo imo postico nigro: remigibus nigricantibus, secundariis intimis elongatis albido marginatis: tectricibus alarum majoribus et medianis nigricanti-cinereis conspicué albo terminatis: supracaudalibus nigro- schistaceis: rectricibus duabus extimis utrinque albis, in pogonii interni dimidio basali nigro margi- natis, reliquis nigris: rostro et pedibus nigris, iride fusca. 2 ad. ptil. est. pileo et nuché non citrinis sed flavicanti-cinereis vix brunneo tinctis: regione superciliari, loris et gula citrinis, torque in collo postico nulla: corpore supra ut in mare sed sordidiore: alis, cauda et corpore subtis ut in mare picturatis: capitis lateribus et regione parotica cinerescente nigro notatis. Juv. pileo, nuchaé et corpore supra sordidé cinereis flavicante brunneo lavatis, pileo magis flavido: fronte et strié superciliari flavicanti-albidis, regione suboculari et regione parotica sordidé cinereis : corpore subtus albido, pallidé flavo lavato, gutture imo flavo adumbrato et vix grisescente fulvido notato: alis et cauda ut in adulto picturatis sed sordidioribus. 3 ptil. hiem. femine similis sed corpore supra saturatiore, fronte flava, strid superciliari majore: pectore et corpore imo subtts non citrinis sed flavicanti-albidis: gutture imo vix nigro-fusco notato: secundariis et tectricibus alarum sordidé albido, nec albo marginatis et terminatis. Adult Male in breeding-dress (Lake Baikal, 18th May). Head, neck, and underparts (except the flanks) bright canary-yellow, back, lesser wing-coverts, and rump dark slaty grey, with a faint greenish or yellowish tinge on the back; on the lower neck, where the yellow ends is jet-black, a black collar being thereby formed round the hind neck; quills dull blackish, the primaries with faint lighter edges, elongated inner secondaries black, edged with white, larger and median wing-coverts greyish black, broadly tipped with pure white; upper tail-coverts blackish grey; the two outer tail-feathers on each side white, the basal half of the inner web margined with black, remaining rectrices jet-black, flanks dark slate-grey ; legs and bill black, iris brown. Total length about 5:7 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 3°33, tail 3°2, tarsus 1:05, hind toe with claw 0°7. 2 Adult Female in breeding-dress (Cashmere, 9th March). Crown and nape dull yellowish grey with a brownish tinge, the black collar wanting; back as in the male, but browner, and the wings duller, the white edgings being larger; tail and underparts as in the male; superciliary region, lores, and throat canary- yellow; sides of the head below the eye and auriculars marked with blackish grey; sides of the lower neck slightly marked with black. Young Male (S.E. Ural, 14th August). Crown, nape, and upper parts dull greyish, washed with yellowish brown, the crown rather more yellow; forehead and superciliary line yellowish white, a broad mark from the bill below the eye and the auriculars dull greyish; underparts dull whitish, with a primrose tinge, lower throat tinged with yellow and slightly marked with dark greyish brown; wings and tail as in the adult female. A younger bird, which cannot have long left the nest, has the upper parts with darker centres to the feathers, the sides of the crown blackish, a band of black across the lower throat, and the underparts buffy white, the breast washed with yellowish buff. Adult Male in winter (Etawah, 29th November). Resembles the female in breeding-dress above described ; but the upper parts are darker, the forehead is yellow, the supercilium broader, the lower breast and abdomen not bright yellow but primrose-yellow; but the throat and upper breast are canary-yellow, and on the lower throat there are some black markings; the white edgings to the wings are also duller than in the summer plumage. Tuts Wagtail, first described as distinct by Lepechin (who, however, though he enumerated its specific characters with accuracy, did not give it a Latin name), is an eastern species, inhabiting Northern Asia during the summer and migrating southward into China and India during the winter season. In Europe it is found in the extreme eastern or south-eastern portion of Russia, where it breeds. It has, however, occurred as far west as Heligoland, where, according to Professor Blasius (Ibis, 1862, p. 70), immature examples have been obtained; but, with this exception, it does not appear to have occurred west of Russia, where it inhabits the Ural range, and, according to M. Martin, arrives early in the spring, whilst the lakes are still covered with ice; and when this latter melts it retires to a drier soil, and breeds amongst the marsh-grass. Sabanaeff states that it occurs in the Ekaterinburg district, but does not range higher than about 563° N. lat.; eastward of Ekaterinburg it gradually becomes commoner. Bogdanoff states that it is found near Kazan. I have specimens collected by Sabandeff and by Meves in the Southern Ural, which are in almost all stages of plumage; one bird was quite young and could not have long left the nest; but neither of these gentlemen found its eggs. Professor von Nordmann says that it is one of the rarest visitors to Southern Russia, having only been obtained near Taganrog and in the Crimea. To the eastward it occurs as far as China. Mr. Blanford does not appear to have observed it in Persia, but obtained two specimens in Baluchistan. Dr. Jerdon says (B. of India, ii. p. 226) that during the cold weather it is found all over India, where it is not very abundant, and does not, like the ordinary Grey-headed Wagtail of India, frequent dry places, but is found on the banks of rivers and shores of lakes, and especially in swampy ground or on inundated rice-fields. Mr. W. E. Brooks, who met with it in Cashmere, says that it migrates through that country in May, and that in June all had passed; and Dr. Henderson writes (Lahore to Yarkand, p. 224) that “it was found throughout Cashmere and Ladak, and was noticed as high as 11,000 feet, at 9 9) a small lake surrounded by snow on the Zoji-la Pass. Doubtless the bird breeds in both pro- vinces. The specimens obtained in May, June, and July were all in full breeding-plumage.” Severtzoff, who met with it in Turkestan, states that it is there only a migrant, occurring in the south-eastern, south-western, and north-western portions of the country to an altitude of about 8000 to 4000 feet. Here, as in India, Cashmere, and Ladak, there are two distinct forms, which Severtzoff considers only varieties, but which seem to me to be perfectly good species, viz. the present species with a black collar and grey back, and Motacilla citreoloides, which, in full plumage, has the upper parts deep velvety black. Where this latter species breeds I cannot -say; but it does not appear to have so extensive a range as the present species, as I have never seen it from Dauria or from Russia in Europe—indeed, only from Turkestan, Cashmere, and India. Motacilla citreola, however, occurs in Siberia, where Von Middendorff met with it breeding in small numbers on the Boganida in 71° N. lat. Dr. G. Radde, who found it in South-east Siberia, where Von Middendorff did not observe it, says that the first arrived on the Tarei-nor about the 18th April, and on the 30th they were seen paired. In the Eastern Sajan Mountains he first met with it on the Tunka Plain on the 23rd April; on the 8th May it became commoner; and on the 13th of that month it was seen paired. He did not observe it in the autumn. It breeds in Dauria, as I have eggs from there; and Dr. Dybowski says that it is tolerably common. Pere David records it as not uncommon in Mongolia in spring; and Mr. R. Swinhoe says (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 364) that he obtained it at Szechuen, in China, and came across a small party of this Wagtail on the Upper Yangtsze in May. In its habits the present species assimilates closely with the other Wagtails, but appears to be much more of a marsh bird, as it is said to be always found in swampy low localities, and never in dry elevated places. Little is on record respecting its habits or nidification ; but some notes by Dr. Dybowski, being the result of personal observation, published by Dr. Tacza- nowski in the Journal fiir Orn. (1873, p. 82) are of interest; and I therefore translate them as follows:—It arrives here (Darasun, Dauria) in the breeding-season, and is very common, appearing in vast flocks about the latter half of April. It places its nest on the ground in swampy places, and hides it most carefully under dry grass, low bushes, or else amongst the moss which grows on the peaty soil. The nest is constructed of this marsh-moss with dry grass-bents, and is strongly and regularly built. It measures 110 millims. in outside diameter, 55 millims. in height, 65 inside diameter, and 35 inside depth. About the latter end of June the female deposits five, rarely six, eggs, in the incubation of which the male bird assists. When one is sitting its mate keeps careful watch in the neighbourhood, and warns the sitting. bird when danger threatens. The latter then runs off the nest, and both seek to lure the intruder away. So soon as the danger is over they return to the nest, but not directly, and only with the greatest caution; and therefore the nest is most difficult to find. ‘The best mode is to seek for the nest during drizzling rain, when the female leaves her eggs unwillingly, and does not fly off until nearly trodden on. So soon as the young (which differ greatly from their parents in appearance) are reared, they all leave; but stragglers have been observed as late as the 24th August.” In my collection is a clutch of six eggs of this Wagtail obtained by Dr. Dybowski in Dauria, and sent over here with the birds. In coloration and general appearance these eggs resemble Q 4 those of Motacilla raii, but are, if any thing, a shade more stone-buff in ground-colour, and are a trifle larger, measuring from 3 by §% inch to ? by $3 inch. The specimens figured are an adult male in full breeding-dress from Dauria, and a young bird from the Ural, these being the specimens described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a,é. Kushum, Turkestan, April 7th, 1862 (Severtzoff). 6,3. Chinrent, March 26th, 1866 (Severtzoff). c, juv., 4,3, e,3,f, 9%. Ekaterinburg, Ural, April 1869 (L. Sabandeff). g, 3. Ekaterimburg, Ural, May 25th (L. Sabandeff). h, 2 juv., i, guv. S.E. Ural, July 1872 (W. Meves). 7, $. Lake Baikal, May 18th, 1869 (Dr. Dybowski). k,?,1,2, m,3d. Cashmere, April 1871 (W. E. Brooks). n, g- Kokand, March 19th, 1866 (Dode). 0, p,q,¢. Htawah, October 22nd, 1869 (W. HE. Brooks). 1,2, $,6,t,u,3,V,6,wW,2, 4,3. HEtawah, November 1869 (W. E. Brooks). y, 3,2, 3. Etawah, February 1870 (W. E. Brooks). aa, 3, ab, 3, ac, 3. Etawah, March 1870 (W. H. Brooks). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 3. Turkestan, April 4th, 1866 (Dode). 6,3,c¢,2. Jellallabad, E. India, March 26th, 1872 (4. Anderson). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 6. Loyah, India, March 15th, 1871 (W. E. Brooks). 6,3. India. c,d, d, 3. Etawah, India, November 1869 (W. E. Brooks). e, 3. Etawah, December 1869 (W. EH. Brooks). f, 3. Etawah, January 1870 (W. E. Brooks). g,3,h,3,1,3,k, 3. Htawah, February 1870 (W. E. Brooks). 1,2. Etawah, March 24th, 1870 (W. EH. Brooks). MOTACILLA CITREOLA, APPENDIX A. WueEN the article on this species was issued I was enabled to give but very meagre details respecting its nidification, gleaned entirely from the notes published by Dr. Dybowski, who met with it breeding in Dauria. Since then I have had an opportunity of examining a very rich series of skins, eggs, and nests collected on the Petchora river, in Northern Russia, by Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown, this spring (1875). ‘These gentlemen found it, curiously enough, breeding further north than Motacilla viridis, and extremely common; and the former of them sends me the following notes, which are the more interesting as they are, I believe, the first published respecting the nidification of IZ. citreola in Europe. “The Yellow-headed Wagtail,” Mr. Seebohm says, ‘is the commonest bird in summer in the delta of the Petchora. It is most abundant on the willow-swamps on the islands, but is also found in similar situations on the tundra. We were not able to get much information respecting the date of its arrival. We did not meet with it at Ust Zylma; but lower down the river, at Haberiki, we met with a party of five on the 4th of June. The White Wagtail arrived at Ust Zylma on the 12th of May. Motacilla viridis arrived on the 17th, and was very abundant both at Ust Zylma and at Haberiki; north of Haberiki it became less and less abundant, whilst Motacilla citreola became more so. At Churvinski, near the Arctic circle, both species were making preparations to breed. In the delta Motacilla viridis disappeared altogether, whilst Motacilla citreola became extremely abundant. It is impossible to imagine that the tens of thousands of these birds in the delta had migrated by way of Ust Zylma and entirely escaped our notice. In the Ornithological Catalogue of the University at Kasan it is mentioned that this bird arrives at Kasan, whilst the common species have young, about the middle of April, and that a few pairs remain until the beginning of June. They probably follow the valley of the Volga to Kasan, thence up the Kama and down the Petchora to the junction of the latter river with the Ussa. Instead of then turning south-west, as the Petchora does, down to Ust Zylma, they will most likely keep a nearly north course and reach the delta up the valley of the Ussa and across the tundra. “The Yellow-headed Wagtail builds its nest in the long grass which soon covers the open spaces between the willows after the floods caused by the sudden melting of the snow and the breaking-up of the ice have subsided. ‘The nest is very difficult to find; but we succeeded in securing ten. They were built of dead grass with almost always a feather or two somewhere, and generally, but not invariably, lined with the hair of cows or reindeer. Five was the usual complement of eggs; but one or two nests contained six. ‘The first eggs we obtained on the 19th of June; a month later we caught a young bird scarcely able to fly; and by the Ist of August fully fledged young were abundant. The male appears to take its turn in the duties of incubation; and both birds are noisy enough when you approach the nest, the male frequently flying up to the intruder, singing defiantly in the air. We did not meet with this bird on the 3Q 249 6 shores of the lagoon beyond the islands of the delta. Both the call- and the alarm-note of this bird, as well as the low chattering song, are very similar to those of Motacilla viridis. We brought home about sixty skins of this bird, and could easily have got ten times that number if we had had time to prepare them. ‘They were very tame; and it was no uncommon thing for half a dozen or more birds to be within shot on various conspicuous twigs of the willows at the same time. Comparatively few of the males were in complete adult summer dress, most of them having more or less of black streaks on the head; and several of both sexes showed traces of the gorget of spots on the lower throat characteristic of immature birds. There is not much variety in the size or colour of the eggs: some are bluer than others; and the spots of some are more confluent than usual.” co GREY WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA SULPHUREA e292 201 MOTACILLA MELANOPE (GREY WAGTAIL.) The Grey Water-Wagtail, Edw. Gleanings, v. p. 105, pl. 259, “ England” (1758). Ficedula motacilla flava, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 471, pl. xxiii. fig. 5 (1760). Motacilla flava, Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 153 (1769, nec Linn.). Motacilla melanope, Pall. Reis. Russ. Reichs, iii. p. 696, ‘“ Dauria” (1776). La Bergeronnette jaune, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. vy. p. 268 (1778). Tschutschi Wagtail, Penn. Arct. Zool. ii. p. 397, ‘‘ Tschutschi coast” (1785). Motacilla tschutschensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 962, ‘‘Tschutschi coast” (1788). Motacilla boarula, Gm. tom. cit. p. 997 (1788, nec Scop.). Motacilia sulphurea, Bechst. Gemeinn. Naturg. V6g. Deutschl. ii. p. 459, “Europe and Asia” (1807). Pallenura (M. metanope), Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 500 (1811). Motacilla cinerea, Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. p. 22, “ England” (1816). Motacilla bistrigata, Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 312, “ Sumatra” (1821). Calobates, Kaup (Motacilla sulphurea, Bechst.), Natiirl. Syst. p. 33 (1829). Motacilla montium, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 346, “* Germany ” (1831). Budytes boarula, Eyton, Cat. Brit. Birds, p. 15, “ England” (1836, nec Scop.). Motacilla xanthoschistos, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc. p. 83, “ Nipal” (1844). Pallenura sulphurea (Bechst.), Bp. Cons. Gen. Av. i. p. 250 (1850). Pallenura javensis, Bp. tom. cit. p. 250, “Java” (1850). Motacilla mentana, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 143, “ Germany” (1855). Motacilla rivalis, C. L. Brehm, ut supra, ‘‘ Germany ” (1855). Bergerennette jaune, French ; Alveloa amarella, Portuguese ; Ballerina gialla, Italian ; Zakak- ta-del, Maltese; graue Bachstelze, Winter-Bachstelze, German; groote gele Kivikstaart, Dutch; Gradrla, Swedish; Seraya tresoguska, Russian. figure notabiles. Edwards, 7. ¢.; D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 28. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 80; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 17. figs. 15,14; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 87; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 147; id. B. of G. B. iii. pls. 6, 7; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 103. 3 ad. ptil. est. pileo, capitis lateribus et corpore supra saturaté cinereis, dorso vix olivaceo tincto, uropygio supracaudalibusque viridi-flavidis: remigibus nigricantibus, secundariis ad basin albis, intimis brunneo marginatis: tectricibus alarum majoribus nigricantibus cinereo marginatis, minoribus dorso con- coloribus: rectrice extima utrinque alba, duabus sequentibus albis sed in pogonio externo ad basin et fere ad apicem nigris, rectricibus reliquis nigricantibus vix flavo-viridi marginatis: mento et gula nigris utringue strié alb&é indistincté notatis et strid distinctaé supra eculum duct&: corpore subtis 212 202 2 reliquo flavo, hypochondriis cinereo lavatis: vostro nigricaute: pedibus brunnescenti-incarnatis : iride nigro-fusca. 2 ad. mari similis sed sordidior, guld nec nigra sed alba vix nigro notata. Piil. hiem. corpore supra’ saturaté cinereo vix olivaceo tincto: stria superciliari flavicanti-albida: gula alba - pectore rufescenti-ochraceo: corpore subtus reliquo pallidé sulphureo, sed crisso et subcaudalibus leté flavis, Adult Male in summer (Derbyshire). Crown, nape, sides of the head, and entire upper parts dark ashy with an olive tinge on the back; rump and upper tail-coverts greenish yellow; quills blackish, secondaries white at the base, and with narrow light-brown edgings to the inner feathers; larger wing- coverts blackish, with dull ashy edgings, smaller coverts coloured like the back ; outermost tail-feather white, the next two on each side white, with the outer web, except towards the tip, blackish, the remaining feathers being blackish with greenish yellow narrow edgings, which become broader towards the base of the feather ; chin and throat black, a streak over the eye, and another indistinctly defined streak on each side of the black throat, white; rest of the underparts canary-yellow, brightest on the under tail-coverts; flanks washed with grey; bill blackish; legs dull fleshy brown; iris blackish brown. ‘Total length about 7 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3°25, tail 3-9, tarsus 0°85. Adult Male in autumn (Cookham, Berks, 20th September). Upper parts dark ashy with an olive tinge; wings and tail as in the summer dress, except that the margins to the secondaries are rather larger ; rump yellowish green; the streak over the eye rusty yellowish white; throat white; breast rusty ochre; rest of the underparts sulphur-yellow, except the under tail-coverts and crissum, which are rich canary-yellow. Adult Female in spring (ake Baikal, 26th May). Differs from the male in having the upper parts rather duller in tinge, and the underparts of a slightly paler shade of yellow, and the throat is greyish white, with one or two blackish feathers on the chin. Several adult females in my possession agree closely with this specimen; but old females appear to have the throat more mottled with colour. Adult Female in autumn. Differs very slightly from the male, being a little duller in colour and a trifle smaller in size. Young. A young bird which had just left the nest, shot by myself at Staufen im Breisgau, had the upper parts grey with a slight greenish tinge, the rump greenish yellow, a yellowish white streak passes over the eye, and under the eye there is an indistinct white mark ; wings and tail as in the adult. but the secondary coverts have greyish tips; underparts greyish white with a primrose tinge; lower tail- coverts pale yellow; fore neck marked with greyish; breast washed with pale reddish grey; bill dark brown; legs pale fleshy grey ; claws dark brown. Obs, Many recent authors have treated the Eastern or Asiatic form of the present species as distinct, under the name of Motacilla melanope; and I thought that this view was the correct one, and that our bird would stand under the name of M. sulphurea, until I examined a larger series from various localities. The distinctive character claimed for the eastern bird is, that its tail is said to be constantly shorter; but I find that examples from the Azores have, as a rule, shorter tails than Asiatic specimens, and from Turkey T have birds with tails as long as any from England, and others with as short tails as birds from Siberia. The shortest tail is that of an old full-plumaged male from the Azores, as it measures only 3°5 inches. The length of the tails in the specimens now before me varies as follows:—Madeira and the Azores, 3 seven specimens, 3°5 to 3°8 inches; Great Britain, ten specimens, 3°9 to 4°2, the average being about 4:05; Bulgaria, one specimen, 3°9; Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, twelve specimens, 3:7 to 4°2, the average being about 3°9; Chimkent, one specimen, 3°75 ; Etawah, one specimen, 3:6; Lake Baikal, one specimen, 3°8; China, two specimens, 3°55 and 3:9; Java, one specimen, 8°8. From this it will be seen that the length of the tail cannot be taken as a characteristic distinction ; and in any other respect I can detect no difference between Asiatic and European birds. Specimens from the Azores and Madeira are the most aberrant, as the colours are so intense, and the black on the throat so deep in colour; but I cannot trace any specific distinction between them and examples from the continent of Europe. They have the white streaks on the side of the head, over the eye, and bordering the throat very slightly defined, being scarcely visible in some specimens, but always present. Lord Walden has given (Trans. Zool. Soe. ix. p. 197) a very complete table of measurements of specimens in his collection from various localities, which agree tolerably well with mine; but he appears to take the measurements rather fuller than I do, and he has not had any of the short-tailed specimens from Turkey, of which I possess three, the tails of which measure 3°7, 3°8, and 3:9 inches respectively, whereas he gives 4°12 as the length of the tail of the shortest-tailed Turkish specimen. TuE range of the present species is very extensive; for it is met with in Europe as far north as the British Isles and Northern Germany, occurs in Northern Africa, and is met with in Asia as far east as Japan, and as far south as Java. In Great Britain it is, as a species, a permanent resident, though individually a partial migrant; for many young birds leave for the south in the autumn. Being a bird that only frequents localities where running water is found, and disliking the plains, it is somewhat locally distributed, especially during the breeding-season. In the south-western counties it breeds only in small numbers, but has been found nesting regularly in Cornwall and on Dartmoor. In a note received from Mr. J. Gatcombe, he says, ‘‘many of this species remain in Devon and Cornwall the whole year, and may be found breeding by the sides of all our rivers and moorland streams, frequently under the arch of a bridge. During autumn and winter they may be seen in the towns and by the sea-side.” Mr. A. C. Stark tells me that he has found it breeding in Devonshire, more commonly on all the Dartmoor streams than in any district he has visited, either in Scotland or North Wales. Mr. Cecil Smith also informs me that he believes it breeds in the Channel Islands, as he saw several when on a visit to Guernsey and Sark in June and July. In Somersetshire, he adds, it certainly remains to breed; for he took its nest, and has also seen it about at various times during the summer. From October to April, it is common in that county; but its breeding-haunts are chiefly in the northern portions of our island. Professor Newton says that “a line drawn across England from the Start Point, slightly curving to round the Derbyshire hills, and ending at the mouth of the Tees will, it is believed, mark off the habitual breeding-range of this species in the United Kingdom.” Mr. A. G. More gives instances of its having been occasionally met with nesting in Dorset, Bucks, and Gloucester, and says that it is believed to breed in Wilts, Hants, and Kent; and he adds it is found on the streams of North Wales. In Scotland, according to Mr. Robert Gray, it is resident in the western districts, but does not occur in the Outer Hebrides, though it is found on the inner islands, being not uncommon during winter in Islay and Skye. On the mainland it ranges from Sutherlandshire to the shores of Wigtownshire; and it is occasionally seen, Dr. Saxby says, in small numbers in Skye in August and September, but he has not found it breeding 2093 4 there. In Ireland it is generally distributed in suitable localities, though not found everywhere throughout the country. It has not been met with in Iceland, the Feroes, or Norway, and it has only once been obtained in Sweden. Nor has it occurred in Finland; but it is found in Central Russia, near Moscow, though it does not range as far as the Jaroslaf Government. Mr. Sabaniieff says that, strange to say, it is more frequently met with in the Northern than in the Southern Ural. It is very common in the Pavdinskaya Dacha; and, according to Teplouhoff, it breeds on the left shore of the Kama, in about 583° N. lat. Southward of Ekaterinburg it is more rarely met with. I have no data respecting its occurrence in Poland or the Baltic Pro- vinces; it appears doubtful if it breeds in Pomerania or Prussia; and, according to Borggreve, it has only once occurred in Posen. Though not very numerous in Saxony, it may, Dr. Rey says, always be found in suitable localities, and some few remain over the winter. According to Boie it has also been once met with at Kiel, in Holstein; but Mr. Benzon informs me that it has never been known to occur in Denmark. In Western Germany it is not uncommon, and I have frequently met with it in Rhenish Prussia. Mr. Sachse tells me that it appears at Altenkirchen in March, or in mild seasons in February, generally singly, but some- times in pairs, remains to breed, and leaves again in October, some few remaining throughout the winter. In the Black Forest I found it in June very common on all the mountain-streams ; but where these reach the plains it is no longer seen. In Belgium it breeds in the hilly and mountainous districts, and during the winter frequents the unfrozen streams on the plains; and Mr. Labouchere informs me that in Holland it is seldom seen in any province but that of Guelderland, where it breeds. In the northern and more level portions of France it only occurs in autumn and winter; but in the hilly and rugged districts, such as the Basses Pyrénées and the Basses Alpes and the Var, it is resident. Professor Barboza du Bocage speaks of it as being resident in Portugal; and it is found at all seasons of the year in Spain. Colonel Irby says that “in Andalucia they are most abundant on passage and during the winter months; but many pairs nest along the mountain-streams of the sierras.” Mr. Howard Saunders writes (Ibis, 1871, p- 215) that it “was often observed at Malaga in winter; and in the Sierra Nevada and other ranges it is abundant along the mountain-torrents.” And in a note from Mr. A. C. Stark, this gentleman informs me :—‘“ it breeds very commonly on all the rocky streams in the Sierra del Nino, in Andalucia. There is generally a nest near each waterfall or mill-wheel. On an average I should say there were a pair of birds to every half mile of stream. On the 9th April I pointed out a nest to Colonel Irby; it was snugly ensconced in the hole of a rock on a stream that crosses the Tarifa-road, not far from Algeciraz. ‘The bird was sitting; but I was unable to examine the contents of nest, as it was at such a height as to be inaccessible without the help of a ladder.” In Savoy the present species of Wagtail is also resident and numerous; and it occurs throughout Italy in suitable localities, though it is nowhere numerically abundant. In Sicily it is more numerous in winter, but some remain throughout the year; and it is said to be resident in Sardinia. Mr. C. A. Wright records it from Malta, and says (Ibis, 1864, p. 62) that it “ arrives about the middle of September, and is common in October, a few remaining till March. Always solitary or in couples, it is very partial to shady spots by the side of running water and the sea- shore. It breeds here in April.” It was considered by both Von der Miihle and Lindermayer to be a winter visitant only to Greece; and the former observes that he obtained a specimen 5 which had the tail at least an inch longer than any other example he obtained there; but there is now no doubt that it breeds in Greece, as will be seen from the notes below by Mr. Seebohm, who found its nest in the Parnassus. In the south of Germany it is a partial resident; for it breeds on many of the mountain- streams, and remains over the winter in places where the streams are not frozen. The late Mr. E. Seidensacher informed me that it was found by him regularly breeding near Cilli, in Styria; and Dr. A. Fritsch says that it breeds near Prague, in Bohemia. When travelling in Wallachia and Servia I frequently observed it on the mountain-streams, and took its eggs near Ilovetz in the former country. I also observed it not far from Rustchuk, and have received many specimens collected near Constantinople by Mr. Robson. Professor von Nordmann states that it is tolerably common in the south of Russia, where it is distributed throughout Bessarabia, New Russia, all the eastern Black-Sea provinces, and the Crimea. Dr. Kriiper does not appear to have met with it in Asia Minor; but Canon Tristram states (Ibis, 1866, p. 290) that it is common in winter in Palestine, but leaves in February, long before it assumes the nuptial dress. Mr. C. W. Wyatt observed it in the peninsula of Sinai, where he met with a pair at the lower end of Wady Hebran. In North-east Africa it is found during the winter season. Mr. E. C. Taylor saw it at Cairo in January; Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that he twice observed it in the Delta of the Nile in February; Dr. Leith Adams met with it in Nubia in the winter; and Mr. Blanford, who remarks that it was not common in Abyssinia, states that he obtained one-specimen in the Lebka valley in August. It is stated by Loche to be common in Algeria during the two seasons of passage ; and, according to Colonel Irby, Favier says that it is a common winter visitor near Tangier, appearing in September and October and departing in February and March. It is also a common resident in the Canaries and Azores; and Mr. Godman writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 176) as follows :—‘‘ This beautiful species is exceedingly common in all three of the Atlantic archipe- lagoes; wherever there. is a pool or stream of water, a pair of them are sure to be seen, actively engaged in catching the insects which abound in such localities. Webb and Berthelot, and also Bolle, in his first paper on the birds of the Canaries, have mistaken it for JZ. flava, though the latter has corrected this error in his second paper.” To the eastward the present species is found as far at least as Japan. Mr. Blanford obtained three examples in Persia, two of which belonged to what is generally considered the European form, having the tail long; and the third had the tail short, but rather imperfect. Mr. A. O. Hume, who records it as common in Sindh, adds that he cannot, after having examined a large series, discover any valid constant difference; and in this I fully agree with him. Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. p. 220), “it is migratory in India, appearing about the end of September, and remaining till the first week of May or so. It is spread throughout all India and Ceylon, but is most general in the hilly and wooded parts, and rare in the open country, especially towards the south of India, in the Carnatic, and the bare tableland, being apparently more abundant in Bengal and the north of India.” Mr. W. E. Brooks met with it in Cashmere, where, he says, (J. A. Soc. Beng. 1872, p. 73), it breeds plentifully on the streams, at an elevation of above 6000 feet; and Severtzoff states that he found it breeding throughout Turkestan, at an eleyation of from 4500 to nearly 10,000 feet above the sea-level. In Siberia it is found widely 200 6 distributed. Von Middendorff observed it in May in the Stanowoi Mountains, and found it also common on the coast of the Sea of Ochotsk. Mr. Maack obtained it as far north in Siberia as Wilni, in about 63°-64° N. lat.; and Von Schrenck records it as one of the commonest species of Wagtails throughout the Amoor country. Dr. G. Radde says that he frequently met with it in the Eastern Sajan and the Daurian elevated steppes, but seldom on the Central Amoor and in the woods near the Baikal Lake. At the Tarei-nor the first arrived on the 5th of May (old style), and in the autumn they had nearly all disappeared on the 4th September. Pére David observed it in Mongolia; and Mr. Swinhoe met with it in China, on the island of Formosa, and at Hainan, during the winter season, when, he says, it was common. ‘Temminck and Schlegel record it from Japan; and Captain Blakiston states (Ibis, 1862, p. 318) that he obtained a specimen at Hakodadi in August. It has been met with in Asia at least as far south as Java, whence I possess a specimen; and Mr. Davison states (Stray Feathers, 11. p. 237) that he observed about half a dozen on the Andaman Islands and one on the Nicobars.. Lord Walden, in his paper on the ornithology of the Philippines, says that he has specimens from Luzon, Zebu, Malacca, and Java. During the summer season the Grey Wagtail is essentially a mountain bird, frequenting the rocky burns and small swift-running brooks that rise out of the mountains and flow down to the plains. I have never seen it away from the water, and never in the plains themselves, though it is met with in the mountain-slopes on the very edge of the latter. In Staufen, near Freiburg, I observed it this summer in the town itself, through which a stream runs, and in all the small streams which flow from the adjacent mountains; but about a mile out of the town, in the valley of the Rhine, it was no longer met with, being replaced by Motacilla alba. Though a somewhat shy bird, especially when it finds itself pursued, it frequently builds in inhabited places, such as water-mills, and I could always watch from the window of the inn where I was staying in the middle of the town a female carrying food to her young, which were somewhere in an old mill adjoining the inn. Before I left, the young had left the nest, and were to be seen on the banks of the brook below the town, where I shot one for examination. I have several times taken the nest of the present species, which I have generally found either under an overhanging bank close by the water-side, or else under a stone bridge, in a convenient cranny amongst the stones: but it sometimes breeds far distant from the water; for Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that he took a nest in a stone wall in Somersetshire at a considerable distance from water, and Mr. Carl Sachse found a nest near Altenkirchen, in Rhenish Prussia, fully eight hundred yards from the nearest water. Writing to me respecting the habits of this species as observed by him there, he says :— “it always frequents running water, especially where the water is shallow and the bed of the brook is stony. When not pursued it can scarcely be called shy ; but if it finds itself watched it will go miles away from its usual haunts. Its call-note is sz¢szz or zsz, rather sharply uttered. I have frequently examined the stomachs of specimens I shot, and have always found them to contain flies, gnats, water-insects, and larvee of various kinds. It frequents the same localities as the Dipper, and appears at its nesting-place in March. It breeds twice in the season, but does not raise the second brood in the same nest which has served for the first. I have taken its eggs, from four to six in number, from the 10th April to the 19th June; and from one pair I took four clutches of eggs, and they laid again for the fifth time in the season and reared their young. 7 T usually find the nests in holes in the old walls of water-miils, and have always remarked that they will nest in the same place year after year, even if they have been disturbed. The nest is always placed where it is well covered over; but the eggs may usually be seen from outside. It is usually placed close to the brook, and I have only twice found nests far distant from water. Eggs which I have taken differ considerably both in size and colour; for I have some which are as big as those of Motacilla alba, which they closely resemble, and others which are scarcely as large as those of Motacilla flava. ‘The ground-colour is greenish white or brownish white; and in some there is a wreath of obsolete spots round the larger end, and some have a few brownish black streaks.” Eggs in my own collection, from Germany and England, are dull dirty white in colour, with a slight stone-yellow tinge, faintly freckled or marbled with pale yellowish brown. In size they vary from 33 by 29 to 34 by 22 inch. I am indebted to Mr. H. Seebohm, of Sheffield, for some interesting notes on the present species, as follows:—‘'The Grey Wagtail has always been one of my special favourites. In spite of his name the delicate brilliancy of his plumage entitles him to be considered one of our most elegant European birds. All his movements correspond. Nothing can be more graceful than the way in which he will run along the margin of a still pool, leaving the impression of his delicate feet on the sand, or daintily flit from stone to stone in the running stream. He rarely, if ever, frequents pastures, as the Pied Wagtail is fond of doing; nor have I ever seen him on the lawn, or in the farm-yard; he confines himself almost entirely to rivers and brooks. I first became acquainted with these charming birds in the neighbourhood of Saffron Walden. Between this town and Audley End lies Lord Braybrooke’s park; a winding brook runs through it, by the margin of which you might stroll any winters morning with the certainty of seeing one or two pairs of Grey Wagtails. They were regular winter migrants, appearing about the middle of October, and disappearing as regularly towards the end of March. Every autumn the Fieldfare, the Redwing, the Royston Crow, and the Grey Wagtail were the most conspicuous heralds of winter; and every spring they vanished as completely. “T next met with this bird among the Derbyshire moors, near Sheffield, but this time as a summer visitor. You may stroll along the banks of the Derwent any summer day, from Ashopton to Yorkshire bridge, with a certainty of seeing one or two pairs of Grey Wagtails, and almost with the certainty of finding one of their nests. The river is broad, and full of rocks and stones ; and the banks are often steep and rocky. A good fly-fisher wading up stream will, on a lucky day, soon fill his creel with trout, and have ample opportunities of watching the Sandpiper, the Dipper, and the Grey Wagtail, which all breed close to the river-side. ‘The Pied Wagtails are especially numerous, flitting from stone to stone, allowing you to approach almost close to them before they will fly off to another stone, or perhaps to a tree, uttering their alarm-note, chiz-zit, chiz-zit. The Grey Wagtails are much less numerous, and very much more shy; and if you wish to watch their graceful movements, you must conceal yourself or be very quiet. In their habits they resemble the other Wagtails, running very rapidly and gracefully, continually moving their tails up and down, and now and then taking a snatch at an insect, assisted by a slight effort of the wings, and displaying at the same time the yellowish green of the upper tail-coverts, and the conspicuous white feathers in the tail. When alarmed they will generally fly up from the 2M 207 § stream with an undulatory desultory flight, and as often as not take refuge in a tree, from which, if you happen to be too near their nest, they will keep up an incessant hoo'-in, chiz'-it, the last syllable sometimes repeated. As the summer advances they leave the localities where they have reared their young, as I believe most other birds do, and, still following the streams, slowly migrate towards warmer regions. Late in the summer I have seen them on the stones in the Porter and the Don, sometimes running along the roof of a steel-warehouse by the river- side in the centre of Sheffield. I have almost always found the nest of the Grey Wagtail under an overhanging ledge of rock, built upon the clay or rocky bank, and well concealed behind grass or other herbage. Once only I saw one built in the fork of three stems of alder, close to the ground, almost overhanging the river-side. On the 20th of May, 1871, I took a stroll along the banks of the Derwent with my friend Mr. Charles Doncaster, who was to show me a Grey Wagtail’s nest, from which he had taken four egys the previous day, substituting four Wren’s eggs for them. The nest, he told me, was lined as usual with white cow’s hair. We were sur- prised to find the four Wren’s eggs gone, the lining of the nest having been ejected with them. A fifth Grey Wagtail’s egg had been laid in the damaged nest, which turned out to have been built upon the ruins of an old Thrush’s nest containing broken egg-shells. A little further down the river we found a second Grey Wagtail’s nest, containing five young birds, built upon a bank where we had searched in vain a fortnight before, guessing from the movements of a pair of birds that they must have a nest not far off. The Grey Wagtail seems to have a great attach- ment to its favourite breeding-places. I have found the nest year after year upon the same ledge of a rocky bank. The eggs are laid towards the end of April or early in May. ‘The nest is very similar to that of the Pied Wagtail, a trifle smaller inside, and perhaps a little deeper and more carefully made. It is almost entirely composed of fine roots, with a few stalks of dry grass in the outer and coarser portion, and is lined with cow’s hair, the preference being given to white. I have never seen any feathers used. Five seems to be the usual complement of eggs. “In the spring of 1873 I had the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance with this charming bird in the classic region of the Parnassus, in a locality very similar to the wilder Derbyshire dales. The little village of Agoriane, between three and four thousand feet above the level of the sea, enjoys a climate very similar to that of the high Peak of Derbyshire. The foliage in the neighbourhood is also very similar. Here you meet with the hawthorn, the oak, and the holly, as well as the bramble, ivy, and the dog-rose. Many of the birds, too, are the same. Not far from the village flows a mountain-stream, conveying the melted snow of the Parnassus down to the Topolais marsh—the Dead Sea of Greece. ‘This stream runs at the bottom of a deep mountain-gorge, singularly wild and picturesque, in many places all but inaccessible, and fre- quently concealed by dense foliage. I explored its course for some distance, up into the pine- region, and down almost into the valley, the region of the vine, and could almost fancy myself to be scrambling in one of the wilder branches of the Derwent. I found my old friend the Dipper breeding exactly as if he were in Derbyshire; and keeping him company was my special favourite the Grey Wagtail. The nests of the latter were in similar situations to those I have described, but the materials slightly varied. Moss and soft grass took the place of roots; and the lining of hair was very thick, as if to protect the young birds from the night air, which is so much colder in the Parnassus than in Derbyshire. Of one nest I noted down at the time that it was pro- 9 fusely lined with black goat’s hair, but that the bird followed the Derbyshire fashion of a final lining of white hair. In all the nests I found, the number of eggs was five, the same as with us. There were also the same two varieties of colour—one in which the ground-colour was pale grey tinged with blue, the other of a warmer tint, more nearly approaching cream-colour ; and many of the eggs had also the one or two black streaks at the large end which I have often seen in Derbyshire eggs. I have seen the same black hair-like streaks in eggs of the Yellow and the Black-headed Yellow Wagtails, to which birds, judging from the eggs, the Grey Wagtail is much more nearly allied than it is to the Pied and White Wagtails. I obtained several nests of fresh-laid eggs in the middle and end of May; but these appeared to be second broods, as I shot several young birds of the year. Dr. Kriiper told me that the migrations of the Grey Wagtail in Greece are similar to those of our English birds. In summer it frequents the mountain- gorges, and in winter is found on the banks of the streams in the valleys.” The specimens figured are an adult male in full breeding-dress, and an old male in autumn plumage. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, b, §. Cookham, Berks, September 26th, 1867 (W. Briggs). c. Highgate, September 6th, 1869 (Davy). d, 3. Cookham, September 20th, 1868 (W. Briggs). e, $. Cookham, January 5th, 1869 (W. Briggs). i, g. Highgate, October 1869 (Davy). h. Hampstead, November 18th, 1867 (Davy). 7. Bulgaria (7. E. Buckley). k, 1,2. Guiken, Asia Minor, March 1865 (Rodson). m, 3, n,2. Arnoutkeuy, Turkey, De- cember 1865 (Robson). 0, S. Arnoutkeuy, September 1866 (Robson). p, d ad. Asia Minor, March 1867 (Robson). g, dad. Guiken, Asia Minor, March 29th, 1867 (Robson). r, Sad. Chimkent, April 12th, 1866 (Severtzoff). s,3. Etawah, India, March 29th, 1875 (W. E. Brooks). t,2. Lake Baikal, May 26th, 1869 (Dybowski). wu. Tientsin, China (Whitely). v. Java (Frank). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. ‘a, 2. Sidon, December 1863. 6, ¢. Palestine, December 1863. c. Hngedi, February 2nd, 1871 (7. B. 7.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, dad. N. Wales, summer. 0,3. Basses Alpes,summer. c,?. Andermatt. d,3. Ortakeuy, March 29th. e, 3. Ortakeuy, September 9th (Robson). f, 5. Valencia, November 2nd, 1871. E Mus. Salvin and Godman. a, b, c,d, 3. Flores, Azores, May 1865 (fF. D. Godman). e, f, S. St. Michael’s, Azores (F. D.G.). g,35,4,9. Madeira, June 19th, 1871 (F.D.G.). %i,3. Longshaw, Derbyshire (O. Salvin). &. Constantinople. l,m, n. Asia Minor (Robson). o. Amoy, China (R. Swinhce). 209 a Bitte wilt + CW ee cave Raat POMEL (iba | Soe ee 1. 2 .BLUEHEADED WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA FLAVA. 3. GREYHEADED WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA VIRIDIS. 296 Zoe MOTACILLA FLAVA. (BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL.) Ficedula motacilla verna, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 468 (1760). Motacilla flava, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 331, ‘‘ Europe” (1766). Motacitla boarula, Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 154 (1769). Motacilla campestris, Pall. Reise Russ. Reichs, iii. p. 696, “ Russia” (1776). Parus luteus, 8S. G. Gmel. Reise, iii. p. 101, pl. 20. fig. 1, “ Astrachan ” (1774). ¢Parus caspicus, S. G. Gmel. tom. cit. p. 102, pl. 20. fig. 2, “ Caspian” (1774). La Bergeronnette grise, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. v. p. 261; Pl. Enl. 674. fig. 1 (1778). La Bergeronnette de printemps, Buff. tom. cit. p. 265; Pl. Enl. 674. fig. 2, “ Europe” (1778). La Bergeronnette de (Isle de Timor, Buff. tom. cit. p. 275, “Timor” (1778). Motacilla chrysogastra, Bechst. Gemeinn. Naturg. Deutschl. 2nd ed. ii. p. 466, “ Europe, Dauria, Java, Senegal” (1807). Motacilla flaveola, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 501, “ Russia and Siberia” (1811). Motacilla flavescens, Steph. in Shaw’s Gen. Zool. x. p. 559, “EH. Timor” (1817). Budytes, Cuv. (La Bergeronnette de printemps, Buff.), Régne Animal, p. 371 (1817). Motacilla bistrigata, Raffl. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 312, “Sumatra” (1822). Budytes flavus, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 344, “‘ Germany ” (1831). Budytes beema, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 90, Dukhun.” Motacilla neglecta, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 129. Motacilla flava, var. vulgaris, Sundev. K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1840, p. 53, “ Stockholm.” Budytes gouldi, Macgillivray, Man. Brit. Birds, i. p. 163, ‘Continent of Europe, England ” (1840). Budytes schisticeps, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc. p. 83, “ India” (1844). Budytes dubius v. anthoides, Hodgs. op. cit. p. 83, ‘ India” (1844). Budytes pygmeus, A. E. Brehm, J. fiir Orn. 1854, p. 74, footnote, “ N. E. Africa.” Budytes superciliaris, A. K. Brehm, ut supra, “ Chartoum.” Budytes fasciatus, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 141, “ Galicia, Hungary” (1855). Budytes paradoxus, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 142 (1855). Budytes campestris (Pall.), C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 142, “‘ Heligoland” (1855). Yellow, Grey-headed Yellow, or Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, English; Bergeronnette de printemps, French; Alveloa amarilla, Portuguese; Pispita amarilla, Spanish ; Cutrettola gialla, Italian; Kappamosk, Maltese; gelbe Bachstelze,German; gele Kwikstaart, Dutch ; Gul-Vipstjert, Danish; Gulerle, Norwegian; Guldrla, Swedish; Keltanen Vdastérakki, Finnish ; Jeltaya triasoguska, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 674. fig. 2; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 82; Kjerb. Orn. Dan. 2 taf. xix.; Frisch, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 23; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 17. figs. 17,18; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 88; Sundevall, Sv. Fogl. pl. ix. figs. 4,5; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 146; id. B. of G. Brit. iii. pl. 4; Dall & Bannister, Trans. Chic. Ac. Se. i. pl. xxx. fig. 1. 3 ad. ptil. est. capite summo et capitis lateribus cum nucha cerulescenti-cinereis, stria supra oculum ducta et stria indistincté suboculari albis: dorso viridi-olivaceo vix cinereo mixto, uropygio et supracaudalibus magis flavescentibus: remigibus saturaté fuscis, primariis vix flavo, secundariis et tectricibus alarum conspicué flavido vel ochrascente albido marginatis: rectricibus duabus exterioribus utrinque albis, in pogonio interno ad basin obliqué nigro-fusco marginatis, reliquis nigro-fuscis: mento albo: corpore subtus pulcherrimé flavo: rostro et pedibus nigris: iride fusca. 2 ad. sordidior, corpore supra pallidiore, capite et nuchd non cerulescenti-cinereis sed sordidé cinereis vix olivaceo tinctis, gula et pectore supremo albis vix flavo lavatis, corpore subtus imo flavo. Adult Male (Andalucia, 2nd May). Crown, nape, and sides of the head ashy blue; from the base of the bill a white stripe passes over and behind the eye; and there is an indication of another streak below the eye; back and rump deep greenish grey, becoming green on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; quills dark brown, the primaries narrowly edged with yellow, and the secondaries and wing-coverts more broadly margined with yellowish or buffy white; the two outer tail-feathers on each side white, with a narrow black line on the basal portion of the inner web, remaining tail-feathers blackish brown ; chin white, gradually merging into rich canary-yellow, which latter colour pervades the entire under- parts; bill and legs black; iris brown. Total length about 53 to 6 inches, culmen 0°62, wing 3:2, tail 2-9, tarsus 1:0, hind toe with claw 0:65, hind claw 0°32. Adult Female (Piedmont, 20th April). Differs from the male in having the upper parts paler, the crown and nape dull grey with a faint olivaceous tinge, the eye-streak less distinct, it beimg dull white, the throat and upper breast white, washed with yellow, and the underparts paler yellow than in the male. Young (Saxony). Upper parts dull greyish brown, with an olivaceous tinge ; over each eye a broad yellowish or buffy white streak, above which, on each side of the crown, a blackish brown stripe passes; from the base of the lower mandible a dull white streak passes down the side of the throat, also bordered by black ; inner quills and scapulars broadly margined with buffy or yellowish white, primaries narrowly edged with pale yellow, wing-coverts broadly tipped with buffy white; tail as in the adult, but duller; underparts dull white, becoming sulphur-yellow on the lower breast, and rest of the underparts, breast, and sides of the neck marked with blackish brown. Obs. It would appear from specimens before me, that from the stage of plumage above described the young bird becomes in the winter much greyer, and loses the broad margins to the feathers and the black markings on the throat, head, and breast. A specimen from Lake Baikal has the crown, nape, and back dull greyish, with a faint yellowish tinge, the eye-streak clearly defined, and white, the wings and tail as in the adult, but with very little trace of yellow in the edgings, and the underparts white, slightly washed with grey on the flanks and breast, and faintly tinged with yellow on the lower flanks. Another specimen, also from Lake Baikal, has the eye-streak and underparts tinged with buff, and no trace of yellow in the plumage. Another specimen, shot at Etawah on the Ist of February, shows the change from these into the adult dress; for it resembles the first of these examples closely, except that part of the crown has become rich blue-grey, the eye-streak is whiter; a few of the rich-coloured dorsal feathers of the adult dress have appeared here and there on the back; and part of the lower throat and a patch on the sides of the breast are rich yellow, the rest of the underparts being white. 3 It appears doubtful if, when fully adult, the bird ever loses the yellow underparts at any season; for male specimens shot in November and December in India differ merely from birds in full breeding- dress in having the entire plumage duller, the underparts rather paler, the blue-grey on the crown somewhat obscured by greenish, and on the breast there are a few dark markings. A male from Stockholm, shot on the 15th of September, and marked by Mr. Meves as being an adult bird, resembles these, but is somewhat duller in colour, has the eye-streak washed with primrose-yellow, and the under- parts are paler—which, however, may only be the effect of climate, as the differences are very slight. The extent of white on the throat in different specimens varies greatly ; but these variations appear to be individual. ScaRcELY any group of birds vary so much as the Wagtails; and it is barely possible to say with any degree of certainty which should be considered distinct species and which mere varieties. After a most careful examination of a very large series of specimens from various localities in Europe and Asia, I find it most difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion; but it appears to me that they naturally separate into four fairly distinct forms, which to a large extent have separate breeding-haunts. ‘These forms, Motacilla flava, Motacilla viridis, Motacilla melano- cephala, and Motacilla raii, 1 find it most convenient to treat as distinct species, though at the same time I feel bound to add that although the males in full plumage are almost always distinguishable at a glance, yet one not unfrequently meets with immature examples which it is hard to determine to which species they should be referred. Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub, in their well-known work on the ornithology of East Africa (Vog. Ost-Afr. pp. 268-274), go most carefully into this question, and end in uniting all the above four species under the name of Motacilla flava—a course which, however, I deem it most expedient not to follow. The present species (Motacilla flava), which may be considered the typical form, is during the breeding-season found in Central Europe, whereas in the high north Motacilla viridis alone occurs, in the south one meets with Motacilla melanocephala, and in the west or north-west Motacilla rai is the predominant form; but during the winter and in the seasons of passage one finds all four species in the same localities in many parts of Southern Europe and Asia or in North Africa, as all migrate southward after the breeding-season. The present species inhabits during the breeding-season the central portions of Barone and Asia, being but rarely met with in the more northern portions of the Continent. It has occa- sionally been met with in Great Britain, but is only a rare visitant, Motacilla raii being the predominant species of Yellow Wagtail in our islands. Professor Newton says (Yarr. Brit. Birds, i, p. 060) that the first recorded occurrence in Great Britain was that of a fine adult male shot at Walton-on-the-Naze, on the 3rd October, 1834, by Mr. Henry Doubleday. Another was recorded by Sir Patrick Walker in January 1836, as having been obtained on the banks of the Water of Leith; and a third was said to have been met with near Edinburgh about the same time. A male was shot on May Ist, 1836, near Newcastle-on-I[yne; and on the 2nd May, 1836, Hoy killed an adult male at Stoke Nayland, in Suffolk, ‘The male figured in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ was taken near Finsbury in April 1837. Besides these occurrences there haye been many others since Mr, Gould’s discovery (in 1832) that our British species and the present Yellow Wagtail are distinct; and Professor Newton says that nearly forty occurrences have on good authority been recorded. They have, he says, ‘generally occurred on or near the coast of the 25 PASy 264 4 south-western, southern, or eastern counties, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, mostly in the months of April, May, or June, and several times in pairs. At Lowestoft, in April 1854, according to Mr. Gurney (Zool. p. 4440), four males and two females were killed in three days out of a flock of the Yellow Wagtail; but on hardly any other occasion has more than a pair been observed together in this country. Mr. J. Watson states (Zool. s. s. pp. 2343, 2406) that two or three pairs were noticed from year to year near Gates- head, where two nests were found in 1869, and a third nest in 1870, when two young birds, one of which was determined by Mr. Hancock, were shot.” Referring to its occurrence on the south coast of England, Mr. J. Gatcombe writes to me as follows :—“ This species occasionally visits the neighbourhood of Plymouth in spring and autumn, about the same time as the common species, W/. rai. I have myself obtained three specimens, two males and a female, and observed others, the last a pair during the autumn of 1874. They were in the same field with a flock of IZ. raiz, but did not seem to exactly associate with them, keeping more by themselves, and when disturbed flew off in a different direction, generally returning, however, to the same field in which the others had alighted. This I have remarked on several occasions, but have sometimes known them to fly off by themselves altogether, and even a single bird to separate itself from a flock of the other species. I also fancy that WZ. flava is more partial to the vicinity of water; but of this I am not quite certain. I have also remarked that the white on the throat of this species varies considerably in extent, some having only a small spot on the chin with all below of a brilliant yellow, whilst in others the white extends as far as the breast. One of the males which I killed is the finest I ever saw—pure white extending as low as the upper part of the breast, and the greater portion of three of the outside tail-feathers on each side being white, instead of two only, as is usually the case, the tail of the female also being similar. I have never observed this peculiarity in the tail-feathers of but one old male of Motacilla rai.” Besides the above-recorded instances of its occurrence in Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray refers (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 113) to one which was obtained at West Carns, near Dunbar, in May 1868, and is now in the possession of Mr. Francis M. Balfour, of Whittingham; and Dr. Saxby writes (B. of Shetl. p. 83) that it is a straggler to Shetland, where he has seen it several times late in the autumn. He observed one near the Sandy Loch, not far from Lerwick, about the middle of October 1870; and the others were seen in Unst, upon every occasion near a freshwater loch. He adds that he shot one-to make sure that it was really the present species. Thompson did not include it in his work on the ornithology of Ireland; but Professor Newton writes (/. c.) that he was “informed of its occurrence in that country by Mr. Blake-Knox, who thinks it is much overlooked in the south.” The present species of Wagtail has, Mr. Benzon informs me, been only twice obtained in the Feroes; but it visits the southern lowlands of Scandinavia regularly during the summer season. Mr. R. Collett writes that it occurs but sparingly in the southern portions of Norway, and in the University Museum there is a female, shot near Christiania in May 1857; and Sundevall states (Sv. Fogl. p. 45) that “it is found in the southern part of Sweden, up as high as about 60° N. lat.; it is common near Stockholm and Upsala, but rare in the western provinces, where, early in the present century, it is said to have been common.” It occurs in Southern Finland; but I am unable to say how far north it ranges. I have shot specimens of the present species in Wiborgs Lan, in Southern Finland; but those 5 which I found breeding in the vicinity of Uleaborg were certainly Motacilla viridis, and not the present species. In Northern Russia the present species is also replaced by Motacilla viridis’ but Motacilla flava is common, and generally distributed during the summer season in Central Russia, the Baltic Provinces, and Poland; and Borggreve says that it is a summer visitant in North Germany, frequenting the marshy plains, but it is commoner in the east, and avoids mountainous districts. Mr. Benzon informs me that it arrives in Denmark late in April or early in May, and leaves late in September or early in October. Its common Danish name is, he says, Gul Vipstjert ; but it has also many provincial names—such as Gul-Havrevippe, Gul-Havrestjert, Smorfugl, Gulspink, Engfugl, and Majfugl. As above stated it is said not to be so numerous in Western as in Eastern Germany; but Mr. Sachse informs me that it is found at Altenkirchen, in Rhenish Prussia, during passage in May and in September or October, but rarely remains to breed there, though he has occasionally observed a pair or two during the summer season; but on the banks of the Rhine it is not so uncommon. It is said by Baron De Selys-Longchamps to be tolerably numerous in Belgium, where it arrives in April, breeds, and leaves in September. Mr. Labouchere informs me, however, that it is nowhere very abundant in Holland, where it also nests in the swampy meadows. Von Droste says that Van Wickevoort Crommelin found a pair breeding near Haarlem, the male of which was a Ray’s Wagtail, which is very rare in Holland, and the female a Grey-headed Wagtail. He adds that J. fava breeds commonly in the Island of Borkum, but that he only observed a couple of specimens of J. viridis during passage, and he does not refer to W/. ravi as being found there. In France the present species is common from April to November; and Dr. E. Rey found it numerous everywhere in Portugal, but especially so in Algarve. In Spain it is common; and Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. p- 109) that it is “ found on both sides of the straits in great abundance ; the earliest that I saw it was on the 20th and 24th February (in different years), many appearing on the 25th. From that time to the 20th of April they continued to pass; and on that date I saw great numbers at Gibraltar resting on the ‘ flats’ at Europa after their flight across the sea. They leave in August and September.” Colonel Irby speaks of it as Budytes flavus vel cinereocapillus (1. e. viridis); Mr. Saunders, who states (Ibis, 1871, p. 215) that he “ obtained several nests with parent birds in the Seville and Malaga markets,” adds that it appears to belong to the variety cinereocapilla of Savi; but against this I may remark that almost all the specimens from Spain I have examined are referable to the present species, though it is true that IV. viridis also occurs there, for Mr. Saunders has sent me a Spanish-killed specimen of the latter species. Passing eastward, again, I find it recorded as being common in Savoy; and I have received numerous specimens from Italy, where it is said to be generally distributed, especially in the Romagna and Piedmont; and Bettoni inserts it in his list of species which breed in Lombardy. Tn Sicily it is also common, and some few remain there throughout the winter; and in Malta, Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 62), “it commences arriving in flocks about the middle of March, and is seen again in September.” Dr. Kriiper says that it occurs only in the spring and autumn passage in Greece, but does not appear to breed there. Dr. Fritsch says (J. f. O. 1857, p. 192) that it occurs in Southern Germany along the Elbe; and some years ago it was common between Kuchelbad and K6nigssaal, but in the autumn its numbers are increased 2E2 265 266 6 by large arrivals from the north. I have seen it on the shores of the Lower Danube, and possess examples from near Constantinople. In Southern Russia it is not-so numerous as Motacilla alba, and, Dr. Radde says (J. f. O. 1854, p. 58), does not appear to breed there, but passes further north. Dr. Kriiper, who met with it in Asia Minor, says that it occurs only on the two seasons of passage, and it also passes through Palestine. In North-east Africa both this species and Motacilla viridis occur during passage and in winter; but Captain Shelley remarks that they keep apart, and that whereas he found I. viridis common in Egypt in March, he only met with MW. flava about the middle of April in Nubia migrating northward. Von Heuglin says that it winters south of Nubia, and he observed it in September and November on the Danakil and Somali coasts. Mr. Blanford obtained a specimen in full breeding-plumage at Lake Ashangi early in April; and Mr. Jesse observed it commonly about Zoulla and Koomaylee in Abyssinia, in March. In North-west Africa it is also common, being most numerous during the seasons of passage, but some also remain to breed. Mr. Salvin writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 310) that he “ observed it at Kef Laks, apparently on passage. It after- wards occurred in plenty at Zana and Ain Djendeli. It appears local in its distribution, but common where it is found.” During the winter it ranges far south in Africa. Messrs. Shelley and Buckley say that it is very abundant in West Africa; and Mr. Andersson writes (B. of Damara Land, p. 112) as follows:—‘“I had been fifteen years in Damara Land before I became aware of the existence of this Wagtail, which I first observed at Objimbinque in 1865, when I obtained a few specimens, nearly all of which were immature. It is a migratory bird, and appears only in or about the rainy season.” Wahlberg obtained a male at Port Natal; and Mr. Ayres writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 154) as follows :—*“ It appears in the Transvaal in our spring in considerable numbers, and leaves again about the latter end of April; they do not appear to nest here, neither are they in good plumage.” The present species occurs as far east as China. It was on one occasion obtained by Mr. Blanford in Persia. In India it is a common winter visitant, retiring further north to breed. I have received numerous specimens from Mr. W. E. Brooks, as well as of Motacilla viridis; and Mr. A. O. Hume says (Stray Feathers, ii. p. 238) that the present species is, according to Mr. Davison, abundant both at the Andamans and Nicobars. It occurs in Siberia. Von Middendorff appears to have met with J. viridis on the Boganida and in the Stanowoi Mountains; but Von Schrenck, who says that it occurs throughout the Amoor country, states that examples he obtained were referable to the present species. It arrives there in May and leaves in September. Dr. Radde obtained the present species at Tarei-nor, where it breeds. Pere David says that it is very common at the two seasons of passage in Mongolia; and Mr. Swinhoe says that it is found in China generally, and that the South-China form is the present one, JZ. flava, whereas in North China JV. viridis is met with. The present species has likewise occurred in the western Nearctic Region; for Messrs. Dall and Bannister obtained it in Alaska, and the latter gentleman writes (B. of Alaska, in Trans. Chic. Ac. Sc. p. 277) that he ‘‘first observed this species at St. Michael’s about the 9th or 10th of June, and from that until well into the month of August they were among the most abundant birds, perhaps after Plectr. lapponicus the most abundant of the strictly terrestrial species. During the month of June I observed them generally in flocks of twenty to thirty individuals. 7 It appeared to me to be a rather shy bird; most of the few specimens obtained were shot on the wing while flying overhead.” In its habits the Blue-headed Wagtail has much in common with our common Pied Wagtail. Like that species it is frequently met with in the vicinity of water, in damp swampy meadows, and in marshy localities, but especially in grassland, whether damp or not, if cattle are grazing about; for it follows these latter and catches the insects which are generally found immediately around them. It runs with the greatest ease and grace, every now and again nodding its head and jerking its tail, and is, as a rule, not a shy bird; and, unless in places where it has been subject to persecution, I have rarely found much trouble in approaching within a tolerably short distance of it. Its flight is lighter and swifter than that of the Pied Wagtail; and though also consisting of a series of bow-shaped lines, yet these are more regular and longer than those in the flight of that species, and altogether the flight of the present species somewhat more resembles that of the Pipits. It is amusing to watch them when in the spring of the year they are pursuing each other, turning on the wing with the greatest ease, their rich colours gleaming in the bright sunshine, and appearing almost brighter than they really are. When on the ground the present species does not hop, but runs, taking rather short steps, the tail being held horizontal, and every now and then gently moved. It frequently, however, perches on a bush or a fence, but does not appear to sit very steadily on a twig, the feet being formed rather for walking than perching. It appears to be a much less hardy species than the Pied Wagtail, and leaves earlier for the south, appearing to shun the least cold. It feeds on insects of various descriptions, such as gnats, small grasshoppers, caterpillars, &c., but more especially winged insects of various sorts, which it both picks off the grass-stems and catches on the wing; and one often sees it at the edge of the water in search of insects, and still more frequently, as before stated, in the vicinity of cattle. It breeds somewhat late, the full complement of eggs being usually deposited in the latter half of May, or even later; and so far as I can ascertain it appears, as a rule, to rear but one brood in the season. Its nest is placed on the ground, usually under shelter of an overhanging tussock, being carefully concealed, and it is not unfrequently placed in the bank of an old dried-out ditch or amongst tolerably dense herbage. The nest is constructed of fine rootlets, grass, straws, and bents, sometimes intermixed with moss, not strongly but rather loosely built, and lined with horse-hair, wool, or fine bents. I have never found any feathers in nests I have taken; but Naumann says that it not unfrequently lines its nest with wool intermixed with a few downy feathers. The eggs, from four to five, more seldom six, in number, are somewhat small for the size of the bird, those in my collection averaging about #5 by $5 of an inch, and are dirty white, closely marbled and clouded with clay-brown, yellowish buff, or greyish, the colour being so closely clouded on the surface of the shell as to make it difficult to say what the ground-colour really is. Mr. A. Benzon, writing to me respecting its habits and nidification in Denmark, writes as follows :—‘It is everywhere common on the lowlands, even close to Copenhagen, frequenting the meadows. It builds on the ground, frequently on a bank, carefully hidden in the herbage, and in a sort of depression under shelter of a tussock, or even on the flat earth with but little shelter. ‘The nest is lined with fine roots, fine bents, horse-hair, wool, and, though seldom, a 68 8 few feathers. Nests I have measured average about 55-60 millims. in diameter, and 15-20 millims. in depth. It usually deposits its eggs early in June, or from then to the middle of the month. These, from five to six in number, are slightly elongated, and a little pointed at one end, bluish grey in ground-colour, and marked with greyish and greyish brown, the markings being clouded together, so that, according as the brown or yellowish grey markings predominate, the egg has a general tendency towards brown or yellowish grey. Eggs in my collection measure from 17 by 14 to 20 by 15 millims.” The specimens described and figured are in my own collection; the latter are an adult male and a young bird, both being the specimens above described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, ¢. Stockholm, September 15th, 1860 (Meves). 6,3. Saxony (Schiiiter). c, 9. Silesia, May 1867. d. France, 1848 (Parzudaki). e,3,f,2,9,6,h,3. Piedmont, April 1870 (Salvadori). i, 3. Piedmont, May 1870 (Salvadori). j,2,k, 6. Andalucia, May 1874 (Irby). 1,3, m, 3. Malta, April 26th (Adams). n. Malta (C. A. Wright). 0, juv. Crimea (Whitely). p,3,9q, 2. Asia Minor, September 1865 (Robson). r. Egypt (E. C. Taylor). s. Egypt (Rogers). ¢. Tangier (Olcese). u,v. Lake Baikal (Verreauz). w, o. N.W. India, November 29th, 1870 (W. E. Brooks). «, 3. Futtegurh, April 17th, 1872 (W. E. Brooks). y, 2. Futtegurh, May 19th, 1872 (W. E. Brooks). z, aa. Etawah, November 1869 (W. E. Brooks). ab, 3, ac. Etawah, December 1869 (W. E. Brooks). ad, 3d. Etawah, February Ist, 1870 (W. E. Brooks). ae, 3, af, @. Etawah, April 10th, 1871 (W. EH. Brooks). ag, 3. Etawah, March 22nd, 1872 (W.E. Brooks). ah, 3 jun. Fifty nautical miles from Lucon, October 15th, 1869 (Captain Conrad). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a,3. Malaga, April 17th. 6. Granada. c,¢. Valencia, April 15th. d,9. Valencia, April 7th. e,¢. Valencia, April 4th. jf. Valencia, March 28th. g,h,d,7,9. Valencia, April. E Mus. H. J. Elwes. a, 3. Futtegurh, April 1870 (W. E. Brooks). 6,3. N.W. India, November 1869. c. N.W. India, December 9th, 1870 (W. E. B.). d. Uachoong, Sikkim, September 12th, 1870 (H. J. E.). E Mus. R. Swinhoe. a,@. Amoy, February 6th, 1857. 6b,c,¢,d,2. Amoy, April 25th, 1861. e, f, g, h, 2,7, k, l. Amoy, May 1867. m. Amoy, October 15th, 1866 (R. 8.). n, 0. E. Timor, 1861 (A. R. Wallace). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a,3. Algiers, May 2nd,1856. 6,2. Algiers, June 2nd, 1856. c, 2 juv. Algiers, October 9th, 1856 (H. B. T.). d,e,3,f,%. Kef Laks, April 1857 (7. B. T.). g. Cythera, May 4th, 1858 (H. B. T.). 4, d. Jericho, April 14th, 1864 (WH. B.T.). i,k, 1. N.W. India. m. Amoy, June 1861 (R. Swinhoe). n, 3d. E. Timor, 1861 (A. R. Wallace). MOTACILLA VIRIDIS. (GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL.) The Green Wagtail, Brown, Ilustr. Zool. p. 86, pl. xxxiii. fig. 2, “Ceylon” (1776). Motacilla viridis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 962, “Ceylon” (1788, ex Brown). Motacilla cinereocapilla, Savi, Nuovo Giorn. delle Lett. p. 190; Orn. Tose. iii. p. 216, “Italy” (1831). Budytes cinereocapilla, Bp. Comp. List, p. 19, “S. Europe” (1838). Motacilla flava, var. borealis, Sundevall, K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1840, p. 53, “* Lapland.” Motacilla flava cinereocapilla, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. xxxviii, “ Italy” (1844). Budytes nigricapilla, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 249, ‘ Dalmatia, Ital., Scandinayv., Lapl.” (1850, partim ). Budytes atricapillus, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 141, “‘ Lapland and Dalmatia” (1855). Bergeronnette a téte cendrée, French; grauképfige gelbe Schafstelze, German; Cutrettola capo-cenerino, Italian; Graahovedet Vipstjert, Danish. Figure notabiles. Kjerb. Orn. Dan. taf. xix.; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 17. fig. 16; Roux, Orn. Prov. pl. 196; Gould, B. of G. B. 11. pl. 5; Sundevall, Sv. Fogl. pl. ix. fig. 6; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 373. 3 ad. Motacille flave similis, sed strid superciliari nulla, pileo et nuchd saturaté schistaceis, capitis lateribus nigris. 2 ad. mari similis sed sordidior et pallidior. Adult Male (Mezen, N. Russia, 17th June). Resembles WM. flava, but lacks the white streak above the eye, the head being of a darker shade of grey, and the lores, space immediately under the eye, and auriculars being black. Female. UDiffers from the male in being duller in colour, and paler both in the coloration of the upper and underparts. Obs. The present species is the most closely allied to M. flava. Examples from the north of Europe, shot during the breeding-season, always have the heads very dark blackish slate-blue, but not black as in M. melanocephala; but I have examined many examples from Southern Europe which differ from M. flava only in lacking the white stripes over the eyes and the white markings which are sometimes seen on the sides of the head of MW. flava, the sides of the head being much darker than the crown. The extent of white on the throat varies considerably ; for in most of the examples from Italy the entire chin and upper throat are white, whereas in those from Northern Scandinavia and Russia there is only the faintest sign of white on the chin. 252 269 2 THE present species or form of Yellow Wagtail, differing in always having the head deep slaty blue, with the sides black, and in lacking the white superciliary stripe, appears to be, as a rule, the most boreal of the various Yellow Wagtails during the breeding-season; but at other seasons of the year it is found almost everywhere together with Motacilla flava, though in much smaller numbers. I do not find any record of its occurrence in Great Britain; but it is common in Northern Scandinavia, where it is the predominant form during the nesting-season, whereas in the southern lowlands it is replaced by typical JZ, flava, which, however, is less numerous than the present species. In Norway it is found in the northern districts, on the Dovrefjeld, and up northwards into East Finmark, where, according to Pastor Sommerfelt, it breeds numerously. Professor Sundevall states that in Sweden the present species is found on the Angermanelf in 63° N. lat., and inhabits the entire country north of that up to Finmark, where it is met with at Alten and Hammerfest, but scarcely at the North Cape. In Lapland, he adds, it does not range above the conifer-region. In Finland I met with the present species breeding in tolerable abundance near Uleaborg, where I did not observe any of the southern race (JZ. flava); and all the specimens I have seen from the Archangel Government, in Northern Russia, are referable to the present species. It is rather difficult to define the range of this species in Continental Europe; but it may be said to occur in most parts during passage, but is much less common than the typical form. It has not been known to occur in Germany, except during passage ; and Baron De Selys Longchamps speaks of it as being found accidentally during passage in Belgium, and he obtained an adult example near Liége on the 18th May, 1832. Messrs. Degland and Gerbe speak of it as being found in Southern France, and as of accidental occur- rence in the northern provinces, and add that it has been found in the Lille market in the spring of the year. It appears to be rare in Western Europe; but Mr. Saunders possesses a specimen from Granada that I have examined, and which is certainly the present species. From Italy I have received several specimens; but Count Salvadori says that it is less common than JZ. flava; it is said, however, to have been found breeding in Piedmont, Tuscany, and in the island of Sicily. Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 62) that it occurs at Malta during passage, together with J/7. flava, in March and in September; and Lord Lilford writes (Ibis, 1860, p. 229) that great numbers arrive in Corfu about the middle of April, but that he never found its nest, though he observed a few pairs during the whole summer. He does not, however, include J. flava in his list, and therefore his remarks may probably refer to that species as well as the present bird; and I find that the various authors on the ornithology of Greece unite the present species with J/. flava, so that it is difficult to ascertain how far this bird is common there or not. It appears to occur in Southern Germany; for Fritsch says that, according to Palliardi, it has on several occasions been obtained near Franzensbad, in Bohemia. I never observed it in the countries skirting the Danube, nor have I ever seen it amongst the Yellow Wagtails sent by Mr. Robson from Turkey; but it is said by Eversmann (J. f. O. 1853, p. 289) to be not uncommon near Orenburg, in South-eastern Russia, and he remarks that flocks of the present species keep apart and never intermix with the flocks of MWotacilla flava which are found in the same localities. It doubtless occurs in Asia Minor and Palestine during passage; but, though stated by Canon Tristram to have been found by him at Jericho, I have ascertained on examining the specimens obtained by him, that he did not meet with the present species, but 3 only typical JZ. flava. It was, however, obtained by Mr. C. W. Wyatt in the peninsula of Sinai, as I haye ascertained by an examination of a specimen sent by him to Canon Tristram. In North-east Africa it is, according to Captain Shelley (B. of Egypt, p. 129), “the most abundant form of Yellow Wagtail in Egypt, where it appears to remain throughout the year. It is very Pipit-like in its habits, and is more frequently met with in pairs and flocks in the fields than by the water’s edge.” Von Heuglin, however, says that, as far as his experience goes, none but M. melanocephala ever remain to breed in North-east Africa, but during winter the present species appears to pass as far south at least as Abyssinia. On the west side it is recorded by Loche, who says that he obtained one near Médéah; and it also occurs near Algiers, but it is rare, and he does not know if it ever remains there to breed. To the eastward the present species occurs as far as China. It is a tolerably common winter visitant to India, but does not appear to be so common as JZ. flava and MW. melanocephala. It probably ranges as far south as the former of these species; but I find it somewhat difficult to trace its precise range. Severtzoff speaks of it as being somewhat rare in Turkestan, where, he adds, it occurs during passage, not remaining to breed. It occurs in Siberia, and examples obtained by Middendorff on the Boganida appear to be the present species. According to Dr. G. Radde it is found in the Stanowoi Mountains and on the Upper Ussuri; but the Yellow Wagtail described by Von Schrenck as occurring in the Amoor country appears to be true M. flava, and not the present species, which, however, was obtained in China by Mr. Swinhoe, whose specimens, however, are all frem Amoy and Canton. In its habits the present species does not differ from Motacilla flava; and its nest and eggs are also similar. I have taken the latter near Uleaborg, in Finland, and find on comparing the eggs with those of 17. flava that they are a trifle darker, though not differing from them in size or shape. The nest was placed under shelter of a tussock, on the ground, and was a rather loosely made structure, composed of dried grass bents and a few rootlets, slightly lined with finer bents and a few horsehairs. The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Motacilla flava, is an adult male from Mezen, in North Russia, in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, Christiania, Norway, May 1870. 6,3. Mezen, N. Russia, June 17th, 1873 (Piottuch). c. Archangel, June 8th, 1872 (J. A. Harvie-Brown). d, e, f,g, 3. Piedmont, April 1870 (Count Salvadori). h, 2, k, /. Piedmont, May 1870 (Count Salvadori). m. Algeria (Verreaux). n. Egypt (Rogers). 0. Etawah, N.W. India, September 22nd, 1869 (W. E. Brooks). p, 3. Htawah, February Ist, 1870 (W. H. B.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a. Granada, Spain, September 1871. E Mus. H. J. Elwes. a, 3. Etawah, December 19th, 1870. 6. Etawah, November 2lst, 1870 (W. H. Brooks). c. Tientsin, China, (Whitely). atl || 4 E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 6. Wady Ginna, Arabia (J. K. Lord). 6. Umballah, October (R. C. Beavan). c, d. Etawah, April (W. E. Brooks). c. Canton (Blakiston). E Mus. R. Swinhoe. a,3,6. Amoy, May 1867 (R. S.). c, d,e, 3, f, juv. Canton, October 1871 (Ford). ¥ oe Ca? Alea 130 BLACKHEADED WAGTAIL. MOTACILLA MELANOCEPHALA 293 MOTACILLA MELANOCEPHALA (BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL.) Motacilla melanocephala, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 36, “ Nubia” (1823). Motacilla feldegg, Michahell. Isis, 1830, p. 814, ‘Southern Dalmatia.” Motacilla feldeggii (Mich.), Bruch, Isis, 1832, p. 1106, ‘* Dalmatia.” Budytes melanocephala, Bp. Comp. List, p. 19, “S. E. Europe ” (1838). Motacilla kaleniczenkit, Krynicki, in litt. ined. fide Kaleniczenko, Bull. Soc. Mose. xii. p. 229, tab. xx. “Taurus” (1839). Motacilla flava, var. africana, Sund. K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1840, p. 54, “Senaar, Nubia.” Motacilla flava, var. dalmatica, Sund. ut supra, “ Dalmatia.” Motacilla flava melanocephala, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. xxxviii. “ Dalmatia, Buchara, Arabia, Egypt, Abyssinia” (1844). Budytes nigricapilla, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 249, “ Dalmatia, Ital., Scand., Lapl.” (1850, partim ). Motacilla nigricapilla, Von Mill. J. fiir Orn. 1855, p. 386, “ N. Afr.” Motacilla lindermayeri, Brehm, fide Linderm. Vog. Griechenl. p. 82, “ Greece” (1860). Figure notabiles. Demidoff, Faune Pont. pl. ii.; Kalenicz. Bull. Soc. Mose. 1839, tab. xx.; Eversmann, op. cit. 1850, pl. viii. fig. 3; Bp. Faun. Ital. pl. 31. fig. 3; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 17. fig. 15 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 374. 3 ad. ptil. est. Motacille flave similis, sed capite summo, nucha et capitis lateribus saturaté nigris, dorso saturaté olivascenti-viridi: mento, gulé et corpore subtus pulchré flavis: alis et cauda ut in Motacilldé flava picturatis: rostro et pedibus nigris: iride fusca. 9 ad. corpore supra cinerascente olivaceo viridi lavato, pileo nigro notato: corpore subtus pallidé flavo, gula et mento fere albis, pectore vix nigro-fusco guttato: alis et cauda ut in mare picturatis. Adult Male in summer plumage (Bulgaria). In general coloration of plumage it resembles M. flava; but the entire crown, sides of the head, and hind neck are deep glossy black; the back is of a deeper tinge of green, and the underparts are brighter yellow, the chin and upper throat also being yellow and not white; beak and legs black; iris dark brown. ‘Total length about 6 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3:2, tail 2:9, tarsus 1:0, hind toe with claw 0:68, hind claw 0°32. Adult Female (Etawah, India, 21st March). Upper parts dull greyish olive with a green tinge; crown strongly marked with black; underparts primrose-yellow ; the throat and chin being nearly white; on the breast are one or two dark markings. Obs. The changes of plumage undergone by the present species are very similar to those of M. flava; and I therefore refrain from giving more detailed descriptions. The young birds of both species resemble 0 al 2 each other very closely, and are exceedingly difficult to separate, especially as, so far as I can judge, there is no constant difference in size. As a rule, the young of the present species have the crown darker, and always lack the light streak over the eye. Mr. Brooks sends me specimens of females in what he says is full breeding-dress, as above described and figured ; but it appears to me that the old female frequently approaches very close to the male in plumage; for I possess one female from Malta which differs from the male only in having the upper parts a trifle duller, the black on the crown and nape less extended and intermixed with green, and the underparts. are nearly, if not quite, as yellow as in the male. A male shot in December, and therefore in full winter dress, has the underparts pale yellow, the lower throat marked with blackish spots, the back lighter and duller than in the summer dress, and the crown greyish, tinged with green, and strongly blotched with deep black. The most peculiar variety of the present species I have ever seen is a male sent to me by Mr. Brooks. The black on the head and nape is extended far down on the latter; the back is dark olive with an orange-green tinge, indistinctly marked with blackish; and the underparts are deep rich orange instead of yellow. In measurements it agrees with ordinary specimens of M. melanocephala. It was obtained by Captain Marshall, to whom it belongs, at Umritzur, in India, on the 3lst March, 1872. The present species is said sometimes to have an indication of a yellow superciliary stripe; but I have never been fortunate enough to obtain a specimen thus marked. THE present species is essentially a southern bird, being found only (except as a rare straggler) in Southern Europe and Asia, and in Northern Africa. It has not been met with in Great Britain or in Scandinavia; and although very dark varieties of Motacilla viridis somewhat closely resemble it, yet these may always, so far as my experience goes, be distinguished by the top of the head being slaty black and not pure black, a broad streak on each side of the head only being black, and the underparts are not so bright yellow. In Germany it does not appear to have been met with, or at least recorded from the mainland; but Mr. Gatke has, Mr. Cordeaux says (Ibis, 1875, p. 181), obtained it several times at Heligoland. Baron De Selys-Longchamps records it from Belgium as of very rare occurrence, and says that a large flock was observed towards the end of the summer near Louvain; and Messrs. Degland and Gerbe say that it rarely occurs in the north of France during summer: but I think it possible that these notes may refer to the Northern Scandinavian form, J/. viridis. Dr. E. Rey writes (J. f.O. 1872, p. 151) that he found it tolerably common in Portugal in company with J. flava ; but I think it very possible that the bird he refers to may be the northern form of JZ. viridis, for the present species appears to be more of an eastern than a western form. I do not find it recorded from Spain; and in Italy it appears to be only known from Liguria, but is more numerous, though still rare, in Sicily; and as it has been observed in May, it may very possibly breed there. Mr. C. A. Wright, who records it from Malta, writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 62) that it is the rarest of the Yellow Wagtails which occur there, and is met with in flocks of WZ. flava and WV. viridis. “The Maltese bird-catchers,” he adds, “call it Obrosk, from a real or fancied grating peculiarity in its note, both in spring and autumn, which they consider different from that of IZ. flava or M. cinereo-capilla.” Lord Lilford, who met with it in Albania, writes (Ibis, 1860, p. 229) that it “arrives together with J. viridis at Corfu, but in much smaller numbers, and only remains for a few days. ‘The locality in which I have most frequently observed this bird was the marsh at the mouth of the Kataito river, near Butrinto, in Epirus. They appear to be more arboreal in their 3 habits than the other Wagtails, and have a very distinct and peculiar note. The Corfu bird- stuffer told me, on my showing him one of this species, that he had never before observed it, and insisted that it was only a variety of J. viridis; but there are slight differences of habits, flight, &c. which at once distinguish it from that bird, were the plumage not at once sufficient to settle the question. ‘To myself this species appears to resemble Motacilla raii (which I have never observed in these parts) in all particulars more than any other of its congeners.” In Greece it appears to be common, and remains there throughout the summer, inhabiting the marshes and lagoons on the sea-shore, being, Dr. Kriiper states, most common on the islands frequented by Gulls in Acarnania. It arrives, he says, about the end of March, and in 1873 several were killed in Attica on the 24th March; and a specimen in the Museum at Athens was killed on the 18th March, 1868. In 1874 it arrived on the Ist April. The breeding-season commences late in April or in May; and in 1859 eggs were found in Acarnania on the 29th April. It leaves in the autumn late in August or in September; but Dr. Kriiper adds that he has not yet detailed information respecting the exact date of its departure. It appears to be tolerably common in Turkey ; and Mr. Robson has sent me several specimens of the bird, as well as the nest and eggs, from near Constantinople. It occurs in Southern Russia; but it is some- what difficult to trace its range there, as the various writers on the ornithology of that country have not sufficiently well distinguished between it and JZ. flava. Ménétries says that it fre- quents the pastures on the banks of the Kour, near Saliane, in the Caucasus, and is met with in tolerably large flocks; Dr. Kriiper records it as numerous on the islands off Smyrna during the summer season; and Canon Tristram, who does not consider it distinct from MZ. flava, met with it in Palestine. In North-east Africa it is tolerably common; Captain Shelley states (B. of Egypt, p. 130) that in Nubia he frequently met with it in April in flocks among the herbage by the river-side, and writes as follows:—‘ Although I shot many specimens out of these flocks, I never came across a grey-headed bird among them. They were evidently migrating northward at that season. In the Fayoom, in March, I shot the only pair of these birds which I saw there.” It would appear that the present species is the only Yellow Wagtail which remains to breed in North-east Africa; for Von Heuglin met with it late in the spring in Egypt, and believes that it remains there for the summer, and Mr. Blanford, who obtained it in Abyssinia, writes (Geol. & Zool. Abyss. p. 381) as follows:—‘*‘ Common everywhere during the winter; and I suspect many remain and breed on the highlands of Abyssinia; for birds of this species were still abundant about Lake Ashangi at the beginning of May, although they had then assumed the nuptial plumage more than a month.” In North-west Africa it is also stated to occur; for Loche says that a specimen was obtained near Ain Oussera, but that it is a very rare straggler in Algeria. To the eastward it occurs as far as India; but, judging from the specimens collected by Mr. Swinhoe, it is not met with in China, nor does it appear to visit Siberia. It is recorded from Armenia by De Filippi; Mr. Blanford met with it in Persia and Baluchistan; and it appears to be tolerably widely distributed in India; but, owing to its having been so generally confused with WW. flava and JM. viridis, it is somewhat difficult to define its precise range. It certainly occurs in Turkestan, and breeds there commonly in almost all parts of the country. In its habits the Black-headed Wagtail does not differ much from its allies 7. flava and 2F 4 M. viridis. Like those it is usually found in low grasslands, and frequents places where cattle are grazing. lLindermayer states (Vog. Griechenl. p. 81) that it prefers the vicinity of the sea, especially places where the salt water mixes with fresh water, and where the tamarisk, flags, and salsola flourish. It hunts after insects amongst the reeds, and is, if any thing, more restless than the other allied species. It is not unfrequently seen on the branch of a tamarisk, possibly in search of insects, and appears to be fond of the neighbourhood of cattle, but is never seen amongst sheep. He describes a nest he found as being “carelessly placed against the main stem of a tamarisk, and composed of dry flags, lined with hair, flat, and not unlike the nest of Calan- drella brachydactyla.” J have received the nest and eggs from Mr. Robson, of Constantinople, who, when sending them, wrote as follows: —“I send six eggs and the nest of the Black-headed Yellow Wagtail, taken at Khathane on the 17th May, 1863, this being the only nest I could find; but when I visited the same place a week later I found several, in which the young were already hatched. A colony breed on an island here annually, preferring one particular locality, though to all appearance there are many other places equally good, or better, for the purpose of nidification.” I still possess four of these eggs, the others having been broken in transit. They are about equal in size to those of Wotacilla flava, but are rather darker and browner in colour; and three have a blackish line drawn at the larger end, as if with a pen. One, a dwarf egg, measures only 76 by 46 inch. The specimens figured are an adult male from Bulgaria and a female from N.W. India, both being in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. EH. Dresser. a,Q. Malta, March 19th, 1867 (C. EL. Wright). 6, 3. Bulgaria (Buckley). c. Egypt (Rogers). d,3,e,¢. Etawah, December 15th, 1868 (Brooks). jf. Etawah, February 26th, 1870 (Brooks). g,é. Etawah, March 11th, 1870 (Brooks). h,?,t,2,j,2,%,2. Etawah, March 1872 (Brooks). 1, 3. Bundelkund, December 28rd (G. F. Marshall). m,&. Almora, May 10th, 1865 (Severtzoff). EH Mus. H. B. Tristram. a,d. Kokand. 6. Etawah, N.W. India, April 3rd, 1869 (W. E. Brooks). c,d. Cashmere, March 21st, 1871 (W. E. B.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, é. Constantinople, April 23rd, 1866 (Robson). 6, 3. Missolonghi, May 29th, 1873 (H. Seebohm). c,d,3. Futtegurh, March 15th (A. Anderson). i Mus. G. F. L. Marshall. a, 3,var. Umritzur, March 30th, 1872 (G. F. L. M.). 131 YELLOW WAGTAIL. MOTACSLLA RAII. 294 MOTACILLA RAIL (YELLOW WAGTAIL.) The Yellow Water Wagtail, Edw. Gleanings, v. p. 102, pl. 258, “ England ” (1758). Motacilla flava, Donovan, Nat. Hist. Brit. B. i. pl. xv. “ England” (1799, nec Linn.). ’ Budytes flavissima, Blyth, Mag. Nat. Hist. vii. p. 542, “ England” (1834). Motacilla flaveola, Temm. Man. d’Orn. iti. p. 183, “ England” (1835, nec Pall.). Budytes flava, Eyton, Cat. Brit. Birds, p. 15, “ Great Britain ” (1836, nec Linn.). Budytes rayi, Bp. Comp. List, p. 18, ‘ British Islands” (1838). Budytes campestris, Keys. & Blas. Wirbelth. Eur. p. xlix. “S. Russia, Persia, G. Britain” (1840, nec Pall.). Motacilla flava, var. anglica, Sundey. K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1840, p. 53, “ British Islands.” Motacilla flava rayi, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. xxviii, “ England” (1844). Motacilla anglorum, Florent Prévost, fide Degland, Orn. Eur. i. p. 442, “Maine et Loire” (1849). Budytes neglectus, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 142, “England, rare in Germany ” (1855, nec Gould). Motacilla campestris, Blas. in Naum. Vég. Deutschl. xiii. p. 130, “S. Ural” (1860, nec Pall.). Budytes ray, var. flavifrons, Severtzoff, Turk. Jevotnie, p. 67, “ Turkestan” (1873). Figure notabiles. Edwards, /. ¢.; Donovan, 7. ¢c.; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 145; id. B. of G. B. iii. pl. i; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 372. 3 ad. ptil. est. supra viridi-olivaceus, pileo magis flavido et uropygio clariore: lined superciliari a basi rostri fere ad nucham, linea infra oculum, et corpore subtus flavissimis: alis et cauda ut in Motacilld flava picturatis. 2 ad. mari similis sed sordidior, corpore subtus pallidé flavo, gula et superciliis albidis flavo lavatis. 2 [ 05 Adult Male (Pagham, 23rd April). Upper parts olive-green, becoming yellowish green on the crown and forehead; rump rather richer in colour than the back; quills dark greyish brown, the primaries narrowly and the secondaries broadly margined with buffy white, tinged with sulphur-yellow; larger wing-coverts broadly tipped with sulphur-yellow; tail blackish brown, the two outer rectrices on each side white, margined on the basal portion of the inner web with blackish brown; entire underparts rich yellow; a broad stripe of yellow passes from the base of the bill over the eye nearly to the nape; and another streak of the same colour passes under the eye, there being an olive-green line between this latter and the bright yellow throat; bill and feet blackish; iris dark brown. Total length about 6°5 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3°25, tail 3:0, tarsus 1-0, hind toe with claw 0°68, hind toe 0°38. Adult Female (Pagham). Resembles the male, but is much duller in colour, the throat and superciliary stripes are yellowish white, and the underparts are much paler yellow. 218 2 Young in first autumn (Pagham, July). Upper parts brownish olive, tinged with green on the rump; under- parts buffy white, tinged with sulphur-yellow on the lower abdomen; the lower throat and breast washed with brownish buff, forming a sort of dark band; superciliary stripe buffy white; wings and tail as in the adult, but with rather broader and whiter margins, tinged with buff, but not with yellow. Obs. In autumn dress the adult birds much resemble the young above described, but lack the buffy brown on the lower throat and breast. But sometimes the old males appear to retain their summer dress very late; for one killed on the 16th September differs only from old males in full spring plumage in having the underparts rather paler. I have figured an old male with the yellow head from Southern Russia, in which plumage it is called MW. campestris by the continental dealers; but I may add that I have an old male from Hampstead, near London, in the same plumage, except that, if any thing, the Russian specimen is a trifle cleaner and brighter in colour, though there is scarcely any difference between them. In this plumage the sides of the head and forehead, as far as the centre of the crown, are like the underparts, rich canary-yellow, and only towards the hind crown and nape does this colour eradually merge into green on the hind neck and back. Donovan (/. c.) figures a British-killed bird which is much more richly coloured than any South-Russian example I have ever seen, the entire head and upper neck being rich canary-yellow. My second specimen, from Southern Russia, has the head coloured as in ordinary adult British birds. TuovcH tolerably widely distributed in Europe, and found also in Africa and in Western Asia, the present species appears to be common only in Western Europe, being elsewhere only a rare strageler. In the British Isles it is the only common species of Yellow Wagtail, excepting Motacilla sulphurea, being a regular summer visitant to our isles, arriving late in March or early in April, and leaving again in September, being during the summer season very generally distributed throughout England and Wales, excepting, Professor Newton says, Cornwall and Devon. Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that he never saw it in the Channel Islands, nor is it mentioned in Professor Ansted’s list; but he was told that it occasionally visited Guernsey during the spring and autumn passage, and he possesses the skin of one killed there in September 1875. In Somersetshire, he adds, it is a common summer visitant, and remains to breed in most parts of the county. In Scotland it is, as in England, a common bird during the summer season; and Mr. Robert Gray says (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 114) that “in some parts of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire the Oatear or Seed-Lady, as this species is called, is very common on its arrival im the month of April. It appears to keep in flocks for a few days before becoming dispersed, and may be then obtained in some numbers by collectors. Towards the end of April they betake themselves to their old haunts, occupying a tolerably wide tract in the west of Scotland, where they are generally established in pairs at suitable intervals. On the east of Scotland the Yellow Wagtail is distributed in like numbers as far as Forfarshire; and it has occurred several times in Orkney.” It is also included by the late Dr. Saxby in his ‘ Birds of Shetland, as it occurs in Unst, being, however, he adds, a rare straggler. In Ireland it is a rare species, and, so far as can be ascertained, appears to occur merely as a straggler, not remaining to breed. Thompson writes (B. of Ireland, i. p. 222) as follows:— “The observations of ornithologists in various parts of the country show that it is generally a rare species, To myself it has occurred but once in a wild state, except about Toome, on the 24th of June, 1832. In that instance one was seen in a turf bog on the confines of the county 3 of Donegal, a few miles from the city of Londonderry. It has but once been met with by William Sinclair, Esq., on the 28th of April, 1833, when a single individual appeared, and on that day only, in an oat-field at the Falls. One shot at Finglass, near Dublin, about the 20th of April, 1835, has come under my notice in the collection of T. W. Warren, Esq. A second spe- cimen, which I have seen at Dublin, was stated to have been shot in the vicinity of the Custom- house there in 1837. ‘The species is unknown to my correspondents as visiting the southern counties. On the 8th of April, 1841, an old male bird, shot near Belfast, came into my possession. A good ornithologist is certain that two Wagtails seen at the shore of the bay near that town on the 8th of August, 1846, were of this species. About the Ist of May, 1847, three were procured between Portadown and Verner’s Bridge, in the county of Armagh, by the Rev. G. Robinson.” After leaving England the range of the present species becomes very difficult to define. It has not been recorded from Scandinavia or any part of North-eastern Europe, but has been met with in Heligoland, though not included by Borggreve in his list of birds found in North Germany. Baron von Droste Hiilshoff observed one on the island of Borkum on the 7th May, 1867; and Mr. van Wickevoort Crommelin informs me that it is occasionally seen on the coast of Holland during the spring migration; and it occurs during the two seasons of passage in the neighbourhood of Lille, Amiens, and Dunkirk, but has not yet been observed in Central Belgium. In France, according to Messrs. Degland and Gerbe, it breeds numerously near Dieppe, where J/. flava occurs only on passage; and they add that it nests also, though rarely, near Lille, where, on the other hand, 1/7. fava is common, Crespon met with it near Nimes; and Messrs. Jaubert and Barthélemy-Lapommeraye record it from Provence as occurring only in the autumn; but Baron J. W. von Miiller states (J. f. O. 1856, p. 222) that it is not uncommon in April in the marshes of the Camargue, and that in October it is met with sparingly on passage. It is said to occur in Portugal, where, however, it is rare, and is also met with in Spain. Dr. A. KE. Brehm states (Allg. deutsch. naturh. Zeit. iii. p. 458) that he first saw speci- mens exposed for sale in the Barcelona market late in April, and in May the following year he shot seven specimens near Madrid. Mr. Howard Saunders possesses examples of this species from Malaga and Valencia; but Colonel Irby says he never met with it on either side of the Straits of Gibraltar. In Italy it is extremely rare; for Count Salvadori states that he only knows of one instance of its occurrence, a specimen having been obtained in Liguria by Calvi in April 1821. Mr.C. A. Wright also records (Ibis, 1870, p. 491) the occurrence of a specimen at Malta in the spring of 1868. I find no notice of its occurrence in Southern Germany, Greece, or Turkey; but it is certainly met with in Southern Russia, as specimens are from time to time sent from the Southern Volga under the name of Motacilla campestris, a name which certainly does not belong to the present species, though it is applied to it by many continental authors. I possess two specimens from Southern Russia which, though one has the yellow on the head rather fully developed, are certainly specifically identical with our British bird. It is not, how- ever, recorded from Asia Minor or Palestine, nor has it been met with in North-east Africa; but it occurs in North-west Africa, being, according to Loche, an accidental visitant in Algeria; and I possess a specimen collected at Tangier by Olcese, where it must be of rare occurrence, as 26 au 80 4 Colonel Irby does not include it in his work on the ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar. It has been recorded from the Gambia and Gold Coast; Dr. G. Hartlaub says (J. f. O. 1854, p. 20) that there are examples from the Gambia in the Bremen Museum, and from the Gold Coast in the Hamburg Museum; and Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub refer to a fully adult male, in summer plumage, from the Gaboon, examined by them. Mr. Gurney also states (Ibis, 1873, p. 282) that a male in full plumage was sent from the Transvaal by Mr. F. Ayres. How far eastward the present species is found is hard to say; but it certainly occurs in Turkestan, of which, according to Severtzoff (/. c.), it inhabits the entire western portion, being met with to an altitude of about 4500 feet above the sea-level, but is a rare bird. It is said to have occurred as far east as China; but the species found there has been discri- minated and described as distinct by Mr. Swinhoe under the name of Budytes taivanus ; and after having carefully examined his specimens and compared them with my series of the present species, I fully concur with him in considering the Chinese bird to be a fairly separable and distinct species. In its habits the present species closely resembles the other Yellow Wagtails, and, like those, is not unfrequently seen perching on a twig or branch, as well as on the ground. It frequents grassy downs, pastures where cattle are grazing, fallow land, and fields of sprouting corn, and does not affect the vicinity of inhabited places, like the Pied Wagtail. Soon after its arrival with us it commences nidification; and so soon as the young are able to fly they accom- pany their parents in search of food. In the autumn, previous to their departure, they collect in small flocks, and may then usually be seen following the cattle in search of insects which are disturbed as the cattle move about, or which collect round when they are reclining. Like the other Wagtails the present species feeds entirely on insects of various kinds, chiefly small flies, which it will often catch on the wing with great dexterity. It runs with great ease, vibrating its body, and every now and then spreads its tail slightly or moves it gently. Its flight is a succession of long undulations; and on alighting it slightly spreads the tail so as to show the white on the lateral rectrices. The call of the present species consists of two notes uttered in succession, the second being a whole tone lower than the first; and the song of the male bird is short, and not often uttered. Its nest, like that of MWotacilla flava, is placed on the ground, sometimes under shelter of a clod or tussock, and always tolerably well concealed amongst the herbage. Nests I have taken were constructed of dried grass bents and small rootlets, lined with finer rootlets, bents, and hair ; and in one or two instances some sheep’s wool was used in the lining. Professor Newton states that two nests found by Mr. Hewitson on the same day, and within a few yards of each other, were composed, one of green moss and grass, lined with rabbit’s down, and the other entirely of grass, lined with fine roots. The eggs, from four to six in number, closely resemble those of Motacilla flava; and on comparing my series of eggs of these two species I can detect no constant difference either in colour or size. The specimens figured are an adult male in full spring plumage, an autumn-plumaged British-killed bird, and one of the yellow-headed old birds from Southern Russia, these being the specimens described, all of which are in my collection. 5 In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 6. Cambridge, May 1861 (H. E. Fox). 6,6. Pagham, Sussex, April 23rd, 1870 (R. B. Sharpe). fg, 2, 7, k. Hampstead, May 1870 (Davy). July 1870 (R. B. S.). g, 6. Hampstead, September 16th, 1871 (Davy). 1869 (Davy). s, t, u% 3, v,2. Highgate, August 1869 (Davy). Southern Russia, May (Schliiter). Cc, d, e, p. Pagham, r,2. Highgate, July 7th, w, 3. Tangier (Olcese). w, y. l, m,n, 0. Hampstead, June 1870 (Davy). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 6 ad. Malaga, April 17th, 1871. 6,3. Valencia, April 10th, 1872. ¢, 3, Valencia, April 6th, 1872. d,¢. Valencia, April 28th, 1873. 281 ORE Siti ah GM ea get uit Lipa nt ouiie? 5 4 p i) Genus ANTHUS. Alauda apud Linneeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 287 (1766). Sylvia apud Latham, Ind. Orn. ii. p. 531 (1790). Anthus, Bechstein, Gemeinn. Naturg. Vog. Deutschl. i. p. 247 (1805). Motacilla apud Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 512 (1811). Spipola apud Leach, Syst. Cat. B. & M. Brit. Mus. p. 21 (1816). Vitifiora apud Stephens in Shaw’s Gen. Zool. x. p. 570 (1817). Corydalla, Vigors, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 397 (1825). Leimoniptera apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 39 (1829). Pipastes apud Kaup, op. cit. p. 33 (1829). Fringilla apud Tickell, J. As. Soc. Beng. i. p. 578 (1833). Agrodroma apud Swainson, Classif. of B. ii. p. 241 (1837). Cichlops apud Hodgson in Gray’s Zool. Mise. p. 83 (1844). EARLIER authors united the Pipits with the Larks; and even Macgillivray took this view; but there can be no doubt that they agree structurally very closely with the Wagtails, and differ very materially from the Larks in having two instead of one moult in the year; besides, the Larks have the back of the tarsus scutellated, and the nostrils (with some few exceptions) covered with short feathers, whereas the Pipits have the back of the tarsus entire, and the nostrils bare. The Pipits inhabit the Palearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions, having therefore a very extensive range. ‘They vary considerably in their habits, some being inhabitants of the woods and groves, whereas others frequent the open country, both cultivated and wild; and the Rock-Pipit evinces a partiality for the sea-coast. ‘The Pipits are, as a rule, tolerably good songsters, some, however, having a much poorer song than others. They feed: on insects, seeds, &c., usually procuring their food on the ground. ‘They all nest on the ground, and deposit four or five eggs, which vary considerably, those of some species being greyish white closely dotted or mottled with brownish olivaceous, whereas those of other species are pale brown or brownish pink, blurred with dark brown or purplish brown. Their flight is rapid and undulating; and some species will, when singing, rise into the air and descend in a semicircle with expanded tail onto the ground or onto a branch again. Ten species inhabit the Western Palearctic Region, nine of which breed there, the tenth (Anthus ludovicianus) being merely a straggler from the Nearctic Region. Anthus pratensis, which I take to be the type of the genus, has the bill straight, rather slender, the upper mandible slightly notched; gape with no discernible bristles; nostrils oblong, placed in the lower fore part of the nasal depression, which is slightly feathered behind; wings rather long, the four outer quills nearly equal and longest, the inner secondaries long, one being nearly as long as the primaries; tail rather long, straight, emarginate ; tarsus rather longer than the middle toe with claw, covered with four large plates and three inferior scutelle in front; toes rather long, the hind claw rather long. In some species belonging to this genus the toes are much smaller, and the hind claw is small and arched. The present genus has been considerably split up by many authors—viz. Agrodroma, Swains. (type Anthus campestris), Corydalla, Vig. (type Anthus richardi), Pipastes, Kaup (type Anthus trivialis), and Leimoniptera, Kaup (type Anthus pratensis); but I cannot, after a careful examination of the various types of these genera, find that there is any valid reason to thus sub- divide it, and have consequently retained all in the genus Anthus. 37 28 e) as Battie s! “SISNI1¥Hd STHINY ‘Lidld MOGVAW (22 SHIVIAIUL SNHINY ‘did 43a ANTHUS PRATENSIS. (MEADOW-PIPIT.) Alauda pratensis, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 343. no. 3 (1760). Alauda pratensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 287. no. 2 (1766). Le Cujelier, Montbeill. Ois. v. p. 314; Pl. Enl. 660. fig. 2 (1778). Alauda pratensis, L., Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 792. no. 2 (1788). Anthus pratensis (L.), Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. iii. p. 564 (1812). Spipola pratensis (L.), Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. p. 21 (1816). Alauda sepiaria, Steph. Shaw’s Gen. Zool. x. p. 542 (1817). Anthus sepiarius, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. xxvi. p. 486 (1818). Anthus palustris, C. L. Brehm, Lehrbuch, Naturg. eur. Vog. i. p. 244 (1823). Leimoniptera pratensis (L.), Kaup, Nat. Syst. p. 89 (1829). Anthus stagnatilis, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 332 (1831). Anthus danicus, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 333 (1831). Anthus pratorum, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 333 (1831). Anthus palustris, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 334 (1831). Anthus alticeps, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 335 (1831). Anthus tenuirostris, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 335 (1831). Anthus musicus, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 336 (1881). Anthus virescens, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 337 (1831). Anthus lichtensteinti, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 338 (1831). Anthus desertorum, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 338 (1831). Anthus montanellus, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 339 (1831). Anthus tristis, Baill. Mém. de la Soc. d’émul. d’Abbev. p. 14 (1833). Parus ignotus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1006. no. 15, fide Strickland, Cont. to Orn. (1852). Meadow-Pipit, Titlark, Titling, English; Glasian, Gaelic; Le Cujelier, Pipi des Prés, French; Petinha, Portuguese; Cinceta, Spanish; Coturlin, Catalan; Zivedda, Pispola, Italian; Linguinedda, Sicilian; Pespus tal giargir, Maltese; Pieplerche, Wiesen-Pieper, German; De Graspieper, Dutch; Englerke, Pibelerke, Danish; Gratitlingur, Thufutit- lingur, Icelandic; Engpiplerke, Norwegian; Angpiplirka, Swedish; Heinakirvinen, Finnish ; Swiergotek taczny, Polish; Stschewritza-lugowaya, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 660. fig. 2; Werner, Atlas, Jnsectivores, pl. 86; Kjerb. Orn. Dan. pl.17; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. pl. 16. fig.1; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. pls. 84, 85; Sundevall, Sy. Fogl. pl. 8. fig. 7; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 136; id. B. of G. B. ili. pl. 13; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 96; Nozemann and Sepp, iii. pl. 209. 2 Ad. ptil. est. corpore supra nigricanti-brunneo, plumis omnibus brunneo marginatis et vix olivaceo tinctis: pileo et dorso saturatioribus: uropygio olivascenti-brunneo, vix nigricante brunneo notato: remigibus saturaté brunneis, primariis vix albido marginatis, intimis olivaceo lavatis: secundariis intimis et tectricibus alarum in pogonio externo conspicué albido marginatis et olivascente brunneo lavatis: cauda saturaté brunneda, rectrice extima alba in pogonio interno dimidio basali obliqué nigricanti-brunneo, rectrice secundé in pogonio interno ad apicem albido notat&: capite laterali brunneo, nigricante brunneo notato: corpore subtis albo: gutture laterali, pectore et hypochondriis nigricante brunneo maculatis: rostro nigricanti-brunneo ad basin: mandibula flavicante: pedibus pallidé brunneis: iride brunneA. Ad. ptil. hiem. preeceilenti similis, sed corpore supra rufescente brunneo lavato, corpore subtus flavicante cervino adumbrato, pectore et hypochondriis saturatioribus. ; Q haud a mare distinguenda. Adult in summer (Pagham, Sussex, 23rd April). Upper parts with the centres of the feathers blackish brown, and the margins dull hair-brown with the faintest olive tinge, the margins being narrowest on the crown and the interscapulary region; rump almost uniform brown, washed with olivaceous; wings dark brown, primaries narrowly edged with dirty white, the inner ones having the margins washed with dull olive-green; inner secondaries and wing-coverts broadly margined on the outer web with dirty white, and washed with olivaceous-brown ; tail dark brown, the outer rectrix white, excepting an oblique broad patch from the base nearly to the tip of the inner web, the next in order with a white patch on the inner web at the tip; sides of the head dull brown, marked with blackish brown; under- parts white; on the sides of the neck, breast, and flanks profusely marked with rather elongated blackish brown spots; beak blackish brown, inclining to yellow at the base of the lower mandible ; legs light brown; iris dark brown. Total length about 54-6 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3:0, tail 2:25, tarsus 0°85, hind toe with claw 0:8, hind claw 0°5. Adult in winter (Brighton, 12th November). Upper parts rather browner than in the summer-plumage, and the underparts washed with yellowish buff, which colour is deeper on the breast and flanks. Young. The young bird differs very slightly from the adult, in having the spots on the upper parts and breast larger, and the breast and flanks washed with dull reddish buff. Female. Is undistinguishable from the male in plumage. Ivy Great Britain this is one of our commonest birds, and is very generally distributed throughout the country, being a resident, only shifting its habitat somewhat according to the season of the year, and in order to seek for better localities to obtain food or shelter. I know of none of our counties in England where it is not common; and in Scotland it is met with on the whole of of the mainland as well as in the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Mr. Robert Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 115) writes that “the familiar and lively Moss-Cheeper, as this bird is called in Scotland, is everywhere common, often appearing in places where bird-life is scarcely looked for. It is very abundant in North Uist and Benbecula, and indeed for the greater part of the Long Island, extending to the uninhabited rocks and islets far beyond. Even in St. Kilda it may be seen frequenting the neighbourhood of the huts of the lonely inhabitants, its feeble notes being at certain seasons of the year almost the only sound breaking the silent monotony of their weary 3 life.” In Ireland it is likewise common and resident; but, according to Thompson, it suffers greatly during cold weather, and is then even occasionally driven for food to the streets of the towns. It has, Professor Reinhardt writes (Ibis, 1861, p. 6), been once recorded from Greenland, whence Dr. Paulson received a specimen in 1845; but Dr. Reinhardt himself never saw it in that country. In Iceland it is, according to Professor Newton, ‘“‘common on low grounds over the whole country, arriving at the end of April and leaving in September;” and Mr. H.C. Miiller speaks of it as being extremely common in the Feroe Islands. In Scandinavia it is likewise numerous ; and in Norway, according to Mr. Robert Collett, “its range extends from the most southern parts of the country up to the North Cape. But as during the breeding-season it is only found on the great heaths and moors; it never occurs during the summer season in the valleys of the southern parts, but only on the fells above the conifer-growth in the birch-belt, where it breeds in immense numbers. On the coast, however, as well as in the northern parts, it breeds at all heights in localities destitute of tree-growth. In spring and autumn it visits in large flocks all the southern lowlands.” In Sweden, Professor Sundevall writes (Sv. Fogel. p. 39), “it occurs as far north as the willow and dwarf birches grow;’ and I met with it in every part of Finland I visited, and am informed by Professor Malmgren that it is common even up into Northern Lapland. In Russia it occurs in the extreme northern governments, as I possess specimens from Mezen; and Mr. L. Sabandeff informs me that it breeds commonly in the Govern- ments of Jaroslaf and Moscow, as also in that of Tamboff. It is more common in Northern Russia; but, according to Daniloff, it breeds in the Government of Orloff; and Kessler records it from Kieff, where, however, it is not numerous. Sabanieff himself records it as common in the Ural, and especially numerous during migration. It is, Mr. Taczanowski informs me, extremely numerous in Poland, and appears to be equally so throughout the whole of Germany, where it is chiefly a migrant, leaving, however, very late in the season, and returning early in the following spring; but some few remain over the winter, especially during mild seasons. Hintz says that it is becoming rarer in Pomerania, owing to the meadows being regularly mown during the nesting- season, and it is consequently disturbed when incubating. Kjzrbolling says(Danm. Fugl. p. 145) that it arrives in Denmark in March and leaves in October, or even as late as November, and is certainly the most common of all the Pipits. In Holland it is likewise a common bird, as also in Belgium and Luxemburg in the spring and autumn, nesting near Ostend; but, according to Baron De Selys-Longchamps, it does not breed in the central portions of Belgium, nor has it been known to do so in Luxemburg. Mr. Carl Sachse informs me that it is common near Coblentz, on the Rhine, arriving in March and leaving in October, but some few winter there. It occurs throughout France, where it is partly resident and partly migratory; and in Provence it is found during the winter, but only in very small numbers in the breeding-season; in the Eastern Pyrenees it is said to be resident. It occurs in Portugal, but whether rarely or other- wise I am unable to say. Dr. Rey obtained one there late in March. In Spain it is, as lam informed by Mr. Howard Saunders, common during the winter; and Major Irby writes to me that “it is very abundant on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar from October to the end of March.” Passing eastward I find it recorded by Bailly as abundant in Savoy on the spring migration i) oat 4 in March, and on its return in September and October; but only a small number pass the summer and breed in Savoy, principally in the moister and more northern districts. Savi says that it is abundant in Tuscany in the autumn and winter, but he is not aware that it ever breeds there; and Professor Doderlein records it as very common in winter in Sicily, but maintains that it does not ever remain to breed. In Malta, Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 61), it is “exceedingly plentiful in October and November, and commences arriving when the Short-toed Larks disappear. A good many stay the winter. Passes again in March.” In Greece it appears to be a winter visitant only ; and Lindermayer (V6g. Griechenl. p. 77) says that it winters on the islands of the Archipelago, in the Peloponnesus, and Rumelia, arriving about the middle of October and leaving in March, not remaining to breed. I met with it commonly in Southern Germany; and my friend the late Mr. Seidensacher informed me that it did not winter in Styria, but arrived in March, or occa- sionally in February, and left again in October. Dr. A. Fritsch records it as common in Bohemia during the summer. I observed it in all the countries bordering the Danube in the spring; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley say that it is common in Turkey. It is said to be numerous in Southern Russia, where Dr. G. Radde (J. f. O. 1854, p. 58) found it common near Simferopol, but did not observe it there in the summer. He shot specimens, however, in May near the Salgir. It is found in Asia Minor; and Canon Tristram (Ibis, 1866, p. 289) says that it “ occurs in small numbers throughout the winter everywhere, and a few pairs were found by us in favourable localities up to midsummer. A specimen shot at Jericho, on new year’s day, is so peculiar in its coloration that it might well pass for another species. It is without the dark spots on the flanks, and those on the throat are of the faintest; yet I can see no specific characters to afford a diagnosis. Other specimens obtained in the same district are precisely like our own.” In North-eastern Africa it appears to be uncommon, as Captain Shelley (B. of Eg. p. 131) speaks of it as ‘‘of rare occurrence in Egypt and Nubia, where it is a winter visitor. I have only seen one Egyptian specimen, which was killed near Alexandria in April;” and Captain Clark-Kennedy informs me that he only met with it once in Egypt, when he saw a pair, in company with some Crested Larks, near El Kab, and shot one, merely to make certain of the species, which, not then knowing that it was so rare in that country, he did not preserve. Mr. Jesse states (Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vii. p. 259) that he obtained it in Abyssinia; but I find on examining the specimen he obtained, that it is referable to A. cervinus, and not, as stated by him, to the present species. In North-western Africa it appears, however, to be more numerous; and Loche records it as common in Algeria, where, he states, it breeds; but this latter assertion I should almost be inclined to doubt, though Mr. O. Salvin shot one at Kef Laks as late as April. It is not easy to define the limits of its eastern range; for in many instances A. cervinus has doubtless been mistaken for it. De Filippi, however, notes its occurrence at Tiflis and Trebizond ; and Mr. A. O. Hume states (Ibis, 1869, p. 355) that he obtained it from near Ferozpoor, in India, and writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 36) as follows :—“ Although I felt little doubts that the speci- mens I had procured belonged to this species, I sent one for comparison with European specimens to M. Verreaux, who says:—‘ In this bird, as in many others received from warm climates, there appears to have been some slight modification in tint; but it is impossible to consider it distinct 5 from Anthus pratensis. Independent of climatal changes, you must be aware that this class of bird is subject to material variations in plumage according to season and age.” Sir R. H. Schomburgk states (Ibis, 1864, p. 249) that it is found in Siam; but it is most probable that the bird he obtained was not the present species, but A. cervinus. The Meadow-Pipit (or Titlark, as it is usually called) is certainly one of the best-known of our European birds, especially here in Great Britain, where it is common in almost every part of the country, frequenting pastures, fields under cultivation, grassy and sedgy moors and downs close to the sea-shore, and almost invariably open localities, shunning the forest growth or bushy districts. It is also found in damp tracts and on moors at a considerable elevation in moun- tainous districts; and in travelling on foot through such localities it is one of the birds most frequently flushed. When disturbed it flies up quickly, and flutters about with a peculiar jerky flight, continually uttering its sharp, shrill, chirping call-note. It appears to affect any small damp patch; and I have frequently seen it in such places, even amongst the barren sandhills in close proximity to the sea. In the autumn and winter it deserts the more elevated localities and descends to the grassy lowlands, and it may then more frequently be met with on the sea-shore or near inhabited places; and Mr. Cecil Smith remarks that at the season of the year when the sheep are in the turnip-fields it is a most constant frequenter of the sheep-fold, never mind how wet and muddy, or how hard and frosty the ground may be. During snow and hard weather it likewise resorts to the margins of streams or portions of marshes which have remained unfrozen ; but during a continuance of hard weather it suffers very much, probably as much owing to the difficulty of obtaining food as to the cold itself. ‘Though essentially a ground-bird, I have some- times seen it perch on a tree or bush, and it not unfrequently sits on a wall or large stone. At night it seeks shelter amongst the grass, or under a bush or tuft of heath, and always roosts on the ground. When in search of food it walks with short steps and with ease, keeping the body low, and when alarmed will either crouch until the danger has passed or spring up suddenly, flying off with a jerky wavering flight. Asa rule it is by no means shy or difficult of approach; but it is suspicious ; and if it sees that it is being pursued, it is not by any means so easy to approach within range of it. During the summer season the food of the Meadow-Pipit consists almost exclusively of insects and their larve; but in the winter it varies its diet to some extent by the addition of seeds, though when insect food is to be obtained it is doubtless always preferred; and it is not improbable that it frequents the sheep-folds and farm-yards during the winter to obtain any insects that may be there. They pair tolerably early, and raise two broods during the season, the first eggs being deposited in April, and the second lot about the middle of May; but my friend Mr. Carl Sachse informs me that he has seen one feeding young, which were not ready to leave the nest, as late as September. So soon as the warm weather sets in, and the flocks have broken up into pairs, the male commences to sing, its song being sweet, though not powerful. Macgillivray very faithfully describes the song as ‘‘ being composed of a series of sharp modulated notes, which it utters on wing, first ascending silently (or emitting only its usual chirp) to the height of about twenty yards, and then descending with expanded wings and tail. Sometimes also it sings when perched on a stone or crag. Its song may be heard from the middle of April to the end of July. During the breeding-season the male is easily alarmed, and flutters over an intruder, emitting its shrill notes; but while incubating, the female will allow a person to walk 92 od Zag 290 6 close to her without rising; and when she does fly off, it is with a cowering, fluttering motion, with the tail expanded, as if she were under the influence of disease or extreme terror. I have several times caught the female while sitting on her eggs, by creeping up, having previously marked the nest, and clapping my hand upon it.” The nest is neatly constructed of grass straws, lined with finer bents, fine rootlets, and horse- hair, and is somewhat large and bulky. It is always placed on the ground, amongst the grass in an open meadow, or under shelter of a tussock or tuft of grass, and is carefully concealed. The eges, varying from four to six, but most generally five in number, are subject to considerable variation in colour and markings, but have usually the ground-colour dull light grey, occasionally with a brownish tinge, and are closely spotted and dotted with dusky brown, reddish brown, or purplish grey; some in the series I possess have the spots collected in a ring round the larger end, where they are so closely distributed as to hide the ground-colour, the remainder of the egg being far less closely marked. In size they average 24 by 3é inch, some, however, being a trifle larger and others smaller. The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Anthus trivialis, is the bird I have described in spring plumage, particulars of locality &c. being given above. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. HE. Dresser. a, 8. Brighton, November 12th, 1868 (H.E.D.). 6. Cookham, September 10th, 1869 (W. Briggs). c. Pag- ham, September 38rd, 1869 (A/fr. Grant). d,?. Pagham, April 23rd, 1870 (R. B. Sharpe). e, 3. Pagham, July 11, 1870 (R. B. Sharpe). f, g. Aboyne, September 23rd, 1871. h. Hastings, September 13th, 1860 (H. EH. D.). i. Aboyne, September 23rd 1871 (R. B. Sharpe). k. Hampstead, November 18th, 1869 (Davy). 1. Hampstead, September 16th, 1869 (Davy). m. Sweden (Wheelwright). n, 3. Quickjock, Lapland, July 4th, 1864 (Meves). 0,3. Leiden, Holland, October 22nd, 1870. p. Spain (Saunders). g. Bergamasca, November 1868 (Salvadori). 1,3. Mezen, N. Russia, June 6th, 1873 (Piottuch). s. Tangiers, Africa (Olcese). ¢. North Africa (Verreauz). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a. Algiers, 1855 (4. B.T.). 6. Algiers, February 1856 (H. B. T.). c, g. Seaton, March 24th, 1866 (H. B. T.). d, 3. Seaton, March 26th, 1866 (H. B.T.), e. Kishon, March 19th, 1864(H.B.T7.). 7,3. Mt. Tegetus, February 22nd, 1858 (H. B. 7.). g,¢. Gennesareth, March 4th, 1864 (H. B. T.). h. Castle Eden, Durham (H. B. T.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, Hampstead, September 16th (Davy). b,d,0¢,2,d. Valencia, October 20th. e. Malaga, November 4th (7. 8.). f. Tangier (Olcese). E Mus. Salvin and Godman. a. Surrey, January 1857 (F. G.). 6,2. Cambridgeshire, May 12th, 1856 (O. S.). c, uv. Cambridgeshire, November 14th, 1856 (F.G.). d,d. Bodé, Norway, May 26th, 1856 (F. G.). 13 BERTHELOTS PIPIT. ANTHUS BERTHELOTI 231 oe ANTHUS BERTHELOTI. (CANARIAN PIPIT.) Anthus trivialis (L.), Webb & Berth. Orn. Can. p. 16 (1841, nec Linn.). Anthus pratensis (L.), Vern. Hare. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, xv. p. 437 (1855, nec Linn.). “Anthus campestris, Bechst.,” Bolle, Journ. f. Orn. 1857, p. 288 (nec Bechst.). Anthus berthelotii, Bolle, Ibis, 1862, p. 343. Anthus bertheloti, Bolle, Godman, Ibis, 1872, p. 176. Figura nulla. $ ad, supra grisescenti-brunneus nec olivaceus, plumis omnibus centraliter saturatioribus : uropygio unicolori : corpore subtus albo; collo laterali, pectore et hypochondriis saturaté brunneo striatis: alis et cauda ut in A. pratensi: rostro brunnescenti-corneo : pedibus pallidé brunneis. 2 (juv.?) corpore supra brunneo, plumis omnibus conspicué rufescente marginatis: alis et caudé ut in mare, sed conspicué rufescente marginatis. Adult Male (Teneriffe). Resembles Anthus pratensis, but has the upper parts much paler and more uniform in colour, and slightly tinged with grey; and the spots on the sides of the neck, breast, and flanks are usually very small, being mere dull brown narrow striations; arrangement of primaries and tail as in A. pratensis; legs very pale brown. Total length about 53 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 2°95, tail 2:5, tarsus 0°87, hind toe with claw 0°7. é Female in autumn (Madeira, July). Upper parts dark brown, all the feathers broadly margined with rufous, these borders being most conspicuous on the quills, wing-coverts, and tail-feathers; underparts as in the male above described ; legs very pale, almost white. This bird appears to me to be in immature plumage. = Obs. This species may at once be distinguished from A. pratensis by its paler, less marked upper parts (the rump being greyish brown, entirely unmarked), and by the narrow striations on the underparts, as well as by its somewhat smaller size. According to Bolle it never in any stage of plumage or at any season of the year has any trace of green in its plumage; whereas A. pratensis has this colour very conspicuous in its autumn dress. The female above described is certainly unlike any autumn-killed Meadow-Pipit I have ever seen ; and the coloration of the upper surface of its body reminds me some- what of Anthus richardi. 'Phe under surface of the body in A. dertheloti appears to be always white, and not, in the autumn, washed with buff as in A. pratensis. Specimens from Madeira approach rather closer to our European bird, but are still fairly distinguishable, though they have the breast more closely and boldly marked than any of the examples from the Canaries. In measurements the five specimens I have examined vary as follows :— aoe 2 Culmen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. atta oe Hind claw. with claw. inch. inches. inches. inch. inch. inch. Wircetm, G » 0 6 0 5 0 6 Oxas 2°95 2°5 0°87 0:7 0°37 oy SoG, Miia atoms care elk OGL 2:95 2°55 0°88 0:7 0°37 3 OG bacrediveumt Seetoumos (Fo 28 2°3 0°88 0°62 0:3 Orotava, Teneriffe,d . . . . 0°65 2°95 2°55 0°88 0:65 0°35 33 3 titel che sOZ6 2°85 2°38 0°87 0°65 0°35 whereas my series of Anthus pratensis from various localities average—culmen 0:62, wing 3:15-3°2, tail 2°5-2:55, tarsus 0°85-0°9, hind toe with claw 0°75-0°8, hind claw 0°45-0°5. In Anthus bertheloti the hind claw is not only shorter than in A. pratensis, but also much stouter, though not so stout as that of the Tree-Pipit. THE present species is one of these insular forms which, being non-migratory, differ sufficiently from the continental birds to be kept separate as distinct species. Though closely allied to our Meadow-Pipit, it appears to me to be clearly distinct, and at the first glance reminds one much of the Water-Pipit, especially in the coloration of the upper parts. Mr. Vernon Harcourt, in a review of Dr. C. Bolle’s article describing this species, states (Ibis, 1863, p. 230) that he is not prepared to accept it as a good species; but I think that the distinctions above given are sufficient to entitle it to be kept separate. Dr. C. Bolle published (J. c.) full particulars respecting the occurrence of this Pipit in the Canaries, and its habits as observed by him there, from which I translate as follows :—“ Berthelot’s Pipit inhabits the entire Canarian archipelago, where it is exceedingly common; and I met with it from Fuerta- ventura to the Island of Ferro. Wherever in the volcanic region there is a less-luxuriant vegetation and bare places, it is sure to be found; and it is especially common amongst the rocks and calcined stones which form the predominating portion of the landscape, amongst the flowering Euphorbie, Balos, and Agulayas; and it more particularly affects the large masses of tufa, remains of old eruptions, which are known in the country by the name of Toscales. From its love of open bare places it frequents, like the Crested Lark, the roads, and is familiar with the sight of man; hence its local names of ‘Correcamino,’ or ‘Caminero; and, according to Berthelot, it bears a third appellation, that of ‘Pajaré cajon.’ It is especially numerous in the lower regions and the vicinity of the coast in the Canaries, as it here finds the most suitable localities ; and I found it nowhere more numerous than in the dry and stony hillocks of Gran Canaria and Fuertaventura, where it is met with in the same localities as the Pajar6 moro (Pyrrhula githaginea). It is, however, by no means wanting in the mountains, where the temperature is fresher ; and I observed it on Gran Canaria at great altitudes on the Aguimes and Tenteniguada. In these regions it ascends even to the elevated plateaux of the Cumbre. “There is as yet but little known about the breeding-habits of the present species; and I can only say that it is the only bird which nests on the ground in the fields used in the culture of cochineal. It is resident; and during the winter those which during the summer inhabit the higher regions merely descend to the plains. It lives in pairs during the breeding-season ; and afterwards they collect in small flocks, which appear to consist merely of the members of each family. On the dusty soil and on the rocks it runs with celerity and elegance, and when tired 3 will rest perched on the top of a large tabayba branch, or on a cactus or agave, and will remain quiet for some time without changing its position or moving from branch to branch. It rarely flies off when any one approaches, but merely squats like a Wheatear, and exhibits even less timidity in the presence of any one on horseback. ““It has no real song; and all the note it utters is a soft and plaintive call, which, together with the monotonous song of the Chiff-chaff and the harsh call of the Kestrel, is one of the most familiar notes heard in the Canaries. “Its food is similar to that of its European congeners; but it appears less insectivorous than most of them are reputed to be, as judging from the contents of the stomachs of several I have examined, seeds, even large ones, form a portion of its diet. It appears to be very subject to a species of tubercular skin-disease, which chiefly attacks the feet and toes, and even the beak. I have observed many wild birds of this species suffering from this disease, and always found them very thin and in bad plumage. Mr. Kittlitz, who visited Teneriffe in 1826, was the first to remark the differences in this Pipit, and wrote as follows:—‘ They were the first birds we saw running along the road. I shot one, and found it to differ but little from the Water-Pipit, so common in the Riesengebirge—having the legs lighter in colour and the hind claw shorter, being, as it seemed to me, intermediate between that species and Anthus campestris. ‘This short description is, as regards coloration, very true; and in fact a form intermediate between Anthus aquaticus and A. campestris, putting hybridization out of the question, cannot but be a good species.” Dr. C. Bolle further states his belief that the Madeiran Pipit will prove to be the present species, in which, after an examination of specimens from that island, I fully concur with him. Mr. Vernon Harcourt (J. c.), speaking of it under the name of Anthus pratensis, says that it “is plentifully found in the fields near the sea and in the serras. It utters a low note, running along the ground, and never takes a long flight. ‘The natives consider the bird sacred, and have some legend about its having attended the Virgin at the time of the nativity.” Mr. F. DuCane Godman met with it in the Canaries and Madeira; and Captain Temple Godman also obtained several specimens in the latter locality. The former gentleman writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 177) as follows:—“I procured several examples of it in Teneriffe, where it is exceedingly common. [I also saw it in the islands of Palma and Gran Canary, though I failed to procure specimens from either. On the Desertas it is exceedingly common; and I shot several specimens on the smallest island; but unfortunately they were all washed overboard in returning, together with the rest of the things I collected there. A. bertheloti takes short flights like A. pratensis. It is usually very tame, and runs along the ground, not caring to take flight; whence it has received the name ‘Caminero’ in the Canaries, and ‘ Corre-de-Caminho’ in Madeira.” I have never seen the eggs of this Pipit, which doubtless resemble those of the Meadow- Pipit. The specimen figured is the one described, and is from Madeira. I have figured this bird as being closer to our Meadow-Pipit than examples from the Canaries. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— ook nN a,3. Madeira (Temple Godman). 4 E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 6. Orotava, Teneriffe, April 8th, 1874 (F. D. Godman). E Mus. F. DuCane Godman. a. Madeira (Temple Godman). 6,2. Madeira, July 1st, 1871 (F. D.G.). c,d. Orotava, Teneriffe, April 7th, 1871 (F. D. G.). 154 = PETCHORA PIPIT. ANTHUS SEEBOHMI. ANTHUS SEEBOHUMY, sp. nov. (PETCHORA PIPIT.) 3 ad. corpore supra brunneo vix cervino tincto, plumis centraliter nigro-fusco notatis: dorsi plumis nigris brunneo marginatis, in dorsi lateribus albo marginatis: secundariis intimis conspicué brunnescente cervino marginatis: tectricibus alarum medianis et minoribus valdé albido apicatis, remigibus et rectricibus ut in A. pratensi coloratis sed non olivaceo tinctis et rectricibus extimis haud albo sed fumoso-cervino notatis: corpore subtis albo, in gutture, pectore et hypochondriis cervino lavato, pectore et hypochondriis conspicué nigro-fusco striatis : rostro robusto, brunnescenti-corneo, ad basin mandibule pallidiore: iride fuscé: pedibus pallidé brunneis, © ad. mari similis. Adult Male (Petchora). In general appearance like Anthus pratensis, except that the upper parts are much more varied in colour, reminding one of the Aquatic Warbler, the bill is much larger and stronger, the arrangement of primaries is as in the Tree-Pipit, the elongated inner secondaries are shorter, and the lighter portions of the rectrices are dull smoky buff, not pure white; upper parts generally warm brown with a buff tinge, the centres of the feathers blackish brown; feathers on the upper back deep black, edged with warm brown, those at the sides of the back margined with almost pure white; inner secondaries with rather broad warm buff margins ; median and lesser wing-coverts broadly tipped with almost pure white; wings and tail otherwise coloured as in the Meadow-Pipit, but less olivaceous in tinge, and the white on the tail is replaced by smoky buff; underparts white, washed with warm buft on the lower throat, breast, and flanks; breast aud flanks marked with broad blackish brown stripes ; bill horn-brown, lighter at the base of the mandible ; iris dark brown; legs pale brown. Total length about 5°5 inches, culmen 0:6, width of bill at the base of the lower mandible 0°18, wing 3:3, tail 2°25, tarsus 0°95, hind toe with eh J°85, hind claw 0:44; first primary the longest, the second being nearly equal, and the third a little shorter than the second; fourth 0-2 shorter than the first and second, and 0:15 shorter than the third ; fifth 0:28 shorter than the fourth; elongated inner secondaries reaching nearly to the fifth primary. Adult Female (Petchora).. Does not differ from the male. Two friends of mine, Messrs. H. Seebohm and J. A. Harvie-Brown, who have just returned from a most successful journey to the Petchora in Northern Russia, have, amongst other rarities, brought five specimens of a Pipit which, so far as I can ascertain, is hitherto undescribed; and as they have intrusted it to me to compare and describe, I cannot do better than name it after the former of these gentlemen, he being the first to discover it. It is a bird which, though tolerably closely allied to our Meadow-Pipit, may at a glance be distinguished from that species by the richly varied upper parts, stout large bill, the absence of white on the outer tail-feathers, and the arrangement of the quills, which is nearly as in the Tree-Pipit. It bears in general appear- ance more resemblance to this latter species, but may be distinguished from that by its almost straight long hind claw and the absence of white on the outer tail-feathers, besides by the richly varied upper surface of the body, in which it reminds one somewhat of the Aquatic Warbler; 295 2 but it will be seen from Mr. Seebohm’s notes that it differs greatly in habits from both the Tree- and Meadow-Pipits. On examination of a large series of Pipits from various localities, I can find none which could be mistaken for the present bird; and thé question naturally arises as to where it retires for the winter; for it is only a summer visitant to the Petchora. Dr. Severtzoff speaks of Pipits intermediate between the Meadow- and Tree-Pipits found by him in Turkestan, and refers to examples of the latter which have the hind claw long and straight as in the Meadow- Pipit; and I cannot help thinking that these latter may possibly have been the present species. At present, however, nothing whatever is known respecting this bird except through Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown; and I am indebted to the former of these gentlemen for the following résumé of the information obtained by them :— “I first made the acquaintance of the Petchora Pipit on 16th June, 1875. My friend Harvie-Brown and I were drifting down the great river, stopping now and then, sometimes on the tundra, sometimes on one of the innumerable islands, to cook a meal or rest our crew, who found it heavy work rowing our clumsy craft with only one pair of oars. We had (no doubt about it) fairly got into the ‘land of the north wind.’ Fortunately the swollen river was running northwards at the rate of four or five versts an hour; but our steersman was always getting the boat out of the main current, and in spite of hard rowing we made slow progress. We had left Ust Zylma about a week after the great ten days’ march-past of ice was over. For the first two or three days the weather was hot with a fair wind, and we glided rapidly, with sail set, through a rich undulating country well clothed with pines of various sorts, birch, and willow. Then came the north wind, cold, with occasionally a pouring wet day. We crossed the Arctic circle on the night of the 14th, and on the following day were slowly pulling against a contrary wind. We cast anchor for the night on the bank of a low marshy island chiefly wooded with willow trees. The timber had gradually decreased in size since we left Ust Zylma, and the whole country was beginning to be flatter and more swampy. ‘There was also a considerable change in the birds. Ducks were as numerous as ever; but we seemed to have left the Smew and the Golden-eye behind. At Ust Zylma the Pintail was by far the commonest Duck; but now the Widgeon was the most abundant species, and the Scaup and the Black Scoter began to be common. We often saw Geese and Swans upon the wing; but we had scarcely reached their breeding-grounds. Although we were still two hundred miles from the open sea, Gulls and Oystercatchers had increased in numbers, and we saw the Arctic Tern for the first time. Terek Sandpipers and Temminck’s Stints now were common; and we occasionally saw a common Sandpiper. The Willow-Wren was still the commonest warbler; but the Blue-throat was rapidly giving way to the Sedge-Warbler. The White Wagtail remained frequent; but the previously abundant Motacilla viridis had become very rare, and WV. citreola became every day more common. Amongst the willows and birches the Lesser and Mealy Redpoles, the Brambling, the Redwing and Fieldfare, and the Little and Reed-Buntings were common. “The morning was cool, with alternate sunshine and cloud. I turned out of the boat at three and enjoyed a five hours’ ramble before breakfast amongst the willows, my india-rubber boots enabling me to cross the swamps with impunity. I had not been out long before I heard the note of a bird with which I was entirely unacquainted. It was some time before I discovered whence the song proceeded. I do not know whether the bird has ventriloqual powers, or 3 whether the constant habit of looking for birds in trees deceives the ear; but I was certainly a quarter of an hour before I discovered that the bird was singing high in the air like a Lark. Whilst it was singing the wings and tail were expanded, and vibrating with the efforts of the bird to pour out its song. As soon as the song ceased the bird flew a short distance and com- menced hovering and singing again. This continued sometimes for an hour, the bird gradually wheeling round and round, and scarcely changing its position. The song consisted of two parts. The first part, during which the bird appeared to be pouring ow? its song, was a Lark-like ¢rilla, very similar to the tri//a of Temminck’s Stint, or the final note in our Wood-Warbler’s song. The second part of the song was a low guttural warble, such as the Bluethroat sometimes makes, and sounded like the effort of the bird to trilla whilst it was zxhaling breath. After watching the bird for nearly an hour, and thinking that it would never get tired of singing and come within range, I saw it descend and perch in a willow tree. I listened to it continuing its song for some short time in the tree, and then saw it alight.on a piece of very swampy ground, and begin to run about, sometimes almost, if not quite, up to its breast in water, apparently searching for insects. In this position I shot it. About six o’clock I met Harvie-Brown, showed him my ‘rara avis,’ and we both returned to the marsh, in order that he might make the acquaintance of the bird and learn its song. It was not long before we heard the curious note and caught sight of the bird. We both watched it for some time; it finally alighted on the ground and continued its song there for some short time, when Harvie-Brown shot it. The two birds were exactly alike, both males, most like the Tree-Pipit, but a trifle larger, more richly spotted on the back, and with a long hind claw like the Meadow-Pipit. We christened the bird provisionally the Singing Pipit, and kept a careful look-out for it wherever we stopped. “A couple of days later found us at Goradok, for some inscrutable reason called Pustazursk in the maps. Here Harvie-Brown and I spent the whole night on the tundra, shooting. Our advance northwards again added fresh birds to our list. Great Snipe, Shore-Larks, and Red- throated Pipits were breeding. We had hitherto seen them only on migration. Motacilla viridis had entirely disappeared, and I. citreola had become very common. We spent some time stalking Willow-Grouse as they roosted on some conspicuous branch of a birch, shot some Ruffs, a Golden Plover, and some Red-necked Phalaropes, and towards morning found ourselves on a piece of swampy ground over which several of our new Pipits were singing persistently. We each took a bird in hand; and after patiently watching for an hour or more we each got a shot, mine on a tree and Brown’s in the air. As before, the birds proved to be both males. Their habits were exactly the same as those we previously watched. The long hind claw is generally understood as marking a ground-perching bird; and so this bird must doubtless be considered. It breeds upon the ground, and probably seeks its food in swamps. It is ultra-aquatic in its habits, and we never met with it away from a swamp. ‘The fact that in the Petchora this bird perches freely in trees may be somewhat of a local habit. We constantly saw birds perching in trees in this district which we are accustomed to consider as almost exclusively ground-birds. The Red-throated Pipit we more frequently shot from a tree than on the ground. On the only two occasions on which we met with the Meadow-Pipit breeding it was seen by Harvie-Brown to perch in trees. During migration the latter bird perched so often in trees that I am not quite sure that the birds we shot out of trees are not last year’s A. cervinus which have not yet assumed 3 L oo 298 4 the breeding-plumage. Lapland and Snow-Buntings we very frequently shot out of trees; Terek’s Sandpiper and Temminck’s Stint are very fond of perching even upon slender willows, as is also the Wood-Sandpiper. We frequently saw the common Snipe on the summit of a larch; and Harvie-Brown shot one in my presence from a slender twig at the top of a larch at least fifty feet from the ground; but our astonishment at the unusual perching habits of birds reached its climax when we both stood and stared for some minutes at three common Gulls perched near the top of a lofty birch tree, whose summit rose high above the surrounding trees. ‘This habit may gradually have arisen from the fact that whilst these birds are on migration a great part of this country is under water from the floods produced by the sudden melting of two or three feet of snow. In the year 1875 spring began on the 8th of May, and on the 16th we had summer. During these eight days the great river Petchora, at Ust Zylma, a mile and a half wide, rose thirty feet in height, and the islands near the mouth of the delta were almost all flooded; and in many places as we sailed down the river we could see the land more or less under water for miles. “In the delta we made our head quarters at Alexievka. The water-mark on the walls of the houses was at least four feet from the ground. After the water has subsided the island is one vast swamp covered with willow bushes, full of lakes and with here and there an open swamp or marsh. Here we found the Petchora Pipit by no means uncommon, but for some weeks we were unable to add another specimen to our collection. ‘The birds sang as usual in the air, but dropped into the willow-swamps. Even if we had attempted to shoot them in descending it would have been a hopeless case to retrieve them afterwards. As the summer continued, the hot sun, day and night, soon dried up the swamps, and many birds used to come to the shore of the river to feed. It was impossible for us to recognize many of the species of small birds through our mosquito-veils; and consequently our shore-shooting at this time of the year was very haphazard. Nevertheless we succeeded in adding three more skins of the Petchora Pipit to our collection. “We had five of their nests brought to us during the last week in June and the first week in July. The eggs were all fresh; and we may probably conclude that this bird breeds a little later than the Red-throated Pipit, as most of the eggs of the latter bird, taken at the same time, were considerably incubated. We did not meet with the Meadow-Pipit in the same locality, or otherwise we might have had some difficulty in distinguishing large varieties of its eggs from those of the Petchora Pipit. Five seems to be the full number. They measure 23 by 23 inch, some a shade larger, others slightly less. The ground-colour is almost entirely obscured by small brown or grey spots. ‘These occasionally form a darker ring round the large end. Most of the eggs have one or two black spots or streaks at the large end. The nest is slightly different from that of the Red-throated Pipit. Instead of being composed of fine round grasses, it is made of flat-leaved grass and water-plants and small leaves; and in two of them we found dwarf Equiseta. We did not meet with this bird further north than the neighbourhood of Alexievka.” The only specimens of this Pipit I have examined are the five examples brought back by Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown, which they have apportioned out as follows, the specimen in my collection being the one I have described and figured: —Mus. H. HE. Dresser; Mus. H. Seebohim; Mus, J. A. Harvie-Brown; Mus. A. Newton; Mus. Howard Saunders. aa) he ‘eSeumyd sTequTy ‘Adid GILVOUHL-day 136 RED-THROATED PIPIT. ANTHUS CERVINUS. 210 ANTHUS CERVINUS. (RED-THROATED PIPIT.) Motacilla cervina, Pall. Zoogr. R. A. i. p. 511. no. 142, “ Eastern Siberia” (1811). Anthus cecilii, Aud. Desc. de !Egypt, p. 281, pl. 5. fig. 6, “ Egypt” (1825). Anthus pratensis nubicus, Ehr. Symb. Phys. fol. dd, “ Arabia” (1829). Anthus rufogularis, C. L. Brehm, Vég. Deutschl. p. 340, “ Nubia, Germany” (1831). Anthus pratensis, Bechst., Evers. Add. ad Zoogr. p. 15, “ Orenburg” (1835, nec Bechst.). Anthus rufogularis, Br., Bp. Comp. List, p. 18. no. 152, “S.E. Europe” (1838). Anthus cervinus (Pall.), Keys. & Blas. Wirbelth. Eur. p. 48. no. 168 (1840). Anthus rufigularis, C. 1. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 140 (1855). Anthus cervinus (Pall.), C. L. Brehm, loc. cit. (1855). Anthus thermophilus, Hodgs., Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 55, “‘ Amoy,” nec Hodgs. Anthus ruficollis, Vieill. fide Heug]. Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 323 (1869). Der rothkehlige Pieper, German; Rédstrupig Angpiplirka, Swedish ; Pewrakirvinen, Finnish ; Swiergotch rdzawoszyjny, Polish. Figure notabiles. Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 140; Naumann, Vég. Deutschl. pl. 85. fig. 1; Audouin, J. c.; Mid- dendorff, Sib. Reise, pl. xiv. fig. 1; Sundevall, Sv. Fogl. pl. 8. fig. 6; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. xvi. fig. 5. 6 ad. est. supra brunneus nigricante maculatus: remigibus nigricanti-brunneis, in pogonio externo vix pallidé cervino marginatis, secundariis intimis elongatis conspicué rufescente cervino marginatis: tectricibus alarum nigricantibus, albicante cervino marginatis et apicatis: rectricibus nigricanti-brunneis, rectrice extima ab apice supra medium extis obliqué alba, secundd macula alba in pogonio interno versus apicem, reliquis rufescente cervino marginatis: loris, superciliis, gula, gutture et pectore ferrugineis rosaceo lavatis: corpore subtts imo ochrascenti-cervino: pectore et hypochondriis nigricante maculatis : rostro brunneo: pedibus pallidé brunneis: iride brunnea. ad. mari similis sed gula et gutture (nec pectore) ferrugineis, loris et swperciliis pallidé rufescenti-cervinis : g ey p 5 » pectore et corpore subtus albidis vix cervino adumbratis: pectore et hypochondriis conspicué nigricante maculatis. Ptil. hiem. corpore supra ut in ptilosi estivali sed paullo rufescentiore: corpore subtus pallidé ochrascenti- cervino: pectore et hypochondriis conspicué nigricante brunneo maculatis. Adult Male in breeding-plumage (Amoy, China, April). Upper parts dull brown, with a reddish brown tinge, each feather with a dark brown broad central stripe, these markings being broadest on the dorsal feathers; quills dark brown, narrowly margined on the outer web with dull rufous buff, secondaries, especially the elongated inner ones, more broadly margined with that colour; wing-coverts blackish yas J, 300 2 brown, conspicuously bordered and tipped with pale buff; tail blackish brown, the outermost rectrices with the larger portion of the inner web, from the tip extending obliquely towards the base, white, the outer web dirty grey at the tip, thence white nearly to the base, the next feather with a white spot on the inner web towards the tip, remaining rectrices bordered with rufous buff; entire throat, breast, lores, superciliary region, and to some extent the sides of the neck rich ferruginous, with the faintest wash of rosy red in some parts; rest of the underparts yellowish buff on the flanks, and here and there on the breast spotted with oval blackish brown markings ; legs fleshy brown; beak dark brown: iris brown. ‘Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 3:3, tail 2°4, tarsus 0°9. Adult Female (Volga, May). Upper parts similar to the male, but rather greyer in shade of colour; the red does not, however, extend below the throat; lores and superciliary region pale rufous buff; breast and remainder of underparts white, washed with pale buff, and thickly spotted on the breast and flanks with blackish brown; soft parts as in the male. Culmen 0°6, wing 3:2, tail 24, tarsus 0°9. Winter plumage (Amoy, November). Closely resembles Anthus pratensis in that stage of plumage; and I find it most difficult to distinguish them, if indeed it can be done; as a rule the present species is more spotted on the underparts, and has the spots somewhat larger; a specimen from Constantinople, shot on the 15th of December, which J have figured, has some slight remains of the red throat. Obs. After having examined a large series of specimens in full breeding-plumage, I can detect no difference between examples from various parts of the Palearctic Region. As a rule, males from China are some- what more richly coloured on the throat and breast than those from more western localities ; but I have before me a male, collected in Lapland by Professor Newton, which is quite as richly coloured as the average of Chinese specimens, and from Egypt I have several as brightly coloured as any in the series. The females appear in general to have the rufous coloration only on the throat, and to have the breast strongly spotted; but Mr. Collett informs me that he finds but little difference in the plumage of the sexes. Some of the males in the series before me differ greatly in the amount of rufous on the under- parts, as also in the amount of spotting on the breast and the upper portion of the flanks. In size there is no appreciable difference in examples from the various localities in Europe, Africa, and Asia. THs species, by earlier writers considered to be identical with our Common Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis), has a most extensive range, being found throughout Europe, in Northern Africa (and Canon Tristram sends me a specimen said to have been obtained as far south as Madagascar), and throughout Asia, from Northern Siberia down to Japan, China, and the Anda- man Islands. In America it has not been met with. It has been included in our British list; but the reasons for calling it a British bird are not very valid. Mr. F. Bond possesses a specimen said to have been obtained on the island of Unst, but he is unable to give any information as to who procured it there. He very kindly brought the specimen in question to me for examination; and I was able to ascertain from personal inspection that it is in full breeding-plumage, and probably a female. Mr. Bond informs me that he obtained it out of the collection of the late Mr. Troughton, after his death, without any particulars. On the original label is written, “ Red Pipit, A. rufigularis (var. of pratensis), Isl. Unst, May 4th, 1854.” Another Pipit in Mr. Bond’s collection, obtained near Freshwater, is by Mr. Harting (Handbook of B. Birds, p. 109) referred to as being A. cervinus; but Mr. Bond informs me that it is certainly not a Red-throated Pipit. Ihave not had an opportunity of personally inspecting this latter specimen. 3 In Scandinavia it is common, being found during the seasons of migration in the southern parts of the country, and breeding in some abundance, but very locally, in the most northern parts. In Norway, Mr. Collett writes, ‘‘ this species is probably most widely distributed in East Finmark, being commoner there in certain localities, according to divers naturalists, even than A. pratensis: In West Finmark, possibly, it is less abundant, but would not appear to be wanting anywhere. On the Porsangerfjord I found it at Kistrand, also on Magerden (North Cape), and at Troms. South of the Polar Circle its occurrence has not yet been established with certainty, though it has been supposed to have occurred at Trondhjem; nor is it known to have been observed during migration, no doubt owing to the easterly direction of its line of passage.” Mr. Meves caught specimens near Stockholm in the month of September, when they were in full winter dress, and kept them caged to watch the changes of plumage, and states that they attained their full summer dress in May, which is about the time they would arrive at their breeding-haunts in Northern Scandinavia. In Lapland it is common in some parts; and I give below Professor Newton’s notes on its nidification near Vadsd, on the Varanger fiord, where Pastor Sommerfelt states that it is common, and in some places, as on the Meske-elf, in Nesseby, at Karlebotten, and at Polmak, more numerous than the Meadow-Pipit. Professor Malmgren informs me that it has been found breeding on Ounastunturi, a ridge behind Muonioniska (the place where Mr. Wolley so successfully collected), by several Finnish students, one of whom was, I believe, Dr. Palmén, who has since finished Von Wright’s ‘ Finlands Foglar,’ left in an incomplete state owing to the death of that naturalist. The nests taken on Ounastunturi were obtained in 1867, when the spring was unusually late and cold in Finland, and this inclement weather continued as late as the month of June. In Central Finland this Pipit is only seen during migration; but, according to Von Wright (Finl. Fogl. p. 148), Liljeborg obtained it at Schuretskaja, and Malm shot a pair at Sensjarvi, in Enare Lapland. It occurs in Northern Russia; and Von Heuglin records it (Ibis, 1872, p. 61) as “not uncommon at Waigats, and on the Nikolskaja. In pairs on swampy meadow-lands. The moult of the adult takes place in the beginning of September.” I have also received it through our Russian collector, Mr. Piottuch, from Mezen, in the Govern- ment of Archangel. Mr. Leonida Sabandeff informs me that he met with it in the Government of Jaroslaf, where he believes that it breeds; it is, however, he says, commoner near Moscow than A. pratensis, and is observed in smaller flocks, and later in the season of migration. Eversmann says that it breeds on the banks of the Volga and Ural rivers. Sabanieff himself found it common in the marshy portions of the black-earth plains in the Ekaterinburg and Shadrinsk districts. Eversmann records it as commoner than A. pratensis in the Government of Orenburg during migration; but this statement is called in question by Bogdanoff. In Poland, Mr. Taczanowski writes, it “‘is very rare; and I only know of one instance of its having bred, in the marshes near Warsaw.” In Germany it is rare; and Borggreve does not include it in his list of birds occurring in Northern Germany; but owing to its close resemblance, when in winter- plumage, to Anthus pratensis, it may easily have been overlooked. Naumann figures a specimen with the red throat as an old male of the Meadow-Pipit. It has, according to Professor Blasius (Ibis, 1862, p. 91), been met with on Heligoland; but it does not appear to have been recorded from Holland or Belgium. In France it is recorded by Degland and Gerbe as a visitor to the southern provinces, and F 30] 4 as sometimes occurring in the northern portion of that country; they add that Mr. Limel found a nest with eggs near Montpellier, a statement which I am inclined to doubt. Jaubert and Barthélemy-Lapommeraye state that it arrives in Provence from Algeria in the spring only; but it is probable that those passing in the autumn have been mistaken for Meadow-Pipits. The only record of its occurrence in Spain is from Major Irby, who states (Ibis, 1872, p. 201) that he saw it in Southern Spain, on passage, about the 10th of March; but he does not appear to have obtained a specimen; and Mr. Howard Saunders informs me that neither he nor any of his collectors have ever obtained or heard of it in Spain. Passing eastward again, I find it to all appearance somewhat rare in Italy, and but few well- authenticated instances of its occurrence are on record. ‘Two were obtained by Count Salvadori in the market at Florence in May 1861. In Sicily it is an occasional visitant; and Professor Doderlein possesses a fine series in the Museum of Palermo. He states that it is fond of perching upon trees which it comes across in its flight, and describes its note as a zip, zip, sharper, more silvery, and more frequently repeated than that of the Tit-Lark. Mr. A. B. Brooke (Ibis, 1873, p. 245) refers to it as being of rare occurrence in Sardinia. I have a specimen from Malta, presented to me by Mr. C. A. Wright of that place, who writes (Ibis, 1864, p. 61) as follows :— “That no notice has been taken of this species as a visitor to Malta is probably owing to its having been considered only a variety. The first specimen that fell into my hands was shot on the 7th of April, 1860, by Signor Pace, who kindly gave it to me. Since then I have seen and shot many individuals. ‘This has generally been in April; but I have also observed it in autumn. Arrives in small flocks. It is interesting to notice the gradation in depth of colour of the throat that a series of these birds presents, sliding into the plumage of A. pratensis.” ‘The late Captain Rowland M. Sperling also met with it at Malta, and speaks of it (Ibis, 1864, p. 279) as common on the plains of Butrinto, in Albania. Lindermayer and Von der Mihle both include it in their works on the ornithology of Greece; and the latter (Vog. Griechenl. p. 58) speaks of it as a summer resident in the mountains of Platana; but I think it highly probable that he has mistaken Anthus spinoletta for the present species, which is only a migrant in far higher latitudes, its breeding-haunts and summer home being in the extreme north of Europe. The Ritter von Tschusi-Schmidhofen informs me that “it has only once been known to occur in Bohemia, Palliardi having shot a male on the 10th May, 1844, on a swampy meadow at Fran- zensbad. In upper Styria (Mariahof) Pfarrer Hanf has often observed it during migration, and shot several specimens at different times.” I have received specimens from Turkey; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley refer to it as not uncommon in that country during the winter season ; so that it appears to pass through Asia Minor and Turkey on its migration to and from North-eastern Africa. Canon Tristram (Ibis, 1866, p. 290) obtained a specimen in Palestine, on the coast of the plain of Sharon, in the month of February; and it may therefore be inferred that it winters there; but North-eastern Africa appears to be its head quarters; for Captain Shelley (B. of Eg. p. 131) speaks of it as “one of the most abundant birds throughout Egypt and Nubia. Its numbers are somewhat decreased by the month of April; but I believe it remains there through- out the year.” Von Heuglin considers it to be a resident in North-east Africa, and states (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 324) that he has met with it in May, and is sure it occasionally breeds there. It is, he says, met with commonly in Abyssinia and Nubia; but Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub do not 5 include it in their work on the birds of East Africa, though I have before me a specimen in the collection of Canon Tristram said to have come from Madagascar. It is found during the winter season in North-western Africa; but Major Loche says that it is not common in Algeria, and only found in small companies of three and four individuals. ‘The specimens in the Museum of Algiers were obtained in the environs of Djelfa. Mr. Taczanowski informs me that he frequently met with it on the borders of Lake Fezzara, where the water is brackish; but it was so shy that he could not obtain a specimen. To the eastward the Red-throated Pipit is found in Persia, Siberia, and India, to China and Japan. Mr. Severtzoff records it from South-eastern Russia and Turkestan, and states (Turkest. Jevotn. p. 140) that “it occurs in large flocks, keeping separate from the Meadow- and Tree- Pipits; at Sarepta it is more numerous during migration than those two species, but is rarer on the lower part of the Ural river. In Turkestan, however, where those two Pipits are numerous, the present species is only met with singly, and those obtained there and on the Caspian belong to the race having only the throat and not the breast red.” Mr. Blanford met with it in South- east Persia and Baluchistan, and has lent to me for examination the specimens collected by him there. It is rather difficult to trace its range through India, as it has been mixed up by the various authors on Indian ornithology with Anthus rosaceus—a species which, it appears to me, bears much closer relationship to Anthus spinoletta than to the present bird, and which may at once be distinguished by its sulphur-yellow axillaries. Dr. Jerdon (B. of I. ii. p. 238) states that “it has been found in the Himalayas (where it appears to breed), in China, also rarely in Burmah, the Andamans, in Siam, and in Western India, if Mr. Gould’s bird be found to be the same. In the Himalayas it frequents the higher elevations chiefly, and the interior of the hills. I did not myself procure it at Darjeeling; but specimens were obtained in Sikhim by Lieutenant Beayan ; and Mr. Hodgson procured it in Nepal;” but a portion of this, especially as to its being found breeding in the Himalayas, must, I think, refer to Anthus rosaceus, as out of a large series of Pipits from North-western India I found numbers of Anthus rosaceus, but no examples of the present species. In Siberia the Red-throated Pipit occurs commonly in high northern latitudes. Middendorff observed it only occasionally on the ‘Taimyr river; but on the Boganida (71° N. lat.) it was as common as on the Russian shores of the Arctic ocean in Lapland. In Siberia it inhabits the “tundras;” but in South-east Siberia he shot one on the 26th of May in the Stanowoi Mountains. He also refers to another Pipit (of which a female was shot at Udskoj-Ostrog) under the name of A. rufogularis; but I agree with Professor Sundevall in thinking that this bird may possibly have been a Rock-Pipit of the form described by Nilsson under the name of A. rupestris. It is not recorded by Von Schrenck or Radde, who, on the other hand, refer to the occurrence of Anthus japonicus on the Amoor—a species which, Mr. Swinhoe assures me, is perfectly distinct from the present bird, being more closely allied to our Meadow-Pipit. Mr. Swinhoe informs me that it “is found the winter through in moist and marshy places in the south of China (Amoy, Canton, &c.). It usually occurs in small flocks. Its note is lower and softer than that of the Meadow-Pipit at home. If one rises alone it seldom utters a sound, but settles again at a safe distance; but if startled, the whole flock springs into the air; and each, rising and falling with sharp undulation, utters its ‘see, see’ at every jerk. F2 10F 6 Their food consists of all fresh-water snails, grass-seeds, and small insects generally. After the spring moult the face and the superciliary region are reddish. ‘The feathers of the breast also undergo a partial moult, and the black spots disappear. ‘The birds then begin to move north- wards; but other flocks of the same species continue to arrive, staying a few days, and then also going north. ‘This goes on till about the middle of May, when most individuals of the arriving flocks have acquired a ruddy or vinous rosy tint on the throat and breast, and the underparts have only a few dark spots on the flanks. ‘They seem to resort to high latitudes to breed. I have a full summer-plumaged bird kindly given me in exchange by Dr. Schrenck, of St. Peters- burg. I was formerly under the impression that the A. japonicus of the ‘Fauna Japonica’ would turn out to be nothing but this species; but during my stay at Ningpo I not only found A. japonicus there, but also received a specimen of the same through Dr. Schrenck from Amoor- land. It is doubtless a good species, being in habits much more like the Meadow-Pipit of Europe than its cervine cousin. A. japonicus in winter spreads in large parties over the rice- stubbles; and in rising it hovers and emits the familiar note of the Meadow-Pipit. In summer I did not see it at Ningpo; so I presume it wanders further for the purpose of nidification. We have no record of A. cervinus occurring in Japan; but it may probably have been confounded with A. japonicus. The latter species is well described in the ‘Fauna Japonica. I have also lately received from Lord Walden several specimens obtained by Mr. Wardlaw Ramsay on the Andaman Islands, some being in winter plumage, whereas others are nearly in full breeding- dress. Keyserling and Blasius (J. ¢.) state that it occurs in Kamtschatka and on the neighbouring islands; and it may doubtless be looked for in Japan, though I only find A. japonicus, which, as before stated, is said to be a distinct species, recorded from there. I am indebted to Professor Newton for the following notes on the nidification and habits 999 of the present species, they being, with some trifling alterations, those communicated by him to Dr. Bree, and published by the latter in his work on the Birds of Europe :—“ On the 22nd of June, 1855, a few days after our arrival at Vadso, in East Finmark, Mr. Hudleston and I, in the course of a birds’-nesting walk to the north-east of the town, to the distance perhaps of a couple of English miles, came upon a bog, whose appearance held out greater promise to our ornithological appetites than we had hitherto met with in Norway. We had crossed the meadows near the houses, where Temminck’s Stint and the Shore-Lark were trilling out their glad notes, and traversed a low ridge of barren moor, where the solicitude of a pair of Golden Plovers plainly told us that they had eggs or young near us. A Dunlin’s nest was speedily found, and the bird procured to identify it; for we had hopes of all sorts of waders in that remote district. A little while after, as I was cautiously picking my way over the treacherous ground, I saw a Pipit dart out from beneath my feet, and alight again close by, in a manner which I was sure could only be that of a sitting hen. I had but to step off the grass-grown hillock on which I was standing to see the nest ensconced in a little nook, half covered by herbage. But the appearance of the eggs took me by surprise; they were unlike any I knew, of a brown colour, indeed, but of a brown so warm that I could only liken it to that of old mahogany wood, and compare them in my mind with those of the Lapland Bunting. However, there was the bird running about so close to me, that with my glass I could see her almost as well as if she had been in my hand. That she was a Pipit was undeniable; and thoughts of a v species till then unseen by me began to dawn upon my imagination. I replaced the eggs without disturbing the nest; and carefully marking the spot, we retired. In half an hour or so we returned, going softly to the place; and Mr. Hudleston, reaching his arm over the protecting hassock of grass, dexterously secured the bird in his hand as she was taking flight. I then at once knew, from her pale fawn-coloured throat, that the nest we had found belonged to a species which, up to that time, I believed had been known in Europe only as an accidental visitant, the Motacilla cervina of Pallas, the A. rufigularis of Brehm. A day or two later Mr. John Wolley returned from a Swan-upping expedition he had been making in the territories of our then imperial enemy. He told us that previously to his starting he had shot, somewhere in the neigh- bourhood of Vads6, an example of a Pipit which had puzzled him a good deal. ‘This bird (which during his absence had been kept in a cellar) was produced, unskinned, and still fresh, but unfortunately half eaten by mice. A very short inspection served to show that it was a male of the same species as the hen we had, as above mentioned, taken from the nest. Being too much injured to be preserved, it was reluctantly thrown away. “In a week’s time we were quartered at Nyborg, a small settlement at the head of the Varanger Fjord. Here willows and birches grew with far greater luxuriance, even at the water’s edge, than lower down the inlet. Some even attained to nearly twice the height of a man, and formed thickets which, the intervening spaces being exceedingly boggy, were not easily explored. In this secluded spot we found our red-throated friend not unplentiful. We could scarcely go out of the house without seeing one; and in the immediate neighbourhood we procured several more identified nests, making a total of five, and a fine series of nine birds, all, of course, in their breeding-plumage. We had also abundant opportunities of. watching their habits, and, above all, of contrasting them with those of the Titlark (4. pratensis), which was not uncommon in the district, and to which this species has been so unjustly annexed as a variety. The two birds had, according to our observation, an entirely different range, A. pratensis haunting a station less wooded (saving the expression) than that of A. cervinus, which latter we found at times feeding on the sea-shore, a habit we did not there notice the former to indulge in. No one with ears either could for a moment be in doubt about their respective notes. It is true that the full song of A. cervinus did not differ so strikingly from the more feeble performance of A. pratensis as does, for instance, the joyous burst of A. arboreus ; but it had an unmistakable resemblance to the louder and, perhaps, harsher strain of A. obscurws, and in all cases was sufficiently characteristic for one to be quite certain as to the nature of the performer, even when the individual was not in sight. In a word, none of our party had any hesitation as to regarding A. cervinus as a perfectly good species. do not take upon myself a description of the specimens which I have had the pleasure of sending to Dr. Bree. A young bird, obtained at Mortensnaes (between Vadso and Nyborg), July 16th, and which, as it was attended by its parents (both of which were well seen by Mr. Wolley and myself), could only have just left the nest, seems to differ only from the young of the Titlark in being of a ruddier complexion; a coloured drawing of it, made only a few hours after its death, is now before me. I have already mentioned what the eggs looked like; and it would be difficult in words to convey a better idea of them. ““All the nests that I saw were simply built of dry bents, without any lining or feathers or hair. I may, however, add that it was only in this restricted locality in East Finmark (between 306 8 Vadso and Nyborg) that we saw this bird; and I believe Mr. Wolley never met with it else- where, though a nest of unidentified eggs brought to him in 1854 from Nyimakka (v. p. 1066), a settlement on the upper part of the Muonio river, may possibly belong to this species*. “At Stockholm I saw in the possession of Conservator Meves, the ingenious discoverer of the cause of the bleating noise made by the Common Snipe, a living Red-throated Pipit, which had been taken in a garden near that town, where, I believe, it not unfrequently occurs in its autumnal migration.” Mr. Collett informs me that “it occurs in Norway in company with the Meadow-Pipit, and is not ashy bird. A nest found at Kistrand contained eggs as late as the 11th of July ; but they were close on hatching. By their paler colour, mottled with the dull and comparatively large- sized spots of greyish brown that are seen almost invariably in the eggs of this species, and the peculiar twisting lines (which, however, are frequently wanting), they were at a glance to be distinguished from those of A. pratensis. ‘The nest lay beneath a willow bush, and was con- structed almost entirely of straws, save here and there a single horsehair. The latter material is found in scarcely any of the nests sent to the University Museum from East Finmark, a disparity readily explained from the fact that, in most localities in Finmark, this material is not to be obtained.” ‘The stomachs of specimens obtained by Mr. Collett contained the remains of insects, particularly Ot¢orhynchus blandus. I have in my collection a series of the eggs of this Pipit, all collected by Mr. Nordvi on the Varanger Fjord. In ground-colour they differ greatly, some being greenish grey, others brown, almost resembling the eggs of the Lapland Bunting; one or two are of a rich brown tinge like those described by Professor Newton ; and one has several large brown scratches like those seen on eggs of Plectrophanes lapponicus; others have the ground-colour greenish grey, and very closely spotted with dark brown; and others, again, have the ground-colour dull brown, and are so closely marked with darker brown as at the first glance to appear to be uniform brown; in size they vary from 3¢ by $3 to $3 by 23 of an inch. The nests, which were in every case sent to me with the eggs, are constructed of dried grass-bents and grass-straws, lined with finer bents. I had at first some doubts as to whether Pallas’s name would take priority; but from the Academician von Baer’s statement (Bericht tber die Z. R. A. von Pallas, Konigsb. 1831) it appears that some copies at least, of the first volume, of that work were issued in 1811; and Professor Newton assures me he has seen one of the earlier titlepages bearing that date; therefore the species named in the first volume of that work will date from 1811, and not from 1831, which latter is the date on the titlepage of the complete work. In reply to my inquiry of Mr. Swinhoe respecting the identity of A. thermophilus, Hodgs., with the present species, that gentleman writes to me as follows:—‘‘ Soon after my first arrival in Hongkong in July, 1854, I went for a stroll with a gun, and among other birds shot a Pipit which was unknown to me. After this I was making up a parcel for Mr. Henry Stevenson, of Norwich, and enclosed a few Chinese birds for him to submit to Mr. G. R. Gray, of the British Museum, for identification. Mr. Stevenson returned me a list of names given by Mr. Gray, one of which was Anthus thermophilus, Hodgs. Meanwhile I had forgotten the exact appearance of the Hongkong bird; and having made out our other two visitants to be A. richardi and A. agilis, * [The later discovery of this species breeding in Ounastunturi makes this supposition more likely.—A. N.]. 9 I used the name for the third species, which later research showed to be identical with A. cervinus. The name J. thermophilus, as used by me, must therefore be understood to refer to A. cervinus. This is easily to be seen in Ibis, 1861, p. 411, which is, I think, the last time I used this name. On my return to England soon after, when on a visit to Mr. Stevenson, I saw the original Hong- kong Pipit with Gray’s label affixed, and discovered then for the first time that it was the fulvous form of Anthus richardi, which Bonaparte has separated as A. sinensis.” I may here remark that I have examined the type of A. thermophilus in the British Museum, and find it to be identical with Corydalla rufula. The specimens figured are, on the one Plate an adult male on the left, and an adult female on the right, both being in full breeding-plumage ; on the second Plate are—on the left a speci- men in full winter dress, and on the right one also in winter-plumage but having still some remains of reddish buff on the throat. The former of these is from Amoy, and the latter from the Khathane, near Constantinople. The two birds in breeding-plumage are the specimens described, locality being given with the descriptions. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a,é. Mezen, N. Russia, June 18th, 1873 (Piottuch). 6, 2. Malta, October 21st, 1861 (C. A. Wright). c. Crimea (Whitely). d, 2. Volga, May 9th (Moschler). e. Near Constantinople, December 15th (Robson). f, 2. Egypt, December (H.C. Taylor). g,h. Egypt (G. E. Shelley). 7. Egypt (Rogers). k, 1. Amoy, December (R. Swinhoe) m. Tungchow, China, December 1865 (R. Swinhoe). m. Foochow, China, January 2nd, 1867 (R. S.). E Mus. Lord Walden. a, 6. Asia Minor, May Ist, 1865 (Robson). 6, 5. Ortakeuy, near Constantinople, October 7th, 1866 (Robson). c. Amoy, China (R. Swinhoe). d,e,f. S. Andaman, February 17th, 1873. g. February 18th, 1873 (R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay). h. Senafe, Abyssinia, April 25th, 1868 (W. Jesse). E. Mus. G. E. Shelley. a, g. Egypt, February 10th, 1868 (G. E. Shelley). 6,2. Nubia, July 4th, 1870 (G. E. Shelley). c, @. Egypt, October 2nd, 1868 (G. EZ. Shelley). Ee Mus. A. Newton. a, g. Nyborg, Lapland, July 3rd, 1855. 6, so. July 3rd. c, 2. June 29th, 1855, Meske Fjord, Lapland. d, 2. Vadsé, June 22nd, 1855 (Wolley and Newton). E Mus. Ind. Cal. a, 2. Dizah, Baluchistan, 4000 feet elevation, March 24th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). 6, 3. Persepolis, 4500 feet elevation, June 1864 (W. 7. B.). c, 3. S.E. of Kurman, Persia, 8000 feet elevation, May 2nd, 1872 (W. T. B.). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 6. Egypt. 6,c,d. Amoy, China (Swinhoe). e. Madagascar? (H. Piers, R.N.). 307 308 10 E Mus. Berol. a, g ad. Egypt (Hempr. & Ehr.). 6, c. Tor (H. & E.). d. Nubia (H. & Z#.). e, 3. Dongola (H. & E.). E Mus. R. Swinhoe. a, 2? July Ist, 1855, Nyborg (A. Newton). 6, c,d, e, f. Amoy, January 1867. g, h,i,j, k, l,m. Amoy. n, Amoy, January 1866. 0, 2. Amoy, January 1860. p. Amoy, April 1866. g. Amoy, November 1866. 7, 29. Amoy, December 1859. s, 2. Amoy, January 7th, 1860. ¢, uw. Hainan, March 1868. v. Hainan, February 1868. w. Foochow, January 1867 (R. Swinhee). 309 ACN VEHTUG See Ree IVAU TAS; (TREE-PIPIT.) Alauda arborea, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 340. no. 2, pl. xx. fig. 1 (1760). Alauda sepiaria, Briss. tom. cit. p. 347. no. 4 (1760). Alauda trivialis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 288. no. 5 (1766, ex Briss.). Alauda plumata, P. L. S. Miller, Natursystem, Anhang, p. 137. no. 14 (1776). La Farlouse, Montbeillard, Hist. des Ois. v. p. 319; Pl. Enl. 660. fig. 1 (1778). Mield-Lark, Lath. Synopsis, ii. p. 375. no. 6 (1783). Alauda minor, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 793. no. 12 (1788). Alauda arborea, Gm. tom. cit. p. 793. no. 3 (1788, ex Briss. ). Alauda trivialis (L.), Gm. tom. cit. p. 796. no. 5 (1788). Alauda minor, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 494. no. 8 (1790). Motacilla spipola, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 512, “ Russia and Siberia” (1811). Spipola agrestis, Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. p. 21 (1816). Anthus pratensis, Steph. Shaw’s Gen. Zool. x. p. 540 (1817). tSpipola pratensis, Forster, Synop. Cat. p. 53 (1817). Pipastes arboreus (Gm.), Kaup, Nat. Syst. p. 33 (1829). Anthus foliorum, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 826, “ Germany ” (1831). Anthus juncorum, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 326, “Thuringia” (1831). Anthus herbarum, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 827, “ Germany” (1831). Anthus agilis, Sykes, P. Z. 8. 1832, p. 91, ‘“ Dukhun.” Fringilla agilis, Tickell, J. As. Soc. ii. p. 578, “ Borabhtim and Dholbhtim” (1833). Anthus trivialis (L.), Fleming, Brit. An. p. 75 (1842). Anthus montana, Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 435, “ Neilgherries” (1847, nec Koch). Dendroanthus trivialis, Blyth, Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. p. 185 (1849). Dendroanthus maculatus, Blyth, tom. cit. p. 135 (1849). Pipastes agilis (Sykes), Gould, B. of Asia, part xvii. “ India” (1865). Pipastes montanus, Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 312, “ India.” Pipastes maculatus (Bl.), Hume, Ibis, 1870, p. 287, “ India.” Anthus plumatus (Miill.), Shelley, B. of Egypt, p. 130, “Egypt” (1872). Pipastes plumatus (Mill.), Hume, Stray Feathers, i. p. 202, “Sindh” (1872). Pipit des arbres, French; Cinceta, Spanish; Prispolone, Italian; Zividdunt, Sicilian; Tis, Maltese; der Baumpieper, German; Boompieper, Dutch; Trepiber, Danish; Trédpip- lirka, Swedish; Trepiplerke, Norwegian; Mettakirvinen, Finnish; Sviergotek-drzewny, Polish; Stschewritza-liesnaya, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 660. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Znsectivores, pl. 87; Kjerb. Orn. Dan. a 10 2 taf. 17; Fritsch, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 16. fig.1; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 84. fig. 2; Sundeyall, Sv. Fogl. pl. viii. fig. 4; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 139; id. B. of G. B. iii. pl. xiv. ; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 97; Temminck & Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, tab. xxiil.; Roux, Orn. Prov. pl. 187. 3 ad. pileo et corpore supra olivascenti-brunneis, pilei et dorsi plumis medialiter saturaté fuscis: uropygio fere immaculato: remigibus saturaté fuscis, primariis in pogonio externo vix olivascente brunneo mar- ginatis, secundariis et tectricibus alarum majoribus conspicué pallidé brunneo marginatis, his albido apicatis: tectricibus alarum medianis et minoribus conspicué albido terminatis : cauda ut in A. pratensi picturaté: corpore subtis albo, gutture et pectore cum hypochondriis rufescente ochraceo lavatis, pectore valdé nigricante brunneo guttato, et hypochondriis eodem colore striatis: rostro saturate brunneo, mandibula ad basin pallidiore: pedibus pallidé brunneis: iride fuscd: ungue postico breviore, curvato. Q haud a mare distinguenda. Adult Male (Hampstead, 20th April). Upper parts olive-brown, the feathers on the crown and back, and to a very slight extent also on the rump, with dark brown centres; quills dark brown, the primaries very imperceptibly edged with pale olive-brown on the outer web, secondaries and larger wing-coverts broadly margined with light brown; wing-coverts broadly tipped with dirty white, which is less con- spicuous on the larger coverts than on the others; tail as in Anthus pratensis; underparts white, on the throat and breast washed with pale rusty ochre; sides of the throat marked with blackish brown, and on the breast very strongly spotted with the same colour; flanks washed with rusty buff, rather paler than the breast, and striped with dark brown; under tail-coverts rather clouded with buff; under wing- coverts dirty white; bill dark brown, under mandible lighter at the base; iris dark brown; legs light brown. ‘Total length 6 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3°42, tail 2°7, tarsus 0°9, hind toe with claw 0°68, hind claw 0:3. Adult Male in autumn (Maslak, Turkey, 2nd October). Does not differ materially from the specimen above described, but has the upper surface of the body of a rather richer olive-tint. Female. Undistinguishable from the male in plumage. Obs. Besides the difference in the length of the hind claw between the present species and A. pratensis, that of the former being much arched, and measuring 0°28-0°3, whereas in A. pratensis it is straighter and measures 0°45-0'5, the present species may usually be distinguished by the arrangement of the primaries, having the first and second almost equal, the third about 0:1 shorter than the second, and the fourth about 0:23 shorter than the second, and the fifth about 0:35 shorter than the fourth, whereas in A. pratensis the first four primaries are equal, and the fifth about 0°35 shorter than the fourth. I find, however, that in a large series the arrangement of the primaries is never altogether constant, but generally varies somewhat. After a most careful examination of specimens from various parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, I find that all are referable to one species. It is true that the examples from India are, as a rule, rather purer - and greener in colour, and have the spots on the breast boldly defined; but in the series of European specimens I have before me I have no difficulty in selecting birds absolutely identical in colour and markings, and I have one from the south of England as green as any of those from Asia. The brightest- coloured specimens, however, that I have ever had the opportunity of examining were two from the Khasi and Garo hills, in India, lately lent to me by Major Godwin-Austen. (>) o Tue Tree-Pipit inhabits during the summer season the northern and central portions of Europe and Asia, migrating southward in the late autumn, and remaining over the winter in the south of Europe and Asia and in Northern Africa. It is also said to be met with during the summer season in North-western Africa; but, so far as I can ascertain, this statement somewhat requires further confirmation. With us in Great Britain it is, though common in some localities, much more local than its close congener the Meadow-Pipit, and does not range so far north. Mr. A. G. More writes that it is scarce in Cornwall and Wales; but Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that it is a “common species during the summer in Somersetshire, generally arriving early in April.” He says, “‘A short time ago, about the end of October, I was staying for a few days at Exmouth; and on Sunday the 26th as I was taking a walk along the cliffs I saw a flock of about twenty Tree-Pipits collected together. They were very restless, flying in flocks from the top of one bramble or furze-bush, on which they were most of them perched, to another; they were probably collected here prepa- ratory to taking their migratory flight. I mention this little incident of seeing the flock of Tree- Pipits collected together at this time of the year, as I see Meyer rather thinks they migrate singly, and not in flocks.” It is tolerably common in most parts of the counties near London, in suitable localities; and Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Cordeaux speak of it as a common summer resident in the eastern counties. In Scotland, according to Mr. R. Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 114), it is in general rather rare than otherwise; and he writes respecting its distribution as follows :—“ The only Scottish district in which I have found this summer Pipit in any thing like abundance, is comprehended within a circle of a few miles around Glasgow. In the neighbourhood of Possil it is very common in the outskirts of woods, especially on its arrival in spring, and may be observed perched on the summit of an elm or ash tree, from which it repeatedly ascends to a height of twenty or thirty feet, uttering a series of twitterings, and returning to its perch with almost motionless wing, the descent being slowly performed in a curve. In other parts of Western Scotland the species is distributed from Inverness-shire to the Rhinns of Galloway, but is by no means plentiful. I have found it in scattered pairs throughout the summer near Girvan, in Ayrshire, and also in the south of Wigtownshire, where in autumn its numbers increase for about a week or ten days previous to its migratory flight southwards. On the east coast this Pipit seems equally dispersed over the seaboard counties from Berwick to Banffshire, extending its flight occasionally as far as Orkney. In some of the inland counties I have also observed it, viz. in Dumfries, Stirling, and Roxburgh. Mr. Alston likewise finds it in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire.” In Ireland, according to Thompson, it is not satisfactorily known to have occurred ; nor do I find it recorded from Greenland, Iceland, or the Feroe islands. In Scandinavia it does not range so far north as the Meadow-Pipit. Mr. Collett writes that it breeds commonly in the valley of the Maalselv, near Tromsé, in Norway, where he met with it in June 1872. It does not appear to occur further north, though he thinks it may possibly be found in Alten. On the Swedish side it is found, according to Nilsson and Sundevall, from Skane up into the arctic circle, though not so common in the north as A. pratensis and A. cer- vinus; Lowenhjelm met with it at Lycksele and Quickjock; Malm observed it in Enare-Lapland, but not at Utsjoki; Professor Liljeborg found it numerous at Tromso. In Finland it is common throughout the entire country, and, Professor Malmgren informs me, is found up into 683° N. om 4 lat. in Southern Lapland. I found it common in Southern Finland; and Mr. Sabandeff informs me that it is “very common in Central Russia, as also in the Ural, wherever the country is wooded; Hoffmann met with it in the extreme northern portions of the Government of Perm.” In Poland, the Baltic Provinces, and Northern Germany it is extremely common, in all suitable localities, during the summer season; and Hintz says that it is probably the commonest of the Pipits in Pomerania. Dr. E. Rey says that it is common in Saxony, arriving about the middle of April; and Mr. Carl Sachse informs me that it is very numerous near Coblentz, on the Rhine, arriving late in March or early in April, and occasionally as early as February, and he has heard its song on the 14th of that month. It leaves in September. It is likewise common in Denmark, arriving, Kjzerbolling says (Danm. Fugle, p. 147), about the middle of April, or often earlier, according to the state of the weather, and leaves again late in August or early in September. In Holland and Belgium it is common from April to September; and, according to Degland and Gerbe, it is abundant throughout the greater part of France between spring and autumn; but in Provence it is principally a visitor on migration, and it is only in the higher districts that any remain to breed. In Portugal, Professor Barboza du Bocage speaks of it as rare. But in Spain it appears to be common: Lord Lilford met with it there; and Mr. Howard Saunders writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 216) that it is “generally distributed from autumn to spring,” and he believes that some few breed in the high plateaux. Major Irby informs me that it only occurs near Gibraltar on passage, and is common in April, but he did not observe any during the autumn migration. Passing eastward, again, I find it very numerous in Savoy, where Bailly says it is the most numerous of the family from the end of March to October, after which it becomes very scarce. It is abundant in Italy on the spring and autumn migrations; and in some parts small numbers remain throughout the winter; some also breed in Lombardy and the northern provinces. In Sicily it is very numerous on the migrations, and many stop the entire winter; but it is not recorded by Doderlein as breeding there. In Malta, Mr. C. A. Wright speaks of it as “very common ; arrives in small flocks in spring and autumn, which soon get dispersed over the country. It departs in May, to return in September and October, a few passing the whole or part of the winter with us.” In Greece, Dr. Kriiper says, it is only met with during the two seasons of migration. Lindermayer records it as only rare in the Peloponnesus, and he never observed it on the islands. In Southern Germany it is tolerably common; and Mr. Seidensacher informed me that in Styria he found it common in April and October. In Bohemia, though formerly it used to be rare, it is now, Dr. Fritsch says, very common. I observed it in various parts of Wallachia and Bulgaria in April; and I have received several specimens from near Constantinople. Von Nordmann says that it breeds in the Crimea, Abasia, and Imeritia; but in the neighbourhood of Odessa it is merely a visitor during migration. Ménétries records it as common in the mountains of the Caucasus to an altitude of 8000 feet; and Dr. Kriiper says that it occurs in Asia Minor during passage. Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 290) that in Palestine “it is a scarce bird, but occurs in the winter as well as in spring, though at the former period it was only obtained by us in the Jordan valley. It breeds in the north.” In Northern Africa it is common; and, according to Von Heuglin (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 224) it is a tolerably rare winter visitant to Egypt. Hemprich and Ehrenberg found it in Nubia and Arabia; Lefebvre in September in Eastern Abyssinia, at 5 Schirié ; and Captain Shelley says that “it arrives about March, when it becomes plentiful throughout Egypt and Nubia.” In North-western Africa it is, Major Loche says, common during winter; and Canon Tristram (Ibis, 1859, p. 421) met with it there in small flocks throughout the winter. It has, moreover, been met with as far south as Caffreland; for Professor Malmgren (Ibis, 1869, p. 230) records one as killed on the Limpopo, in Caffreland, between lat. 25° and 26° S., by Wahlberg. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says (Ibis, 1871, p. 85) that it is common in Algeria during the summer—a statement which, however, is not confirmed by other travellers who have explored in North-west Africa. To the eastward it is met with throughout India and Siberia to China and Japan, and has been several times redescribed and split into various subspecies, none of which, however, I can allow, but, after a careful examination of a large series of specimens, can fully indorse the following remarks by Mr. A. O. Hume, who writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 35):—‘‘In a late number of ‘The Ibis’ I mentioned that, in my opinion, Pipastes agilis, maculatus, and arboreus were one and the same species. Previously to writing this I had sent home specimens picked out by Dr. Jerdon from my collection as typical maculatus and typical arboreus, the one being of a greener tint everywhere, the other browner or yellower. I have an enormous series of this species from all parts of India, southern and northern, plains and hills; and I think I can safely say that they one and all unquestionably belong to the same species as the two typical forms which were sent home. In reference to these M. Verreaux furnishes the following remarks :— ‘The careful comparisons that I have made prove that your birds are both nothing more than Anthus arboreus, a species very common with us here. I had already in my possession a large number of specimens of these birds from India; and I had already come to the same conclusion as you have done, that all are referable to this species. ‘This is another of those birds which undergo considerable local modifications according to climate and country.” Mr. A. O. Hume speaks of it with doubt as inhabiting Sindh, and states that it is “ almost wanting,” probably owing to the lack of suitable localities. Dr. Henderson met with it in Yarkand, and writes (‘Lahore to Yarkand,’ p. 226) that “ numerous specimens were obtained in the neighbourhood of Sanju and Oi Tograk, in the plains of Yarkand. ‘They were found in the fields among cultiva- tion, and were precisely similar to the specimens obtained in the plains of India.” Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, 11. p. 228):—‘‘It is found all over India in the cold season; for it is a winter visitant only, coming early in October and departing about the end of April. It frequents gardens, groves, thin tree-jungle, also occasionally grain-fields, beds of woody streams, &c. It is social in its habits, many being generally found together. They usually feed on the ground, on various insects and also on seeds, but on being disturbed fly up at once to the nearest tree. They now and then feed on trees, hopping about the upper branches, and occasionally snapping at an insect on the wing. It is said by the natives to kill many mosquitoes, hence some of the native names. Mr. Blyth says he has seen small parties of them flying over their haunts, in a restless unsettled way, now and then alighting on a tree, and uttering a slight chirp, and con- tinuing this till nearly dark. Its flesh is used by falconers as a restorative to the Bhyri, and is said to be very delicate. It is taken in numbers for the table at Calcutta and elsewhere in Bengal, and sold as Ortolan. Colonel Sykes’s remark (which must have arisen from a mistake), ‘found on open stony lands,’ is of course not at all applicable to this bird, and misled many in U 3]: 6 identifying this species with his description.” Captain Beavan met with it commonly in the cold weather about Barrackpore and in Maunbhoom—in the former locality in bamboo-topes, and in the latter amongst mango-trees, and says that the natives of Maunbhoom call it “ Chancheeree,” or “Chanseeree.” Mr. Blanford (Ibis, 1870, p. 469) records it from the Irawadi valley, where he met with it at Thayet Myo and Bassein. It does not appear to leave some parts of India till late in the spring, as Mr. W. E. Brooks writes (Ibis, 1869, p. 57) that he frequently saw it near Nynee Tal and Almorah as late as April and May, but he thinks that it passes further north to breed ; and doubtless those which are found so numerous in the plains of India are birds which have spent the nuptial season in the more northern portions of Asia. It certainly breeds in Eastern Siberia, but does not appear to range very far to the north. Won Middendorff never met with it in the high north, but found it common in the woods on the Stanowoj Mountains, along the coast of the Sea of Ochotsk, and on the islands. It was also equally numerous on the Lena, near Jakutsk. Von Schrenck met with it commonly, and shot several, near the Nikolaiefsk post in the late summer. In the spring Mr. Maximowicz obtained it at Kidsi and Dshai, and on the Schilka in May. Dr. Radde states that he saw large numbers on the Tarei-nor on the 24th of April, but on the Tunkinskischen Mountains he did not observe it before the 6th of May. On the return migration he met with it in the Bureja Mountains from the 3lst of August to the 20th of September. It is recorded by Pére David and Mr. Swinhoe from China; and according to the latter gentleman it is there a winter visitant, few, if any, ever remaining to breed. He speaks of having observed it at Foochow, Takoo, Peking, Amoy, Hongkong, Macao, and Canton, and, referring to its occurrence at the latter places, writes (Ibis, 1861, p. 36) as follows:— ‘“‘ Numbers of this lively species are constantly to be met with among the grass and underwood beneath the small pine-trees at Hongkong. As you stroll through a plantation of these firs, the little fellows spring up with a note ‘see’ (strongly sibilant), and with a curved flight alight on the branches above, on which they walk up and down, often uttering their note and shaking the tail. Each step you take puts up one at least; and as soon as you have passed, they drop quietly on to the ground behind you, and resume their pursuit of food.” Near Takoo and Peking he found it common in the month of September, but did not see any later than that. He speaks of it as abundant in the winter in the island of Formosa, in all groves and copses, and equally common in Hainan, where he observed it at most of the places he visited, but supposes that, as in Southern China, it is only a winter visitant. Messrs. Temminck and Schlegel met with it in Japan; and Wallace obtained it at Batchian. Tn its habits the Tree-Pipit differs from the Meadow-Pipit in affecting gardens, groves, and wooded places, or the immediate vicinity of woods and thickets, in preference to the open grassy localities or heaths, where the latter bird is always to be met with. I have, it is true, sometimes seen it in the open, but never far distant from trees or bushes ; and it is generally met with, when feeding, on the ground underneath trees, and when disturbed flies up and perches amongst the branches. It affects open places in conifer groves or places thinly covered with trees and overgrown with heath or broom, or where blueberries or cranberries are found growing in abundance. The call-note of the Tree-Pipit is a clear loud note, but somewhat harsh, and is frequently to be heard at all seasons; it differs from the call-note of the Meadow-Pipit in being deeper in 7 tone, harsher, and rather more prolonged. The song of the male is very loud, rich, and full, and in compass and variety far surpasses that of any other of the Pipits, somewhat resembling the song of the Canary. It sings during fine weather soon after its arrival in the spring, and is in full song during the time when the female is incubating, but is not often heard after the first or second week in June. Naumann says that it sings from sunrise throughout the day, until the shades of evening commence to fall, and is a most energetic songster. ‘The song is never uttered from the ground, but from a branch, often, indeed, from the summit of a tolerably large tree, especially a birch; and during the ecstasy of song it floats through the air from tree to tree, either rising or falling, continuing its song sometimes as it settles, or ending it just before it resumes its perch. When soaring through the air it bears some resemblance to the Sky-Lark. Like all the Pipits, its food consists chiefly, if not solely, of insects, which it usually picks up from the ground chiefly amongst the grass in the immediate neighbourhood, or under the shade of large trees; small grasshoppers, coleoptera of various kinds, spiders, small flies, insects, and insect-larve of various kinds appear to form its staple food; and it does not ever appear to pursue insects on the wing, but catches them when on the ground or amongst the grass. When on the ground feeding, if it is disturbed it merely flies up and perches on a branch, rarely flying away to any distance. ° Its nest, which is placed on the ground, usually laterally well concealed amongst the grass, is most frequently to be found in a wood or along the margin of a copse, not unfrequently on the side of a wood-road, and is constructed of dried grass blades and bents intermixed with moss, and tolerably neatly lined with finer grasses, bearing a general resemblance to the nest of the Meadow-Pipit. The usual number of eggs is four or five; but my friend Mr. C. Sachse informs me that he has on several occasions found six. ‘The first eggs are deposited early in May; and two broods are usually reared in the season. Mr. Sachse writes that he has seen half- grown birds in September. The eggs are extremely variable both in colour and markings, and differ greatly from those of the Meadow-Pipit. I have some which on a greyish ground are so thickly marked with small dark red spots as to appear almost uniform dark red, others marked with dark hair-brown on the purplish white ground, or almost unspotted, being merely blotched with a few rich purplish brown large markings, and others, again, marked with tolerably large rich reddish marblings and spots on a reddish white ground. In size they vary from #4 by 74 to 33 by 2% inch, and in shape resemble those of the common Meadow-Pipit. The specimen figured is an adult male killed in Great Britain, and is the specimen described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a. Kingsbury (Harting). 6,9. Highgate, August 21st, 1869 (Davy). ¢, 3. Highgate, August 23rd, 1869 (Davy). d. Cambridge, May 1862 (For). e, 3. West Drayton, June 20th, 1869 (Paraman). f,¢. Cookham, May 1865 (W. Briggs). g,3. Hampstead, April 20th, 1870 (Davy). h, 9. Hampstead, April 27th, 1869 (Davy). %. Pagham, September 3rd, 1869 (Grant). k. Crimea (Whitely). 16. Maslak, Turkey, October 2nd, 1870 (Robson). m, d. Ortakeuy, Turkey, April 22nd, 1871 (Rodson), n, g. Olympus, Greece, April 1st, 1870 (Dr. Kriiper). 0,6. Dauria (Dybowsky). p, 2. Nubia, April 6th, 3] D) 316 8 1868 (Shelley). g,7r. Egypt (Rogers). s,g. Lake Baikal (Dybowski). ¢,g. Etawah, India; March 23rd, 1869 (Brooks). v,d. Etawah, India, December 29th, 1869 (Brooks). w,2. Etawah, India, March 18th, 1869 (Brooks). 2. India, March 28rd, 1868 (Marshall). y. India (Hume). E Mus. Lord Walden. a, b,c. Maunbhoom, India, December and February (R. C. Beavan). d,e, f,g,h. Darjeeling. i, 7. Cashmere (Dr. Jerdon). k,l. Simla (S. Pinwill). m. Umballah, October (R. C. Beavan). nm. Umballah, February (Dr. Scott). 0, p. Nepal. g, 7. Lachoong, Sikkim, September and October (H. J. Elwes). s. Tongoo. t. Amoy, February (R. Swinhoe). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a. Castle Eden, May 1850 (H. B. T.). 6,3. Algiers, April 23rd, 1856 (H. B. T.). ¢, 6. Samaria, April 7th, 1864 (H.B.T.). d, 3. Asia Minor (Robson). e¢, 2. Etawah, India, September 23rd, 1870 (Brooks). f,2. Etawah, India, September 14th, 1869 (Brooks). g,2,h,2,i¢d. Etawah, India, October 15th, 1870 (Brooks). k, 3d. Etawah, India, October 17th, 1870 (Brooks). Jl, 2. Etawah, India, October 18th, 1870 (Brooks). m, @. Etawah, India, December 13th, 1869 (Brooks). n, $. Durmsala, India, April 10th. o- India (Jerdon). p. India (Blyth). q,¢. Etawah, India, October 1869 (Brooks). r,@. Almorah, India, April 25th, 1868 (Brooks). s, t. Hongkong, China, February 1860 (Swinhoe). EL Mus. W. T. Blanford. a, 3. Teheran, Persia, August 17th, 1872 (W. T. B.). E Mus. Major Godwin-Austen. a. Cherra Pongee, Khasi Hills. 6. Base of Garo Hills, India (G.-4.). “SRIGSTANVO SAULSY eal “Lidid ANMVL 4 eS 317 e ANTHUS CAMPESTRIS. (TAWNY PIPIT.) Alauda campestris, Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 349. no. 5 (1760). Alauda campestris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 288. no. 4 (1766). Le Fiste de Provence, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. v. p. 194; Pl. Enl. 654. fig. 1 (1788). La Pivote Ortolanne de Provence, Buff. tom. cit. p. 195; Pl. Enl, 654. fig. 2. Rousseline ow Alouette des marais, Buff. tom. cit. p. 345; Pl. Enl. 661. fig. 1. Alauda mosellana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 794. no. 16 (1788, ex Buff.). Alauda campestris, Gm. tom. cit. p. 794. no. 16a (1788, ex Briss.). Motacilla maculata, Gm. tom. cit. p. 965. no. 92 (1788). Motacilla massiliensis, Gm. tom. cit. p. 965. no. 93 (1788). Sylvia massiliensis (Gm.), Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 531. no. 85 (1790). Sylvia maculata (Gm.), Lath. tom. cit. p. 532. no. 86 (1790). Alauda paludosa, Bonnat. Orn. i. p. 313, “ Alsace and Poland” (1790). Alauda mosellana, Gm., Bechst. V6g. Deutschl. iii. p. 152 (1793). Anthus campestris (Gm.), Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. iii. p. 564 (1812). Alauda campestris, Gm., Steph. Shaw’s Gen. Zool. x. p. 539 (1817). Vitiflora massiliensis (Gm.), Steph. tom. cit. p. 570 (1817). Vitiflora maculata (Gm.), Steph. tom. cit. p. 571 (1817). Anthus massiliensis (Gm.), Vieill. Nouv. Dict. xxvi. p. 503 (1818). Anthus maculatus (Gm.), Vieill. tom. cit. p. 504 (1818). Anthus rufescens, 'Temm. Man. d’Orn. p. 267, “Germany and France” (1820). Anthus rufus, Vieill. tom. cit. p. 328, “ Alsace and Poland ” (1820). Anthus campestris (Gm.), C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 324, ‘‘ Germany ” (1831). Anthus agrorum, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 324, “ Renthendorf” (1831). Anthus subarquatus, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 325, “ Kastern Germany ” (1831). Anthus flavescens, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 325, “ Nubia” (1831). ‘Alauda grandior, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 525. no. 152, “ Mongolia” (1831). Agrodroma campestris, Swain. Classif. Birds, i. p. 241 (1837). ’Worydalla vierthaleri, C. L. Brehm, Vogelf. p. 137, “«N.E. Africa” (1855). 'orydalla gracilis, C. L. Brehm, tom. cit. p. 137, “ Greece ” (1855). Corydalla campestris (Gm.), C. L. Brehm, ut supra, “ Germany” (1855). Corydalla agrorum C. L. Brehm, ut supra, “ Germany ” (1855). Corydalla subarquata, C. 1. Brehm, ut supra, “ Nubia” (1855). Corydalla rufescens (Temm.), C. L. Brehm, ut supra, “ Nubia” (1855). Corydalla striata, L. Brehm, Naumannia, 1855, p. 279 (1855). Corydalla arvensis, L. Brehm, ut supra (1855). Corydalla septentrionalis, L. Brehm, ut supra (1855). Corydalla arenaria, L. Brehm, ut supra (1855). 2 Pipit rousseline, French; Calandrina, Catalan; Petinha, Portuguese; Curintumi, Sicilian ; Calandro, Italian; Bilblun, Maltese; Der Brachpieper, German; De Duinpieper, Dutch; Filtpiplirka, Swedish; Swiergotckpolny, Polish; Stschewritza-polewaya, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 654. figs. 1, 2, 661. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 85 ; Kjerbélling, Orn. Dan. taf. xvii.; Fritsch, Vog. Kur. taf. 16. fig. 8; Sundevall, Sy. Fog]. pl. 8. fig. 5; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. pl. 84. fig. 1; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 94; Roux, Orn. Prov. pl. 191. figs. 1, 2; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 137; id. B. of G. B. iii. pl. 9. 3 ad. supra grisescenti-ochraceus: pileo et dorso indistincté fulvido striatis, uropygio vix pallidiore: remigibus nigricanti-brunneis, primariis in pogonio externo vix cervino marginatis, secundariis et tectricibus alarum laté rufescente ochraceo marginatis, his eodem colore apicatis: rectricibus duabus externis albidis, in pogonio interno dimidio basali nigricante marginatis: reliquis nigricanti-brunneis, centrali- bus rufescente ochraceo marginatis: superciliis, gulé et corpore subtus albidis isabellino lavatis : pectore et hypochondriis rufescente isabellino adumbratis, illo maculis nonnullis fuscis notato : rostro supra nigricante, subtts versus basin flavido: pedibus flavicanti-brumneis: iride brunneda. 2 haud a mare distinguenda. Adult Male (Portugal, April). Upper parts sandy ochraceous, with a grey tinge, almost all the feathers with a dull dark brown centre, which gives the upper parts an indistinct striated appearance; rump lighter in colour and less marked with brown; upper tail-coverts similar, but the feathers have the central stripe more fully developed; wings blackish brown, primaries very narrowly margined with yellowish buff, secondaries and upper wing-coverts broadly margined, the latter also broadly terminated with tawny ochre; the two outer rectrices yellowish white, with a broad blackish brown border reaching from the base nearly to the tip of the inner web; remaining tail-feathers blackish brown, the central ones bordered with tawny ochre; from the base of the bill extending over and behind the eye a yellowish white stripe; lores dark brown; sides of the face yellowish white, marked with dull brown; throat, breast, and underparts generally rich cream-colour, rather tinged with red on the breast, on which are also a few scarcely perceptible light brown spots; beak blackish brown, dull yellowish at the base of the lower mandible; legs yellowish brown; iris dark brown. Total lemgth about 64 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3°75, tail 3°2, tarsus 1:0, hind toe with claw 0:7. Female. Similar to the male. Obs. As a rule specimens from various localities in Hurope, Africa, and Asia agree very closely in plumage and tone of colour. I have two specimens, however, one from Sweden and the other from Sardinia, both shot in April, which have the general colour much whiter on the underparts and greyer on the upper surface of the body than other examples. The spots on the breast are more distinct in some than in others ; but I find some eastern examples quite as much marked on the breast as any of those obtained in Europe. The average size of European examples is—culmen 0°68, wing 3°57, tail 2:94, tarsus 1:03, hind toe with claw 0-67; and those from India average—culmen 0:77, wing 3°87, tail 3:02, tarsus 1:03, hind toe with claw 0-61. Tue Tawny Pipit has a most extensive range, being met with in Europe from Scandinavia southwards, in Northern Africa, and in Asia eastward to China. 5) It has been recorded as an occasional straggler to the south coast of England, and appears to have occurred on at least five or six different occasions. It was first added to our British list by Mr. George Dawson Rowley, of Brighton, who (Ibis, 1863, pp. 37, 39) gave full particulars of the capture of two examples of this Pipit, one of which was obtained near Brighton on the 17th of August, 1858, and the other close to Rottingdean, near Brighton, on the 24th of September, 1862. Since then, according to Mr. Harting, five specimens have been recorded as having been obtained, viz.:—one, Brighton, 30th of September, 1864 (G. Dawson Rowley, Ibis, 1865, p. 113); one, Scilly, September 1868 (Hearle Rodd, Zoologist, 1868, p. 1458); two, Brighton, 6th of September, 1869 (F. Bond, Zoologist, 1870, p. 1984); and one, Brighton, autumn 1870 (Bond, Zoologist, 1870, p. 2383). To these I may add that Mr. George Dawson Rowley has obtained another specimen at Brighton, which he records in the ‘ Field’ of the 11th of October, 1873. It has not been recorded from Iceland or the Feroes; but in Scandinavia it occurs not unfrequently in the southern portion of the peninsula, though it has not been met with in Norway. Nilsson writes (Skand. Faun. p. 389) that “it is not uncommon on the sandy heaths and fields in Southern Sweden, and in some localities quite numerous. In Skane it is found on almost all the heaths both on the coast and in the interior; and I saw it in Halland, Blekinge, and Oland. Wallengren met with it in the southern part of Gottland; but it does not occur in Upper Sweden and Norway. It arrives in May and leaves in September.” When in Oland in 1847 Mr. Meves saw this Pipit, and shot a pair at Skanorsljung; but he did not obtain it on his second visit. In Finland, according to Magnus von Wright (Finl. Fogl. p. 151) it has been obtained but once, at St. Michel, in June 1855, by Mr. J. von Wright. ‘Two were seen, but only one was shot. It occurs but rarely in Northern and Central Russia; and Mr. L. Sabandeff informs me that he believes he saw it in the Government of Jaroslaf, and it occasionally occurs near Moscow during migration. Severtzoff records it as a migrant in the Government of Voronege. I have no information as to its occurrence in the Baltic Provinces; but in Poland it is, as I am informed by Mr. Taczanowski, tolerably numerous, especially in sandy localities, where it is found during the summer in the most open and arid spots, and hides its nest so effectually that it is seldom found. According to Borggreve “it is more common in the eastern than the western portion of North Germany. It is said to be rare in Silesia, Anhalt, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Oldenburg, but common in Ober-Lausitz. Rafu met with it breeding on the Island of Sylt. Bolsmann records it as nesting on clayey commons;” and Borggreve himself observed a few pair near Neustadt-Eberswald. Mr. A. von Homeyer writes (J. f. O. 1870, p- 223) that he “found it breeding in small numbers in New Pomerania, Ober-Lausitz, Posen, and Lower Silesia, and found it numerous during the autumn migration in the two last-named localities.” According to Von Zittwitz it breeds not uncommonly near Magdeburg. Dr. E. Rey informs me that it arrives in Saxony in April, and breeds in the sterile country between the Dolauer Haide and the village of Granau; he obtained eggs between the 7th of May and the 25th of July, from four to five ina nest. Mr. Carl Sachse, writing to me from Altenkirchen, Rhenish Prussia, says that it does not breed there, but he has shot it at both seasons of migra- tion. He obtained one nest, containing eggs, from Andernach, on the Rhine, taken near there on the 9th of June. Faber (Orn. Not. p. 26) records it as rare in Denmark; and, according to 4 319 ee 4 Kjerbélling (Danm. Fug]. p. 148), Mr. Steenberg possessed a specimen obtained near Helsingéer. It has been recorded (Ibis, 1862, p. 62) from Heligoland; and Von Droste obtained two on Borkum in September. Professor Schlegel states that it breeds in Holland on the dunes near the sea, and arrives at its breeding-haunts in April, leaving again in September. De Selys records its arrival in Belgium in April, and states that it nests in the Ardennes. De la Fontaine adds that it frequents the rough land near woods, especially arid soils. Degland and Gerbe write that it appears irregularly in the north of France in September and March, but is more numerous and resident in Provence from April to September, and is there known by the name of “ Fiste.” Dr. Companyo states that “in the moist plains on the French side of the Eastern Pyrenees this species arrives in April in great numbers, and remains to breed, disappearing in autumn.” It has been recorded from Portugal; and Dr. E. Rey states (J. f. O. 1872, p. 152) that on the sterile mountains, west of Villa do Bispo, near the coast, he found it not uncommon. In some parts of Spain it is common; and Mr. Howard Saunders writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 216) that he never observed it in the fertile and well-watered country round Seville; but on the higher table- lands, especially in the more arid districts of the provinces of Murcia and La Mancha, it is very abundant, and breeds. Passing eastward, again, I find it occurring in Savoy during migration; but, according to Bailly, it is never very abundant, and it is only on the barren and stony soils at the foot of mountains, such as the neighbourhood of Chambéry, that it can be found breeding. In Tuscany, according to Savi, it appears in April, and some few remain to breed in the mountains; the return migration commences in August. Professor Doderlein states that it is tolerably abundant in Sicily on the spring and autumn migrations—in the former frequenting the low- lying meadows, whilst in the latter they prefer the more arid fields and the tablelands of the surrounding hills. The majority of the autumn visitants continue their route to Africa. In spring some remain to nest in the central mountains of the island; and when paired they show strong affection if either meets with an injury from gun or snare. Mr. C. A. Wright records it (Ibis, 1864, p. 61) as common in Malta ‘‘ from March to May, and again in the autumn;” but he never observed it during the winter. Lindermayer writes (Vog. Griechenl. p. 79), “it arrives in Rumelia in considerable numbers early in April, and frequents the dry rocky places on the lower spurs of the mountains, where it breeds, and leaves us again in September.” Erhardt says that it is found on the Cyclades during the winter ; and if this is the case, it is a resident in Greece. Mr. H. Seebohm informs me that “Anthus campestris is the only species of this genus which breeds in Greece. Anthus pratensis, and probably also cervinus and spinoletta, spend their winters in that country. Anthus arboreus passes through in spring and autumn on its migrations; but campestris makes Greece its summer home, arriving early in April, and having eggs in May. ‘This bird frequents the valleys in Greece and Asia Minor. Ido not remember seeing it in either country much more than a thousand feet above the level of the sea. It seems to prefer the open plains, and is very common in the almost treeless valley between the Parnassus and Thermopyle. I did not meet with it in the valleys south of the Parnassus; they seem to be too much wooded; they are planted with olive-trees, with vines between, and at a distance look like dense olive-forests. Nevertheless Anthus cam- pestris is by no means so exclusively a ground-bird as pratensis, and may often be seen perched 5 on a bunch of heath, or some other conspicuous tuft of herbage, where it may be recognized at once by its monotonous note, which I can best express by the syllables zer-vee. This bird is especially common on the undulating prairie country, half rock, half grass, and half heath, between Athens and Marathon; and there is no difficulty in obtaining its eggs in this district. It was too early in the season’when I was in this part of Greece; but I have several sittings which were collected in the neighbourhood of Kephissia whilst I was in the Parnassus.” It occurs in Southern Germany; Seidensacher observed it in Styria; and Dr. Anton Fritsch records it (J. f. O. 1871, p. 191) as found in Bohemia, and he met with several pairs breeding near Schlan and Laun. Mr. Lokaj observed it near Rumburg. It appears to be not uncommon, and is said to breed near Constantinople; and Von Nordmann records it as very common in the steppes of Southern Russia. Mr. Robson has sent specimens from Asia Minor; and Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine, where, he writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 289) it is “found all over the cultivated coast and hill districts, but not in the Jordan valley. It is a permanent resident, and we obtained several nests on the ground on the bare hills in April. It is one of the tamest of birds, and particularly affects the mule-paths, flitting along in front of the traveller and keeping unconcernedly a few yards ahead. In winter a few of them may generally be seen consorting with the more numerous Galerita cristata.” Mr. Wyatt met with it on the peninsula of Sinai; and Captain Clark- Kennedy informs me that “in the month of April this Pipit was to be seen in great quantities along the shores of the Red Sea all the way from Suez to Mount Sinai. It appeared to prefer localities not more than a few miles distant from the sea, although we met with it far inland and in some numbers near Nukl, halfway from Sinai to Jerusalem, and from there to Damascus.” It is common in North-east Africa, and, according to Captain Shelley (B. of Eg. p. 134), “is abundantly distributed throughout Egypt and Nubia. It is an early spring visitant, arriving about the middle of February. It chiefly frequents the confines of the desert, where its plumage harmonizes with the colour of the sand, and renders it difficult to be seen.” Captain Clark- Kennedy informs me that he met with it abundantly all the way up the Nile from Cairo into Nubia, and in especial abundance in the sandy desert near Assouan and the pyramids of Abousir and Sakarra. Dr. Th. von Heuglin writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 325) that it occurs in the autumn in Abyssinia, Senaar, and at Kordofan, and he himself observed it on the lower White Nile and in Southern Arabia. In North-western Africa it is likewise common, and, according to Major Loche, resident, frequenting sandy districts in Algeria, where Mr. Taczanowski also records it as numerous on the elevated plateaux between Constantine and Batna, but never saw it in the Sahara. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., however, writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 85) that “in some places the soil of the Sahara is soft and sandy, in others hard and pebbly. The Tawny Pipit affects the former, where there is little or no herbage. It appears to be a very solitary bird, and not common. Its flight is undulating, like that of the Wagtail; and, like the latter, it twitters on the wing.” Mr. Osbert Salvin met with it on the plateau of Kef Laks, and numerous about the plains of Djendeli. I possess a specimen from Tangiers; and, according to Hartlaub (Om. W. Afr. p. 73), it has occurred at Cazamanze. Mr. Sharpe possesses a specimen obtained by the late Mr. Andersson in Damaraland, which is as far south in Africa as I can trace it; but on the eastern side of that continent it has been recorded by Captain Sperling (Ibis, 1868, p. 290) as 6 occurring at Mozambique, though it is doubtful if the bird obtained by Captain Sperling is really referable to A. campestris ; for, as inferred by Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub (Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 275), it is possible that Anthus raaltent may have been mistaken by him for the present species. To the eastward the Tawny Pipit is met with as far as China. De Filippi records it as occurring near Tiflis and the valley of the Lar; and Mr. Blanford has lent me specimens obtained by him in Persia and Baluchistan. Mr. A. O. Hume (Stray Feathers, p. 202) says that he found it “far less common in Sindh than it is throughout the North-west Provinces and the Punjaub. In the bare portions of the country, which in Upper Sindh extend from fifteen to forty miles from the foot of the hills, and throughout the bare hilly region south of the Sehwan Hills on the right bank of the Indus, I altogether missed it; but in the more cultivated lands about Shikarpore, Larkhana, and Mehur, and to the east of the Indus, in Roree, Hyderabad, and Tatta, we met with it, though not in great numbers, and I procured a single specimen close to Kur- rachee.” Dr. Jerdon (B. of Ind. ii. p. 235), giving its range, says:—‘‘in suitable places through- out India. I have found it most abundant in the Deccan, at Mhow, in Central India, and on the Eastern Ghauts ; it is rare in the Carnatic; Blyth has it from Midnapore and the North-west Provinces.” Dr. Gustav Radde speaks of it as occurring on the Amoor; but he appears doubtful if the bird he includes under the name of A. campestris (Reis. im Siid. v. Ost-Sib. ii. p. 220) is really this species or A. richardi. After carefully reading all he says on the subject I feel convinced that he did not get A. campestris; but at the same time his measurements do not altogether agree with those of A. richardi; and without a critical examination of the specimens obtained by him it is impossible to decide to what species they should be referred. His mea- surements of eleven specimens, reduced to our English scale, average, tarsus 1:1 inch, hind toe with claw 1:07, hind claw 0:65; whereas the Asiatic specimens of A. campestris average, tarsus 1:03 inch, hind toe with claw 0:61, hind claw 0:3—and of A. richardi, tarsus 1:21 inch, hind toe with claw 1°12, hind claw 0°75. I may add that some of the specimens of Anthus richardi I have examined, obtained in Eastern Asia, have the hind toe and claw rather shorter than average European examples, and I think it therefore probable that Dr. Radde’s birds were A. richardi. Pere David states that the present species occurs at Pekin on passage only, and is abundant in _ Mongolia; but Mr. Swinhoe does not include it in his list of the birds of China. The Tawny Pipit usually frequents the open, sandy, and sterile plains; but this is not always the case, as Mr. E. F. von Homeyer expressly remarks on his having repeatedly met with it in Hinter-Pommern (Pomerania) inhabiting fertile ground. In some localities it has been known also to frequent the higher plains and hills; but asa rule this is not the case. Mr. Seebohm informs me that in Greece it appears to confine itself strictly to the valleys and plains. It isa shy uneasy bird, continually on the move, and runs with great celerity, when on the ground resembling a Lark; for, like that bird, it will run for some distance and then stop short, and remain still for a few moments. It carries itself very erect, and when halting has a habit of moving its tail, though very slightly, after the manner of the Wagtails. Though essentially a ground-bird, like our common Lark it is said occasionally to perch on a low bush or a fence; but a clod or a stone is usually chosen for its resting-place. Its flight is swift and strong, bow- shaped, and somewhat resembles that of the Wagtail. Its call-note, Mr. Seebohm informs me, which is constantly uttered, is monotonous, and something resembles the syllables zer-vee. Its i song is said to be extremely poor, and is usually uttered whilst the bird is on the wing, fluttering somewhat like a Sky-Lark ; but it seldom remains long in the air. It feeds on insects of various kinds, which are usually picked up from the ground; and it but seldom eats seeds. Lindermayer states that it feeds chiefly on neuroptera. It breeds usually late in May, and places its nest on the ground in any slight depression, or under shelter of a clod, or else amongst brush-scrub or stones. ‘The nest is, according to Mr. O. Salvin, constructed of roots, and lined with horse-hair; but Naumann states that the lining is composed as frequently of fine roots as it is of hair. Mr. Salvin found the nest placed on the lee side of a bush. The number of eggs deposited is usually five or six. Eggs in my collection, obtained in various parts of Southern Europe, are subject to great variation, some being pale blue-grey, slightly marked with umber-brown, whereas others have a brownish grey tinge, and -are closely marked with minute reddish brown spots. One variety, obtained in Spain, is almost unspotted at the smaller end, and at the larger end is blotched with very faint purplish brown underlying shell-markings and very distinct dark brown surface-spots. In size they vary from a0 by 49 to 45 by 46 inch. The specimens figured are from Portugal and Sweden, the former being the one described. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 6. Borgholm, June 15th, 1847 (Meves). 6, 3. Portugal, April (Dr. E. Rey). c, 3. Sardinia, April 1870 (Salvadori). d. Tangiers (Olcese). e, d: Maslak, Turkey, April 26th, 1869 (Rodson). jf. Malta, spring, 1861. g. Crimea. h, 9. Asia Minor, May 14th, 1861 (Robson). 7. Egypt (Rogers). j. Egypt (E. C. Taylor). k. Egypt, April 6th, 1871 (Shelley). E Mus. Lord Walden. a, b. Umballah, India, February (Dr. Scott). c, d. Umballah, October and November (R. C. Beavan). E Mus. Ind. Cale. a. Shiraz, December 1870. 6, 6. Dizak, Baluchistan, 4000 feet elevation, March 24th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 3. Kef-Laks, April 22nd, 1857 (H. B. T.). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, b. Malaga, September 25th. c,d, 3. Malaga, October 12th. e, jw. Granada, June 28th. f. Tangiers, winter. g. Palermo, Sicily, autumn. h. Algeria, spring. 7. Egypt (Rogers). j, 2. Near Constantinople, June 17th (Robson). ad e) ie as) ie ‘ feo a Resse, wilt astisher howler yifetinas at best, tpg ati ges i Bien eim Meat Mocehopt It aly od, ie eine aresateot shes tu sihe, are) Gita a meter Hal ti Bos. + bana cocky spot are hsoatateg enatong dohia slat " ; “5 BUS GON NOE stn Reali Cia jocks aenteeio a on rae pal bs apt a ii cin seme ag. pCR Nee sean.» eta in Bi Ry 2 aos Pen i R ier eenioaa ee mle rape 2 rs . c Ae aoe 4 cae aie enn WY ec Shi) ikon, £15 faa; Maes cat ti wat “alas ans. aes eI said ad | fobnw Ti SNe Mh Mee it Mx } i : a ‘ kes Sua: ‘gnccents Ba } op aye i ie ae aad Bich Pit eh eo) 4) teh za ae ape aT pine Me " 138 oz lOMYHOIY SMHLNY ‘Udild S@UWHOIY ANTHUS RICHARDI (RICHARD’S PIPIT.) Anthus richardi, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. xxvi. p. 491 (1818). Corydalla richardi (Vieill.), Vigors, Zool. Journ. i. p. 411 (1825). Anthus rupestris, Ménét. Cat. Raisonn. p. 37 (1832, nec Nilss.). Anthus macronyx, Gloger, Handl. Vog. Eur. 1. p. 269 (1834). Anthus longipes, Holandre, Faune de la Moselle, p. 84 (1836). Cichlops monticolus, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844). Corydalla sinensis, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 247 (1850). Corydalla orientalis, L. Brehm, Naumannia, 1856, p. 463. Corydalla russelti, L. Brehm, loc. cit. Agrodromas richardi (Vieill.), Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 216. Corydalla chinensis, Bp., Swinhoe, P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 366. Stelzenpieper, Spornpieper, German; Pipit Richard, French; Bilblun selvag, Maltese. Figure notabiles. Temm. PI. Col. 101; Werner, Atlas, Insectivores, pl. 83; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. pl. 371. figs. 3,4; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 135; id. B. of G. B. iii. pl. 8; Roux, Orn. Prov. pls. 189, 190; Bouteille, Orn. du Dauph. pl. 28. fig. 1; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 98. g ad. corpore supra saturaté fusco plumis omnibus medialiter nigricantibus: uropygio et supracaudalibus sordidioribus, fuscescentibus, unicoloribus: remigibus nigricantibus, primariis in pogonio externo vix cervino marginatis, secundariis conspicué rufescente marginatis : tectricibus alarum majoribus albicante apicatis, minoribus nigricantibus rufuscente marginatis et apicatis: rectrice externa alba, pogonio interno in dimidio basali centraliter strié grisea: rectrice secunda nigricante, in pogonio externo versus apicem alba et in pogonio interno albo notata, reliquis nigricantibus, centralibus rufescente marginatis: ad basin rostri supra oculum stria albid&: facie laterali ochrascenti-brunnea fulvido notata: corpore subtus albido ochraceo lavato: gutture, pectore et hypochondriis vix rufescente adumbratis : mento albo: gutture lateraliter et pectore nigricante maculatis: rostro et iride fuscis: pedibus pallidé brunneis. 2 haud a mare distinguenda. Juv. adulto similis, sed corpore supra pallidiore, tectricibus alarum et secundariis intimis conspicué albo marginatis. Adult Male (near Antwerp, autumn of 1870). Upper parts dark dull reddish brown, each feather with a blackish brown centre; rump and upper tail-coverts duller and more uniform brown in colour; quills blackish brown, primaries narrowly margined on the outer web with pale buff, secondaries more broadly edged with rufous, especially the elongated inner ones; larger wing-coverts tipped with whitish, median On 2) Gyo £2 ed yee, Oo 2 and lesser coverts blackish brown, broadly margined and tipped with rufous; outermost tail-feather on each side pure white, excepting an oblique stripe from the base to nearly the centre of the inner web, which is sooty grey, next in order blackish, with the terminal half of the outer web and the portion of the inner web next to the shaft pure white; remaining rectrices blackish brown, the central feathers margined with rufous; from the base of the beak over the eye a whitish line; sides of the face dull light sandy brown, marked with dark brown; underparts generally white, on the throat, breast, and flanks washed with rufous-buff, the chin, however, being pure white; from the base of the lower mandible on each side runs a line of black spots to the upper part of the breast, which has a band of blackish spots across it; bill and iris brown; legs light brown. ‘Total length about 8 inches, culmen 0°75, wing 3°7, tail 3:25, tarsus 1:2, hind toe with claw 1:25, hind claw 0°78. Young (near Antwerp, autumn 1870). Resembles the bird last described, but has the upper parts duller and paler, and all the wing-coverts and inner secondaries conspicuously margined with white; the throat and chest are also somewhat more profusely spotted than in the adult. Obs. Specimens from Europe and Asia differ but very slightly either in colour or measurements; and as regards the latter, the variations in European specimens are as near as possible the same. I have carefully measured a similar number of Asiatic specimens to those I have from Europe, and on taking and comparing the average I find them to agree as nearly as possible. The average size of the whole series of specimens is—culmen 0765 inch, wing 3°696, tail 3°277, tarsus 1:215, hind toe with claw 1:127; the variation bemg—culmen 0:7 to 0°82, wing 3°6 to 3°8, tail 3:2 to 3°45, tarsus 1:15 to 1:25, hind toe with claw 0-95 to 1:3. In coloration most of the Asiatic specimens agree precisely with those obtained near Antwerp; but one or two of the former are rather darker and more fulyous than the latter. Tus Pipit, most easily distinguishable by its long tarsus and extremely long hind claw, is found in small numbers in most parts of continental Europe, as well as in Great Britain, in Asia, and in North-east Africa, but is rare in the last-named country. In Great Britain it has occurred as frequently, if not more so than in any part of Northern or Central Europe ; and Mr. Harting states that as many as fifty specimens have been at various times seen or procured between September and April, both inclusive. These recorded occur- rences he tabulates as follows :—Northumberland two, Norfolk five, Shropshire one, Oxford one, Middlesex twelve, Kent three, Sussex five, Devonshire eleven, Cornwall and Scilly eight. Some of these may, on strict investigation, prove to rest on somewhat doubtful grounds; but there is no doubt that this Pipit has been met with tolerably often as a straggler to our island. Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that he does not believe it has been yet found in Somersetshire, though, as above stated, it has occurred several times in Devonshire. Mr. J. Gatcombe, in a letter just received, says that “‘within the past thirty years I have known eight examples of this bird to occur in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. Indeed I was the first to recognize the species in Devonshire, and that, too, when it was on the wing, flying over some fields in company with Titlarks. The bird was then followed up by my friend the Rev. G. Robinson, who, after a long chase, succeeded in shooting it. Another friend, Mr. J. Dodd, of Plymouth, who had a capital ear for the notes of birds, first heard it, and exclaimed ‘there’s a stranger,’ but neither he nor Mr. Robinson had the least idea what the bird was until I told them; and my words soon proved to be correct. There appeared to have been a small party of them, as the next day my friend 3 Robinson killed another, and two more were shot by myself and brother, all within the distance of a few fields from each other. From what I observed of their habits, I found that they almost invariably alighted in fields in which cows were feeding, ignoring others in their way, and were constantly running or flitting from one cow-dab to another, actively pursuing flies and small coleopterous insects flying near. Their flight was undulating, much like that of the Wagtail; and their rather loud call-note, often uttered when moving from one place to another, much resembled (to my ear) something between those of the Pied Wagtail and Sky-Lark. Six of these birds were obtained at the beginning of winter; but Mr. Dodd and I came across a pair rather late in spring, one bird of which he killed.” It has been met with as far north as Fredrikshald, in Norway, where, according to Mr. R. Collett (J. f. O. 1869, p. 393), a single specimen was obtained in August 1843; and Professor Sundevall writes (Sv. Fogl. p. 42) that “a young male was taken alive on a steamer in Calmar Sound, in Sweden, during a fog, on the 18th of October, 1856.” My Russian correspondents do not refer to it as having occurred in either the northern or central portion of that country; nor has it been recorded from Finland; but Borggreve states (J. f. O. 1871, p. 212) that, according to Blasius, small flocks are from time to time met with on the coasts of the North Sea during autumn and winter; and, according to Herr Maas (J. f. O. 1862, p. 450), it is said to be tolerably common in Heligoland. Von Droste Hiilshoff records it from the island of Borkum, where, he states (J. f. O. 1868, p. 406), many specimens were observed and killed in 1867 and 1868; and he says that altogether twenty-seven were met with there in the months of September, October, and December. Professor Schlegel (Vog. Nederl. p. 177) records it as found in Holland, where, he writes, it breeds on the dunes and heaths bordering the sea-coast, but he does not give any specific information as to its nidification; and I have specimens obtained near Antwerp in 1870. Degland states that it occurs every autumn in the neighbourhood of Lille; specimens are also to be found in the Paris markets amongst the bunches of Larks from Picardy; and examples have been obtained near Bergues and Dunkirk ; also one specimen is recorded from Metz. In Provence, according to Jaubert and Barthélemy-Lapommeraye, it is also found on the spring as well as on the autumn migration; but the statements (originating with Mr. P. Roux) of its nesting in that province require further confirmation. It occurs in Spain; and Major Irby, who sent me a carbolized specimen from Gibraltar, informs me that he only met with it there from the Ist of March to the 20th of April, and it appeared to be rare. Mr. Howard Saunders, however, writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 216) as follows :—“I possess two fine examples, which were obtained near Malaga on the 2nd of February. In some winters the species is not uncommon.” In Italy, according to Salvadori, it has occurred at irregular intervals in almost every province; and Doderlein states that specimens have been obtained near Palermo, but that it is certainly rare in Sicily, and has not yet been met with in Sardinia. It has occurred in Malta, where Mr. C. A. Wright records it (Ibis, 1864, p. 61) as “ acci- dental. In the spring of 1853 I was so lucky as to shoot one of two which appeared on Fort- Manoel Island. My attention was attracted by its exceedingly sharp and powerful note. Another is recorded as having been taken in October.” Both Von der Miihle and Erhardt state that it occurs in Greece during the summer, and breeds there, being found in the Morea, but not in Rumelia; but Lindermayer never observed K 8) at 4 it, and appears to doubt the above statement that it breeds in Greece, as he observes that there is no instance of its nest having been taken in that country. It has occurred in South Germany, as there is a specimen in the Vienna Museum which was caught near that city; and it has likewise been met with in Southern Russia. Professor von Nordmann writes that he obtained specimens in all stages of plumage near Odessa, and he is therefore inclined to believe that it breeds in New Russia. Dr. Th. Kriiper, in a letter from Smyrna, writes respecting this Pipit, ‘“‘it not unfre- quently pays us a passing visit here in April, and some few nest here.” Von Heuglin does not include it in his work on the ornithology of North-east Africa; but Dr. Brehm (J. f. O. 1855, p- 366) says that it sometimes occurs in East Africa; and Zander (J. f. O. 1853, Extrah. p. 61) gives North Africa as one of the countries where it has been met with. According to Loche it has been met with, but is very rare, in Algeria, and there is a specimen in the Museum at Algiers obtained near Harrach. In Asia it is met with as far east as China and Siam. In India it is tolerably common during the winter; and Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of Ind. ii. p. 232):— occurs throughout the greater part of India, but only found in the cold weather, up to about the end of April. It is found from Nepal and the Himalayas to the extreme south; more rare in Southern India, especially in the Carnatic, but tolerably common, indeed abundant, in Lower Bengal. It is also found in Ceylon, in Burmah, and other countries to the eastward. It always affects swampy or wet ground, grassy beds of rivers, edges of tanks, and especially wet rice-fields, either singly or in small parties. Its flight is strong, elegant, and undulating; and it flies some distance in general before it alights again.” Mr. Blanford met with it at Bassein, in the Ivawadi valley ; Sir R. H. Schomburgk obtained it in Siam ; and I have before me a specimen, from the collection of Lord Walden, obtained at Camboja. In China it appears to be by no means uncommon. Mr. R. Swinhoe informs me that it “is found throughout the winter in South China, being most common on the dry uncultivated hills, where, when disturbed, it rises with a loud chay, which it repeats at nearly every rise in its undulating flight. Specimens I have obtained vary much in size and fulvescence, for which I have accounted by the supposition that they come on their migration southwards from different geographical areas. Some remain during the summer at Amoy; but I believe the darkest race (A. sinensis, Bp.) resorts at that season to the neighbouring hills, where it breeds. I have found a very similar, but lighter, race on the hills at Foochow, further north, in July, but have not had the gratification of finding its nest.” This gentleman also states (Ibis, 1863, p. 311) that it is a very rare straggler to Formosa. Dr. Dybowski writes (J. f. O. 1868, p. 334) that it is common in Dauria, and remains there to breed; but he gives no information as to its habits or nidification, excepting that he found its nest, and that it deposits five or six eggs. Dr. G. Radde records, under the name of A. cam- pestris (Reis. im Siid. v. O.Sib. p. 222), a Pipit which, I think, may probably prove to be the present species; but without having examined his specimens it is impossible to state that this is the case. He speaks of it as being not uncommon in the stony elevated steppes of East Siberia, frequenting the damp meadows, especially near conifer-growth. It arrived at the Tarei-nor on the 9th May, 1856. It is curious that, although this bird has been so frequently met with in various parts of 5 Europe, and must breed there (for I have before me European-killed specimens in young plumage), there does not appear to be any reliable instance on record of its nest having ever been taken in Europe; and, in fact, next to nothing is known respecting its nidification. I have a clutch of five eggs, collected by Dr. Dybowski at Darasun, in Dauria; but they were sent to me without the nest, which I am therefore unable to describe. Nor is much known respecting the habits of Richard’s Pipit, which in general appear to resemble those of the Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris); all the little information I can collect on this head is given above. The eggs of this Pipit differ greatly from those of Anthus campestris, being dull greenish grey, very closely spotted with dull brown. Out of five I possess, all collected in Dauria by Dr. Dybowski, three are brownish in shade, and two greenish brown. In general character they somewhat resemble eggs of Ofocoris alpestris ; but the spots are a trifle bolder and are distributed generally over the surface of the egg, never collected towards the larger end. In size they vary from #3 by 23 inch to 3% by 22 inch. The specimens figured are an adult and an immature specimen, both obtained near Antwerp, these being the specimens described, both being in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, b, c, d, ad., e, juv. Antwerp, autumn 1870 (Kriiger). f, 2, g. Amoy, March 1861 (R. Swinhoe). h. Amoy, November 1866 (H.8.). i, ¢. Amoy, February 18th, 1872 (Captain Conrad). k, 3. Lake Baikal, Siberia (Dr. Dybowshki). E Mus. Lord Walden. a, 6, c, d. India. e. Ceylon. f. Camboja. g. Amoy, March 1861 (R. Swinhee). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a. Amoy, November 1859. 6. Amoy, January 1860. c. Amoy, March 1861 (R. Swinhoe). d. Geneva, February 1845 (C. Harford). ya “eh walt Matacic Rel, dias ater aay ate see theo wae: ee ta ‘fanart ny wear. APT: Hine’ hit web oy si vi tole woke eraatt (agente f A aud Donne whe pinata oh lain ae a aa E Tait sal ia ote tnt f eh Niele 2 ji: ELE AVeOT: Li ti sick Hon pb Fle { aia: hiss, whieh ane Perc alt ners i: nas tds eee Mais vege SJE eben: aed teanniti vars bY ee? ui i hers aa he ee ie ont Ae A ph he ie ue a td te eins Wiehe tebe uni ort kanes BN AIRDINTS car pete: ised ihiatl Tee E F Basle ee @ pate aa f ia) tit ati “Fie Rs jak eM Ne: ei Poyiinita sa aie ON en san eorre #y.toet dnsle saint on spiosatatden ba ce re aes AY HU Bice i. itd ge devat oo ‘snaltin® Syoaind 2 add tatu i Te Pp , F yuk ee) oa 139 Hanhart imp PENNSYLVANIAN PIPIT. ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS. 301 ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS. (PENNSYLVANIAN PIPIT.) Alauda pensilvanica, Briss. Orn. App. p. 94. no. 13 (1760). La Farlouzanne, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. v. p. 38 (1778). LT’ Alouette aux joues brunes de Pensilvanie, Montb. tom. cit. p. 58 (1778). Alauda ludoviciana, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 793 (1788). Alauda rubra, Gmel. tom. cit. p. 794 (1788). Alauda pennsylvanica, Bonn. 'Tabl. Encycl. & Méthod. i. p. 319 (1790). Motacilla hudsonica, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 503 (1790). The Lark from Pensilvania, Edw. Gleanings, vi. p. 185, pl. 297 (1806). Anthus rubens, Merrem in Ersch & Grub. Ene. iv. p. 290 (1820). Anthus ludovicianus (Gm.), Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 37 (1823). Alauda rufa, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 313, pl. 42. fig. 4 (1828, nec Gm.). Anthus spinoletta, Bp. Syn. p. 90 (1828, nec Linn.). Anthus aquaticus, Swainson, Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 23 (1831, nec Bechst.). Anthus pipiens, Aud. Orn. Biog. i. p. 408, pl. 80 (1832). Anthus pratensis japonicus, 'Temm. & Schl. Fauna Japonica, p. 59, pl. 24 (1850). Anthus reinhardtii, Holb. Fauna Gronl. p. 25 (1854). Anthus pennsylvanicus (Bonn.), Zander, Naumannia, 1854, p. 13. Anthus hypogeus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxviii. p. 65, footnote (1854). Anthus japonicus, Swinh. Ibis, 1861, p. 333. Figure notabiles. Aud. 7. ¢.; id. B. Am. iii. pl. 50; Wils. Am. Orn. pl. 42. fig. 4. Ad. supra viridi-olivaceus, pileo et dorso indistincté nigro-fusco notatis: remigibus saturaté fuscis, primariis angusté, secundarlis conspicué cervino marginatis: tectricibus alarum griseo-cervino marginatis: rectricibus centralibus fusco-olivaceis, reliquis nigro-fuscis, rectrice extima utrinque in dimidio apicali oblique albis, rectrice secunda apice albo notata: corpore subtus cervino, gutture imo conspicue nigro- fusco notato, hypochondriis fusco striatis: stria superciliari cervind: rostro, pedibus et iride fuscis. Adult Male (San Antonio, 10th January). Crown, nape, back, and rump greenish olivaceous, the crown and back with faint blackish spots here and there; quills dark brown, the primaries with narrow, the secondaries with broad buffy grey margins; wing-coverts broadly margined with greyish buff; central rectrices like the back, but darker, the remainder blackish, the outer feather on each side with the terminal half obliquely white, the next with a long, white terminal spot; underparts honey-buff, the chin rather paler; lower throat and breast boldly spotted and blotched with dark brown, and the flanks slightly striped with the same colour; streak over the eye pale buff; bill and legs dark brown; iris dark brown. Total length about 6:5 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:3, tail 2:7, tarsus 0:9, hind toe 3uU 2 2 with claw 0°72; the first three quills of almost equal length, the fourth rather shorter, the fifth 0-4 shorter than the fourth, the elongated inner secondaries 0°2 longer than the fifth quill. THE present species is only known as a rare straggler from the Nearctic Region, where it is a common bird. It has been said to have occurred in Great Britain, but, I believe, on insufficient grounds; for, so far as I can judge, all the instances on record of the supposed occurrence of this bird refer to the various form of the Rock-Pipit. It has, however, certainly occurred in Heligoland; for Mr. Seebohm has compared the two specimens in the well-known collection of Mr. Gatke with the one I have figured, and pronounced them to be specifically identical. Beyond these two, however, I cannot find any undoubted instances of its occurrence in Europe. It is somewhat remarkable that it is found in Eastern Asia, and has hitherto escaped notice. Some time ago, when I wrote the article on Anthus cervinus, I was assured by Mr. Swinhoe that Anthus japonicus was certainly a distinct species, and was not, as was supposed by many authors, specifically identical with Anthus pratensis or Anthus cervinus; but I had not then had an opportunity of comparing specimens and of judging for myself. Mr. Seebohm, however, has lately compared examples from Japan, and has asked me to verify the result of his comparison ; and there can be no doubt that they are true Anthus ludovicianus. He has examples both from China and Japan, and also from the island of Urup, which is, I believe, off the coast of Kamtchatka. In America the present species is very generally distributed down into Central America, being common in many localities; and it inhabits Greenland, where, Professor Newton says, ‘‘it is supposed to breed not further south than 67° N. lat.” It is common in the northern portions of British North America in summer, and breeds numerously in Labrador. At the approach of winter it migrates southward, some wintering in the Middle United States, and others pushing on to Texas and Mexico. I found it numerous in New Brunswick in the spring and autumn; but I am unaware if it breeds there. Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway state (N. Am. Birds, i. p. 171) that “‘at different seasons of the year the Brown Titlark is found throughout the continent, and abundant for the time in the several parts of the country, chiefly frequenting the least-cultivated portions, and apparently preferring the sterile and least-attractive regions. It is one of the most extensively distributed of all our North-American birds, being found in immense numbers over the whole length and breadth of North America. Gambel met with them in large numbers in New Mexico and California; Richardson found them on the plains of the Saskatchewan; it is abundant in the Arctic regions from May to October, and is equally common on the coast of Labrador; Mr. Dall found it universal from British Columbia north. It is also found in Florida, Cape St. Lucas, Mexico, and Central America.” To this I may add that I found it common in Texas in December and January; and Mr. Salvin saw a flock near Duefas, in Central America, on passage, in February. I cannot say much respecting the habits of this bird from personal observation, having only seen it in New Brunswick, when it reminded me greatly of our common Meadow-Pipit. I used generally to find it on or near the salt marshes of the Musquash ; and when disturbed it would fly up with the same jerky flight as, and uttering a note like, our Titlark. Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway say (/.c.) that it is “‘a bird of easy and beautiful flight, passing and repassing through the air with graceful evolutions, and, when moving to new localities, sweeping over the place several times before alighting. It also moves rapidly on the ground, and after the manner 9 7) of the true Larks, jerking the tail like our Water-Thrushes and the European Wagtails. When feeding on the open ground in the interior, their food is chiefly insects and small seeds. On the banks of rivers and on the sea-shore they are fond of running along the edge of the water, searching among the drift for insects, small shells, and crustaceans. Near New Orleans and Charleston, in the winter, Mr. Audubon found them feeding, in company with the Turkey- Buzzard, upon garbage.” The Pennsylvanian Pipit breeds in the more boreal portions of North America and in Labrador ; and, according to Mr. Allen, it certainly breeds in the mountains of Colorado, within the limits of the United States; for he found young birds, scarcely able to fly, in July, on Mount Lincoln, Park County, Colorado. Audubon gives particulars of its nidification in Labrador; and Dr. EK. Coues, who likewise found it breeding there, writes (B. of N. W. p. 41) as follows:— “It was there the most numerous of the land birds, excepting perhaps the White-crowned Sparrow, frequenting open, bare and exposed localities, often on the rocky and barren islands almost untenanted by other species. Here, as elsewhere in maritime localities, the birds are fond of resorting to the sea-shore at low tide, there to ramble in quest of food on the mud and sea-wrack in company with Sandpipers, and not distantly resembling these birds in their manners. Two nests I obtained in July were both placed in a cavity in the ground, about as large as a child’s head, on the side of a steep rocky chasm. A flooring of dried grass had been introduced to keep the nest from the wet; the nests were built upon this, of coarse dried grass loosely arranged and without lining; the exterior diameter was about six inches, the interior three inches, with a depth of two inches. One nest contained five, the other four eggs, averaging thirteen sixteenths of an inch long, by nine and one half sixteenths broad; of a dark chocolate-colour, indistinctly marked with numerous small spots and streaks of blackish. ‘The parents do not leave the nest until nearly trodden on; then the one that is incubating flutters up with loud cries of distress that soon bring the mate, and the pair hover anxiously over head, at times approaching within a few feet, or even alighting close by, all the while crying out in the most beseeching and plaintive manner. I saw no attempt to deceive by feigning lameness; but the birds often follow any one who has disturbed them for some distance. On such occasions several pairs nesting near each other, are often aroused, and join their cries with those of the afflicted parents.” I possess a series of the eggs of this species from Labrador, which are generally more reddish in tinge than those of our Rock-Pipit, though some are but slightly different from typical eggs of that species, which they resemble in size, but are, as a rule, a trifle smaller. One rather aberrant variety is dull greenish grey, with such indistinct spots as to appear almost uniform in colour. The specimen figured is an adult male shot by myself in Texas in January. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. EH. Dresser. a, d. Labrador, spring (Méschler). 6, c, Pennsylvania. dd. San Antonio, Texas, January 10th, 1864 (H. E. D.). 32 ee) 4 KH Mus. H. Seebohm. a, 6. Ningpo, China, January 27th, 1873. 6,9. Ningpo, December 31st, 1871 (R. Swinhoe). c. Japan (Blakiston) . d, e. Island of Urup, N.E. Asia (Wosnessensky). f, ¢. Pennsylvania, October 12th, 1876 (Schiiiter). g, ¢. Newark, New Jersey, March 1872. 140 26) VLITONIdS SNHLNY ‘LidIid YaLVM ANTHUS SPINOLETTA. (WATER-PIPIT.) Alauda spinoletta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 288. no. 7, “Italy” (1766). Alauda spinoletia, L., Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 218. no. 186 (1769). Alouette pipi, Montbeill. Ois. v. p. 326; Pl. Enl. 661. fig. 2 (1778). Alauda campestris spinoletta 3, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 794, “ Carniola, Italy, Sardinia, Russia” (1788). Alauda pratensis y. pedibus atris, Gm. tom. cit. p. 792 (1788). Anthus aquaticus, Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. iii. p. 564, ‘‘ Russia, Italy, England, Germany ” (GLI), Anthus montanus, Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 179, “ Alps,” ptil. est. (1816). Anthus coutellii, Aud. Descr. de lFgyp. p. 281, pl. 5. fig. 5, “ Egypt” (1825). Anthus aquaticus s. coutellii, Aud., Ehrenb. Symb. Phys. fol. dd, “ N. Arabia” (1829). Anthus nigripes, Ehr. nom. MS. Mus. Berol. Anthus aquaticus, Bechst., Savi, Orn. Tose. ii. p. 39, ‘Tuscany ” (1829). Anthus hiemalis, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 329, “ Westphalia, S. France” (1831). Anthus alpinus, C. L. Brehm, loc. cit., “Tyrol and Karnthen” (1831). Anthus spinoletta (L), Bp. Comp. List B. of Eur. & Am. p. 18. no. 151, “ Europe” (1838). Anthus orientalis, C. L. Brehm, Vogelf. p. 138, “ Asia, E. Europe” (1855). Anthus major, L. Brehm, Naumannia, 1855, p. 279. Anthus apinus, L. Brehm, ut supra (laps. cal.). Anthus hiemaiis, L. Brehm, ut supra. Anthus minor, L. Brehm, ut supra. Anthus blakistoni, Swinhoe, P. Z. 8S. 1863, p. 90, “ Yangtsze river,” ptil. hiem. Pipi spioncelle, Farlouse spioncelle, Pipi spipolette, French; Spioncello, Italian; Wasser- pieper, German ; Siwerniak, Polish. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 661. fig. 2; Werner, Atlas, Jnsectivores, pl. 84; Gould, B. of Eur. p- 138; id. B. of G. Brit. i. pl. xi. (figure to the right); Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. pl. 85. figs. 2-4; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 16. fig. 2; Savigny & Aud. J. ¢. 3 ad. est. corpore supra olivascenti-brunneo: pileo et nuch& cinereo lavatis: uropygio magis olivaceo adum- brato: remigibus nigricanti-brunneis, primariis in pogonio externo vix albicante cervino marginatis, secundariis in pogonio externo conspicué olivaceo marginatis : tectricibus alarum brunnescente albido terminatis: rectricibus saturaté brunneis, rectrice extima versus apicem obliqué alba et in pogonio externo fere ad basin alba: linea superciliari ochrascenti-cervind: loris et facie laterali grisescenti- olivaceis: mento albicante: gutture et corpore subtus pallidé rufescentibus vix rosaceo adumbratis : G 3 aif e) D, abdomine centrali et subcaudalibus albicantibus cervino lavatis: subtectricibus alarum grisescenti- albidis: rostro et pedibus saturaté brunneis: iride brunnea. 2 ad. haud a mari distinguenda. 3 ad. hiem. corpore supra olivascenti-brunneo: subtis albus: pectore, gutture laterali et hypochondriis brunneo maculatis: cauda et alis intus ut in ptilosi eestiva picturatis. Adult Male in breeding-plumage (Southern France, June). Upper parts dull olive-brown on the head and nape, washed with dark ashy grey; rump more olive in tinge than the rest of the upper parts; wings dark brown, the primaries narrowly edged on the outer web, and the wing-coverts broadly terminated with dirty buffy white; secondaries, especially the elongated inner ones, broadly margined on the outer webb with dull olive; tail dark brown, the outer rectrix on each side, with the terminal third, obliquely white, this colour on the outer web reaching nearly to the basal third, and on the inner web narrowing from near the tip almost to the centre of the feather; a tolerably broad superciliary line from the base of the bill above the lores, passing above and behind the eye, pale yellowish buff; lores and sides of the face dull greyish olive; chin pale buffy white; throat, breast, and underparts generally, pale rosy ferruginous, fading into dull white, washed with pale ferruginous on the centre of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts greyish white; beak and legs blackish brown; iris dark brown. Total length about 6 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 3°55, tail 2:8, tarsus 1-0. Female. Similar to the male in plumage. Adult Male in winter (Macedonia, 9th November). Upper parts as in the summer-plumage, but lacking the grey tinge on the crown and nape; underparts white, on the breast, sides of the neck, and flanks marked with blurred spots and dashes dull brown in colour. In the series I have before me I find that there is considerable variation in the purity of the colour of the underparts in the summer-plumage; for in some it has a dull rusty shade, and in others the colour is more rosy and purer. In order to show the variation in size of specimens from various localities I give the following Table :— Culmen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. inch. — inches. inches. 5 inch. England (Brighton) . . . . . 0°68 3°28 2°55 1:0 Folland eee ROLE Soh O37. 3°55 2°75 1:0 ROSE MMM eee eee sen Hee ire vente Onset 3:48 2:6 1:0 Switzerland@egs eae een 0.08 3°6 2°75 1:0 Pranceyy eek hs ha eh paiite nes ORT 3°55 2°8 1:0 Greece ea ve: esa! Fe Hit Beare One 3°55 2°85 1:0 urkeyae tac peer emetcenyel acct eos Magne OY 3:5 2°61 1:0 Verichon tore, a co eso ees O66 3°30 2°51 1:0 Piedmonte ya eee te eee 0:69 3°30 271 1:0 INH, g 6 5 5 0 6 oo ol OCD 3°30 2:63 10 Persiavwed Gla saed 4 diser merc O365—077, 34 -3'5 2:62-2'8 0:93-1:0 Baluchistan. . . . . . . . 0°65-0°7 3°3 -3°55 2°7 —2°85 0:93-1:0 N.W. India (A. neglectus) . . . 06 3'05-3:18 2:3 -2:°45 0-9 -0:94 Tue Water-Pipit inhabits Central Europe and Northern Africa, being met with to the eastward through Persia and India to China, South-eastern Siberia, and the Kurile Islands. a 3 There is no doubt as to its having occurred on several occasions in Great Britain; but most of the recorded occurrences require careful verification, as the Scandinavian form of the Rock- Pipit (A. rupestris, Nils.), which in the spring-plumage has the breast washed with pale rosy vinous, has been repeatedly mistaken for it. During a recent visit to Brighton I examined several so-called Water-Pipits in the possession of Mr. Swaysland and Mr. Booth; and Mr. Dawson Rowley has sent his entire series of Pipits to me for examination. Amongst all these I find but one true Water-Pipit, all the rest being referable to the Scandinavian Rock-Pipit. I took with me specimens of Anthus spinoletta in various stages of plumage, and on showing these to Mr. Swaysland he assured me that he had never had an example of this species through his hands. Mr. Gould figures in his ‘ Birds of Great Britain’ a Water-Pipit obtained at Worthing in 1865, which, judging from the plate, is really the present species; and Mr. Pratt, who sent this and another specimen to Mr. Gould, told me that they had the underparts unspotted, and the oblique band on the outer tail-feathers pure white, which agrees with A. spinoletta. In the background of Mr. Gould’s plate there is, however, a bird figured which to me appears undoubtedly to be A. rupestris, and not A. spinoletta. In many of the occurrences of the present species recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ and other publications, the particulars given are not sufficient to enable me to decide whether the bird referred to is really A. spinoletta; but Professor Newton, who is now preparing his article on the Pipits for the new edition of ‘ Yarrell’s British Birds’ which he is editing, will carefully collect all available information as to how often the present species has really been met with in Great Britain, and I cannot leave the matter in better hands than his. I have lately been collecting information respecting the reputed occurrences of Anthus ludovicianus in Great Britain ; and, so far as I can at present judge, I am inclined to believe that most if not all the recorded occurrences of that species will be found to refer to Anthus rupestris or the present species, and not to the true Pennsylvanian Pipit of North America. A curious mistake has occurred in the ‘Fauna Boreali-Americana’ which has tended not a little to increase the confusion amongst the various species of Pipits. ‘The bird described is certainly, so far as I can judge, the American species; but the specimen figured is undoubtedly a European Water-Pipit ; and I can only explain matters by supposing that the specimen actually obtained on the Saskatchewan got exchanged for a bird of the present species after the collection was forwarded to England. Macgillivray (Man. Brit. B. i. pp. 169-171) states that he compared the specimen in the Edinburgh Museum, marked as having been obtained by Dr. Richardson on the Saskatchewan, with examples of a Pipit which he (Macgillivray) identifies with the present species, and that the Saskatchewan bird had more red on the breast, which agrees with the plate in the Faun.-Bor. Am., but shows that it could scarcely be a Pennsylvanian Pipit, as this latter species has the underparts yellowish buff, and not red. At the same time I feel sure that the birds described by Macgillivray as Anthus spinoletta were not that species, but the Scandinavian form of the Rock-Pipit, as in his descrip- tion, which, as usual, is most careful, he states that the outer tail-feather has the oblique band greyish white, whereas in the present species it is always pure white, and forms a distinguishing character by which it may, in all plumages, be known from the Rock-Pipit, which latter has the band on the outer tail-feathers as described by Macgillivray, greyish white. Excepting the autumn-plumaged specimen of the present species in the collection of Mr. G. G2 338 4 Dawson Rowley, I have not been able to examine a single British-killed Water-Pipit. The specimen figured by Mr. Gould is now in the collection of the Bishop of Winchester; and I have not had an opportunity of examining it. _ It is said by Thompson and Canon Tristram to have occurred in Ireland; but I am doubtful as to whether the bird found there is really A. spinoletta, and think that it may prove to be A. rupestris. The present species, so far as I can ascertain, has not been met with in Sweden or Norway ; and records of its occurrence there must be taken to refer to Anthus rupestris. I know from experience how prone an unpractised eye is to make a mistake in these Pipits; for the first specimens of A. rupestris which I received from Norway, being in full spring-plumage, with the breast faintly washed with red, were mistaken by me for examples of the Water-Pipit; and upon my identification of these specimens my friend Mr. Collett included the present species in the avifauna of Norway. One of these specimens I yet have; and the grey band on the outer tail- feather clearly shows it to be a Rock-Pipit. I do not find it recorded as having been met with in Finland; and regarding its occurrence in Russia, Mr. L. Sabanaeff writes that he doubts if it occurs in Central Russia, but, according to Daniloff, it breeds in the Government of Orloff; he (Sabandeff) met with it commonly in July and August in the Pavdinska Dacha in the Ural, and likewise observed it singly in the southern portions of the Ekaterinburg and Shadrinsk districts. It probably breeds, he thinks, in the Kaslinsky and Keshtemsky Ural. Hoffmann met with it in 61° and 632° N. lat.; and Eversmann states that it occurs on the southern slopes of the Ural and in the Kirghis steppes. In Poland it is, Mr. Taczanowski informs me, “ found during migration, but is rare, though in the mountains of Galicia, where it breeds and remains during the entire summer, it~ is numerous.” It occurs in Northern Germany. Boeck does not appear to have obtained it in Prussia; but Borggreve states that it is found during the summer in the low wood-growth in the Riesen-Gebirge, and occurs on the coast as well as near the inland streams and sheets of water, more especially in the mountains, being also seen in the winter on passage. Mr. C. Sachse informs me that he has only observed it twice near Altenkirchen, in Rhenish Prussia, during the winter season, when, the ground being covered with snow, it was seen in the ditches near running water. According to Kjerbolling (Danm. Fugl. p. 144) it occurs in Denmark during migration, and he himself shot examples both in the spring and the autumn in South-east Jutland, but he is unaware as to whether it breeds in that country. Baron De Selys-Long- champs writes that it remains in Belgium throughout the winter season, arriving in October and leaving in March; and I have a specimen in full winter-plumage obtained near Leiden, in Holland. It occurs in Lorraine; and Degland and Gerbe (Orn. Eur. i. p. 371) record it as occurring in France during the spring and autumn migrations, and as inhabiting the mountains of Eastern and Southern France in the spring and summer. Jaubert and Barthélemy-Lapom- meraye also speak of it as found in Southern France in the spring and autumn on its way to and from the Basses-Alps, where it breeds. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in his list of Portuguese birds as “rare,” giving no further particulars; and both Major Irby and Mr. Howard Saunders record it from Spain. The former states (Ibis, 1872, p. 201) that he met with it “in the breeding-season on the high bare ground of the Sierra del Nifio, between Algeciraz and 5 Tarifa, at an elevation of about 2500 feet;” but Mr. Saunders only obtained it in winter at Malaga, and in the mud flats near Cadiz, where it was not numerous. Passing: eastward, again, I find it, according to Bailly (Orn. de la Sav. iii. p. 346), recorded as occurring in Switzerland and Savoy, and common at all seasons of the year, frequenting the lowlands during the winter, and retiring to the mountains to breed, numbers being at that season of the year met with on Mont Grenier, Alpétaz, Nivolet, Margériaz, Rozannaz, Mont Tréloz, Bauges, Mont Cenis, the Maurienne, Tarentaise, and Haut Faucigny Alps. In the winter season numbers are found in the marshes and on the meadows of Bissy, la Motte-Servolex, Bourget, and Albens. It is more abundant in the north of Italy than in other parts; according to Doderlein it nests in the Modenese mountains; and according to Bettoni a few pairs do so every year in the higher regions of Lombardy. In Sicily it is rare; and Professor Doderlein has not succeeded in obtaining it near Palermo, though Cav. L. Benoit procured specimens near Messina. Salvadori says nothing as to its occurrence in Sardinia; but Doderlein states that it occurs there in the winter. Mr. C. A. Wright records (Ibis, 1864, p. 62) one occurrence on Malta, he having shot one by the sea-side on Fort-Manoel Island on the 5th of November, 1860. Both Lindermayer _ and Von der Miihle refer to Anthus cervinus as found in Greece during the summer season; but I feel convinced that the bird they speak of is not the Red-throated Pipit, but the present species. Unfortunately these gentlemen give no descriptions; and hence it is impossible to say with certainty what species of Pipit it is about which they write. I have a specimen from Greece shot in November by Dr. Kriiper, which shows that it occurs there in the winter season; and Von der Muhle also states that he met with it on the coast during severe seasons. It winters in Southern Germany; and Seidensacher states that it arrives at Cilli, in Styria, in November, remains over the winter, and leaves in February and March. Messrs. Elwes and Buckley record it from Turkey, on the authority of Mr. Robson; and I have examined several specimens obtained by that collector near Constantinople. In Southern Russia Professor von Nordmann met with it in the most rugged portions of the Adshara Mountains, often at an elevation of 7000 feet, but in the plains he only observed it on three or four occasions during the spring migration, and by May it had quite deserted the lower regions. Mr. Strickland (P. Z. 8. 1836, p. 99) obtained it on the coast of Asia Minor, near Smyrna; and Canon Tristram writes as follows (Ibis, 1866, p. 289) respecting its occurrence in Palestine :—“ Anthus spinoletta we shot but once, in the marshes of the Huleh in spring, but saw it several times in winter near Jericho, where I took a nest of six eggs in April, which I can only refer to this bird, though unfortunately I did not identify them. I also possess a specimen shot at Wady Feiran, near Mount Sinai, in March, a most unlikely locality. It is, however, well known as an Egyptian bird. The specimens exactly correspond with one I shot on the east coast of Ireland.” Mr. C. W. Wyatt (Ibis, 1870, p. 15) met with it on the peninsula of Sinai, frequenting the salt ponds near Tor; and it occurs in North-eastern Africa, where, according to Captain Shelley (B. of Egypt, p. 132), “it is a winter visitor to Egypt, when it probably ranges throughout the country, but has not, to my knowledge, been met with in Nubia. It is most plentiful in the Fayoom and Delta, where I found it very abundant in the marshes in February and March.” It has likewise been met with in North-western Africa, where it generally occurs in autumn and winter, and, according to Loche, is found frequenting the low, moist plains and the margins 339 40 6 of rivers. Canon Tristram (Ibis, 1861, p. 414) obtained one specimen, shot out of a small flock, in the marsh at the edge of the oasis of Laghouat in November 1856. He believes also that he saw a flock of this bird (if not of A. obscurus) in January 1857 in the swamps near Tuggurt. To the eastward the Water-Pipit occurs in Persia (whence Mr. Blanford brought back a series of specimens), in North-west India, in the Amoor country, and, according to Mr. Swinhoe, in China and the Kurile Islands. Indian specimens of the Water-Pipit differ from those obtained in Europe and Western Asia in being rather smaller in size and in having the spots on the breast in the winter-plumage very small and clearly defined, utterly unlike those on the breast of our European Water-Pipit. In Canon Tristram’s collection are two specimens, one from Jericho and the other from Algeria, which are nearly as small as those from India; but I think that these latter may be distinguished by the peculiarly clear markings on the breast. According to Mr. Brook's labels they have the legs dark brown, and not blackish like our European bird. The average size of my series of specimens from various parts of Europe and North Africa is— culmen 0°69, wing 3°43, tail 2°69, tarsus 1:0; whereas the average of those from India is— culmen 0-6, wing 3:11, tail 2°38, tarsus 0-9. Mr. W. E. Brooks, of Etawah, first observed the above differences in the Water-Pipits from India, and sent specimens to Canon Tristram, requesting him to describe it under the name of Anthus neglectus; and if, as I believe will be the case, further investigation proves the correctness of Mr. Brooks’s views, the Indian Water-Pipit will bear that name. Canon Tristram, however, having before him only the two specimens from Jericho and Algeria, and no series of European examples, hesitated to describe it as a new species. I give above a table of measurements showing the variation in size of specimens from various localities. Mr. A. O. Hume (Stray Feathers, p. 204) writes that this Indian Water-Pipit is “not at all uncommon in the Western Punjaub and in Northern Sindh, where it is often met with in the neighbourhood of canals and streams. I obtained it on the banks of the Indus, at Mittencote, near Jacobobad, Shikarpore, and Mehur: but I did not notice it south of Sehnan. Besides the localities I have already mentioned, I have it from Mooltan, Lahore, Goorgoon, Ferozepore, Etawah, and the interior of the Simla hills, near Koteghur.” Mr. Swinhoe writes to me respecting the occurrence of the Water-Pipit in China as follows :— “ Blakiston first got the bird at Chinkiang, on the Yangtsze; and on his specimen I based my Anthus blakistont. ‘This was a small female shot in February, and has only a few small light spots on the breast. In November 1866 an unsexed specimen was brought to me at Amoy. It was also small, but largely and darkly spotted on the breast. Von Schrenck has sent me a male from the Kurile Islands which is larger and more fulvous; but it bears no date. I have never noticed the bird in a wild state.’ Ihave several specimens from South-eastern Siberia, where it appears to be tolerably common during the spring. The Water-Pipit differs in its habits from the Rock-Pipit, more especially in being an inhabitant of hilly and rugged districts far inland; and only durimg the seasons of migration does it appear to visit the sea-shore, where the Rock-Pipit is always to be found. So partial is it to mountainous districts that in the mountain-chains of Southern Hurope it is a true alpine species, inhabiting the higher regions during the breeding-season, and only descending into the valleys during the winter when driven down by the inclemency of the weather and 7 consequent scarcity of food. Wherever it is found, however, there must be water in the immediate neighbourhood; and in the summer it is most generally to be met with im rocky and desolate localities close to a mountain-burn, often at a considerable altitude, even above the forest growth, in the immediate vicinity of the eternal snow. Bailly states that it leaves the lowlands about the end of March or early in April, and resorts to the mountains, generally arriving there in small flocks, and waiting until their breeding-haunts are clear of snow. ‘They soon pair, and by the early part of May they commence the serious business of nidification. ‘Iwo broods are sometimes raised during the season ; but this does not appear always to be the case, and is probably so only during mild seasons. It is a shy bird, and less easily approached than almost any of the Pipits; its flight is irregular, not swift or protracted, and somewhat resembles that of the Meadow-Pipit. During the breeding-season, when the female is sitting, the male remains in the immediate vicinity of the nest, generally resting on some point of a rock, a branch, or the summit of a bush, from which it rises twenty or thirty yards into the air singing, and descends like the Meadow-Pipit, still uttering its song until it reaches its perch again, recommencing its aerial flight again after a short interval of repose. Its song resembles that of the Meadow-Pipit, but is deeper in tone and harsher. Bechstein compares it with that of the Swallow and the Siskin; and Bailly says that it consists of the syllables 7%, Ju, flr, fiz fi, fis pi, pt, pt, thi, thi, thi, repeated softly at first, and gradually becoming more rapid in utterance; when it flies up it utters a note like the word hiisch once or twice, or sometimes only once. It runs swiftly, like a Wagtail, and will wade into the water until it reaches the tibia, carrying the body erect, and every now and again moving its tail. According to Bechstein it bears captivity well, and may be kept for years in an aviary or a large cage. It feeds on small insects and larvee, especially gnats and various kinds of insects and worms that frequent the water, and likewise devours minute snails, according to Naumann, especially Helix auricularia. In searching for food it much resembles the Wagtails in its habits. The nest is placed on the ground amongst loose stones, in a crevice of rock, or else amongst herbage, the latter being the most common position. According to Bailly it is frequently found under the shelter of the Rhododendron ferrugineum or Vaccinium vitisidea, and is constructed of fine roots intermixed with pieces of moss, and lined with fine rootlets, a few horse-hairs, dry grass-bents, and pieces of wool, and usually contains from four to five eggs, which are deposited late in April or early in May. I have in my collection a series of eggs from Switzerland which have the ground-colour greyish white, and are closely spotted and marked with minute hair- brown, or, in some specimens, reddish brown markings, which are usually distributed equally over the surface; but in some they are almost confluent towards the larger end. They bear a general resemblance to the eggs of Anthus obscurus, and are not easy to distinguish from them ; one is so closely spotted with dull dark reddish brown as to look almost uniform brown in colour, whereas others have the ground-colour clearly showing between the spots; some have the ground- colour with a faint olive-green tinge. In size the eggs in my collection vary from $3 by 23 inch to 3% by 23. In September or, should the season be mild, in October the Water-Pipit forsakes the mountains and descends into the plains, arriving singly or in family parties, but seldom in flocks. Here they frequent the damp meadows or marshes wherever the water remains unfrozen; and 342 8 should the season be severe, the larger portion leave to seek a more congenial climate. During this season of the year it feeds also on seeds as well as insect food. The specimens figured are—to the right an adult bird in full breeding-plumage from Southern France, and to the left also an adult bird, but in full winter-plumage, from Greece, these being the specimens described ; and both are in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— | H Mus. H. EH. Dresser. a, 2. Leiden, Holland, October 10th, 1820 (Sala). 6. France, June 1851 (Fraser). c, g. Piedmont, January Ist, 1869. d. Switzerland (H. Ff. Méschler). e, f. Posen, winter-plumage, March 20th, 1867 (Dr. Kutter). g, 3. Macedonia, November 9th, 1869 (Dr. Kriiper). h, 3. Khathane, Turkey, May 4th, 1869 (Robson). i, 3,7, 2. Lake Baikal, Siberia, March 1869. &. Darasun, Dauria (Dr. Dybowski). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a, b, 3, c,d, 2. Malaga, Spain, November and December. E Mus. Ind. Calc. a, 6. South Persia (St. John). 6, 3. Abadeh, 6000 feet elevation, July 1869. c, 9. Dizak, Baluchistan, 4000 feet elevation, March 24th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). d, 9. Dizak, Baluchistan, March 22nd, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). e, 3. Kalagan, Baluchistan, March 12th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). jf, d. Mashkid river, near Isfondak, Baluchistan, March 9th, 1872 (W. 7. Blanford). g, 3. Near Kalagan, Baluchistan, March 19th, 1872, 4000 feet elevation (W. T. Blanford). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, d. Jericho, January Ist, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). 6, 3. Laghouat, November 14th, 1856 (H. B. Tristram). c. Etawah, November 14th, 1870 (W. E. Brooks). d, 2. Beema, January 20th, 1871 (W. E. Brooks). e, 2. Beema, January 20th, 1871 (W. E. Brooks). f, 2. Utchulda Jheel, January 14th, 1871 (W. EH. Brooks). g, 6. Beema, January 20th, 1871. h, d. Egypt, Fayoom, April 3rd, 1871 (G. H. Shelley). EL Mus. G. Dawson Rowley. a. Outskirts of Brighton, October 26th, 1868 (G. D. R.). 141 SS v6! SNYNISO SNHLNY. ‘Lidld MOOU ANTHUS OBSCURUS. (ROCK-PIPIT.) Alauda obscura, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 494 (1790). Alauda petrosa, Mont. Trans. Linn. Soe. iv. p. 41 (1798). Spipola obscura, Leach, Syst. Cat. B. & M. Brit. Mus. p. 22 (1816). Anthus rupestris, Nilss. Orn. Suec. i. p. 245 (1817). Alauda campestris, Bewick, Brit. Birds, i. p. 217 (1826, nec Linn.). Anthus petrosus (Mont.), Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 74 (1828). Anthus littoralis, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 331 (1831). Anthus aquaticus, Selby, Brit. Orn. i. p. 258 (1833, nec Bechst.). Anthus obscurus, Keys. & Blas. Wirbelth. p. 48 (1840). Anthus spinoletta, Macg. Man. Brit. B. i. p. 169 (1846, nec Linn.). Anthus immutabilis, Degl. Orn. Europe, i. p. 429 (1849). Pipi obscur, French; Spioncello settentrionale, Italian; Strandpieper, German; Oeverpieper, Dutch; Skjyer-Piber, Danish; Skjer-Piblerke, Norwegian; Skdarpiplirka, Swedish ; Luo- tokirvinen, Finnish, Figure notabiles. Kjerb. Orn. Dan. taf. 17; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 371. figs. 1, 2; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pl. 9. fig. 1; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 138; id. B. of G. Brit. iii. pl. 10, and pl. 11. hind figure; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pl. 95; Nilss. Orn. Suec. i. pl. 9. 3 ad. ptil. est. corpore supra olivaceo nigro-fusco striato, uropygio vix striato et magis olivaceo: remigibus nigro-fuscis, pallidiore marginatis, tectricibus alarum pallidé olivaceo terminatis: rectricibus nigro- fuseis olivaceo marginatis, centralibus eodem colore lavatis, rectricibus externis utrinque obliqué fumoso-cinereo terminatis: strid superciliari flavido-cervind: corpore subtus flavo-cervino, gutture, pectore et hypochondriis obscuré fusco-olivaceo -striatis: subalaribus pallidé fumoso-cinereis flavo- olivaceo lavatis: rostro fusco, mandibulaé ad basin aurantiaco-brunned: pedibus rufescenti-fuscis : iride fusca. Ptil. hiem. corpore supra pallidiore et subtts magis albido et minus striato, gula fere immaculata. Adult Male in summer (Fern Islands, May). Upper parts olivaceous, obscurely streaked with dark brown, each feather having a dark centre; rump scarcely marked with brown, and more olivaceous than the rest of the upper parts; wings dark brown; primaries with narrow pale brown edgings on the outer web; secondaries and wing-coverts broadly margined and tipped with pale olivaceous; tail-feathers blackish brown, edged with olivaceous, the two central rectrices washed with that colour, and the outer- most on each side with a broad oblique smoke-grey terminal band ; over the eye an indistinct yellowish buff streak ; underparts buffy yellow, or almost dirty honey-yellow on the breast ; throat, excepting the bf 2 chin, and flanks with broad, obscurely defined, dark brown or olive-brown streaks; under wing-coverts pale smoke-grey washed with pale yellowish olive; bill dull brown, the base of the under mandible dull orange-brown ; legs reddish brown; iris brown. ‘Total length about 6°5 inches, culmen 0°78, wing 3:5, tail 2:65, tarsus 0:95, hind toe with claw 0°75. Adult Male in winter plumage (Bexhill, Sussex, 2nd October). Differs from the above in being paler and having the underparts much whiter and less streaked, the entire centre of the throat being almost unmarked. It has the underparts, however, washed with dull yellowish, and therein differs conspi- cuously from A. spinoletta, which, in winter plumage, has the ground-colour of the underparts pure white. THE range of this species is extremely limited, compared with that of several others of this group, as it is found only in Northern Europe during the summer and in Central and Southern Europe during the winter. In Great Britain it is tolerably common all round the coast, frequenting the rocky portions in preference to the flat and marshy localities, and breeds from Cornwall up to the extreme north of Scotland. Mr. J. Gatcombe informs me that it is “resident, and breeds on the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, but their numbers are greatly increased in spring and autumn.” Mr. Cecil Smith also writes that he finds it common and resident on the Somersetshire coast, and has taken its nest near Weston-super-Mare. On the coasts of Norfolk it does not appear to be common. Mr. H. Stevenson has sent to me for examination some specimens of the vinous-breasted form, which he informs me were killed within the bounds of the city of Norwich, on the 7th of March 1864; and the date is remarkable, as they were doubtless migrants resting to feed in a locality very unusual for this species. He further informs me that several examples of the ordinary form have been killed on various parts of the coast in autumn and winter, at which season it is not so very rare; but he adds that he has no reason to suppose that it ever remains there to breed. Mr. Cordeaux says (B. Humb. Distr. p. 44) that it is rarely met with on the flat Lincoln- shire coast, and then only in the autumn, but it is numerous near Flamborough Head (on the Yorkshire coast) and he has seen it at Spurn, where it breeds; during the autumn it is occa- sionally met with within the Humber. Mr. Hancock states that it is a resident on the rocky sea-shores of Northumberland and Durham, remaining there throughout the year. In Scotland it is common; and Macgillivray writes that it is found on most of the coasts, especially those which are rocky, and is not uncommon in the Hebrides; and Mr. Robert Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 117) states that “on all the western islands, including the Outer Hebrides, Monach Isles, Haskar Rocks, and St. Kilda, it is equally common, breeding in similar situations, and keeping strictly to the sea-margin.” Mr. Dunn found it very abundant in all parts of Shetland; and Captain Clark-Kennedy informs me that he has met with it very abundantly along the shores of Caithness, Sutherland, and others of the northern counties of Scotland, and especially numerous on the Orkneys. In Thompson’s ‘ Birds of Ireland’ (i. p. 227) we read, this Pipit ‘“‘inhabits the sea-coasts throughout the year, and has on those of the north, east, west, and south commonly occurred to me. Although this species does not appear in Mr. Templeton’s published Catalogue of Irish 9 9) Vertebrata, I find, by reference to his MS., that he was acquainted with it. Under the name of Alauda petrosa, he remarked, ‘common about the rocks on the shore.’ It is nowhere more plentiful than about the rocky marine islets, of which Tory, off the north of Donegal, and the south islands of Arran (off the Bay of Galway), by reason of their extreme position, may be par- ticularized. Mr. Poole, writing of the county of Wexford, remarks that the nest is generally on the slope of a grassy bank, or in cliffs at no great height above the sea, is composed of dry grass- stalks, and lined with a few black horse-hairs. He has found nests containing eggs, and others having young, on the 7th of May; a bird which he startled from her nest feigned being hurt, evidently to draw his attention thence to herself. At the Giant’s Causeway, where these birds are particularly numerous, I have been much interested, in the middle of June, by observing them ascend gradually to a great height in the air, uttering continuously ‘cheep-cheep ’ between each beat of the wings, and then descend in perfect silence as quickly and at about the same angle, perhaps fifty degrees. ‘The descent was accomplished with motionless wing, their little breasts being shot out like puff-balls. From my always seeing a pair of these birds about the wall at the neighbouring salmon-cuts (Bush-foot), I had no doubt of their having a nest in some of its apertures.” It does not occur in Greenland or Iceland; but Captain Feilden records it as numerous in the Feroes: “ During my frequent boat-journeys,’ he says, “this bird was constantly seen fluttering along the rocks in search of food, frequently engaged in aérial gambols with its mate.” In Scandinavia it is tolerably common: and here also both the vinous-breasted and common form are found ; but the latter appears to predominate; and I can find no reason to infer that the two forms have a distinct breeding-range. Mr. Robert Collett informs me that in Norway it is found exclusively on the sea-coast, and breeds commonly on the islets and rocks along the entire coast from the Hvalder islands to the North Cape and Varangerfiord. It never penetrates far up the fiords, and is rare on the Christiania fiord, north of Drobak, and never occurs in the interior, as it is stated to have done in Sweden. This is the only Pipit that to some extent winters annually on the coasts of Norway; for large flocks are seen on the rocks skirting the southern coasts throughout the winter; but large numbers migrate, leaving for the south in October and November, and returning in March or April. Pastor Sommerfelt records it as not uncommon on the Varanger fiord, where it arrives early in April, and is the last songster that leaves, remaining till the middle of November. It breeds up the fiords, but not so commonly as on the sea-coast. In Sweden, Professor Sundevall says, it is found on the coast here and there from Skane northwards. In Skane it occurs, he says, at Kullen; and Mr. Meves informs me that he observed it on Bornholm. Many remain in Sweden over winter, at least in Bohuslan, if not elsewhere on the coast. It is a great favourite with the Swedish fishermen, as it feeds on the Cancer pulex, which is so destructive to their nets. In Finland the Rock-Pipit is not common ; but Von Wright observed it at Hango-udd. I have but meagre data respecting its occurrence in Russia; but Mr. Sabanaeff informs me that, according to Daniloff, it is said to breed in the Orloff Government. It occurs on the southern coasts of the Baltic during the winter and on passage ; but Herr E. von Homeyer states positively that it is never met with there in the summer. Kjerbolling (Danm. Fugl. p. 144) says that Faber met with it in the summer of 1824, on 34! lad an Su) ifs, Th 2 4 Veierden, Kyholmen, and Hjelmen; and Hage got it at Flensborg and Hoe, and shot seven on Moen. Kjerbolling himself had it from Jutland, Apenrade, and other places; and Mr. Teilmann shot specimens on the Apenrade fjord and Fancde in 1839. On the coasts of Holland and Belgium it occurs regularly in spring and autumn on passage; and Baron von Droste Hiilshoff records, under the name of Anthus aquaticus, what I believe, from his description, to be the vinous form of this species, as occurring on the island of Borkum during the autumn migration, at which season, he adds, it is not rare. In France it appears to be resident on the coasts of Normandy and Brittany, and breeds abundantly amongst the rocks of the peninsulas and islands between Brest and Lorient. At the seasons of passage it is found along the whole seaboard from Dunkerque to Bayonne; but I do not find it recorded from Southern France or the Medi- terranean coast of that country. I have no data respecting its occurrence in Portugal, and am doubtful if it occurs in Spain. Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 110) as follows:—“ My only reason for including the present species is, that I brought home a specimen, shot among many others on the mud at Palmones, near Algeciraz, in March 1870, which was identified by Mr. Sharpe as being Anthus obscurus. Not having obtained any since, it is quite possible there may have been some error about it, and that the species does not occur in Andalucia.” Salvadori has no knowledge of its occurrence in any part of Italy; nor does Doderlein record it amongst the visitants to Sicily; but Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1869, p. 246) that it has once occurred in Malta. Lord Lilford speaks of it (Ibis, 1860, p. 229) as being found in Corfu and Epirus; but he now informs me that this statement was founded on error, and that he never met with the present species in Greece; nor is it recorded from that country by any of the ornithologists who have worked at the natural history of that country. Canon Tristram has sent me a specimen said to have been obtained in Greece; but I cannot help thinking that some mistake has been made in the locality. It has not been met with in North Africa, except by Favier, who says that it occurs in winter near Tangier; and I have obtained confirmation of this statement by having a specmen sent to me by M. Olcese, which I find is undoubtedly a Rock-Pipit in winter dress. The present species is essentially a shore-bird, frequenting the barren rocky portions of the coast, and never penetrating far inland. Though generally distributed, it is nowhere very common ; and as it is confined to the coast, it is not so easily observed as the Meadow- and Tree- Pipits. In general habits it closely resembles the Meadow-Pipit, and may be seen in suitable localities running about amongst the rocks in search of its food, which consists chiefly of insects and their larve; but Mr. Collett informs me that in the autumn he has shot specimens which had their stomachs filled with seeds and vegetable matter. It is usually found amongst the rocks or where there is an abundance of sea-weed; and where the retiring tide leaves a large tract uncovered these birds may be seen carefully examining the crevices of the rocks or the masses of sea-weed in search of their insect food. Macgillivray writes (Brit. B. 11. p. 197) that “its food consists of insects, larvee, small molluscous animals, and seeds of various kinds, in searching for which it mixes with the Meadow-Pipits, and sometimes with Snowflakes and Sky-Larks. In summer, when masses of sea-weeds happen to be cast on the shore and become putrid, they find among them an abundant supply of larvee; and at all seasons they frequent the ebb, in order to 5 pick up minute shell-fish and other marine animals, often mingling with Redshanks, Turnstones, or Purres. The flight of this species is wavering and desultory; and its cry is a repeated shrill ‘cheep.’ When disturbed while feeding, it flutters about, frequently repeating its note, settles on a rock or stone, or on the grass, keeps vibrating its body, and waits until the intruder departs. But although shy, it is so only after a fashion; for it seems to consider itself safe at no great distance: and indeed it may generally do so with impunity; for it is very seldom molested, neither its colour nor the quality of its flesh being sufficiently attractive to the sportsman to induce him to hold it in request. It is scarcely gregarious at any season, but in winter may be said to be at least not unsocial.” The song of the Rock-Pipit is tolerably pleasing, but not so prolonged, and much poorer in quality, than that of the Meadow-Pipit. When singing it rises in the air like the Tree- or Meadow-Pipit, and gradually descends to its perch on a rock or stone, uttering its song all the while. Should an intruder approach its nest, it flies restlessly round, evincing the utmost anxiety, and constantly utters its querulous call-note. Nidification commences late in April or early in May; and the nest is placed on the ground, in a bank, or under a stone or ledge in the face of a cliff, or amongst moss. It is generally in some situation immediately overlooking the sea, or not far inland, and is constructed of bents and blades of grass, sometimes intermixed with sea-weeds, and lined with finer bents, and occa- sionally with a little horsehair. The eggs, from four to five in number, vary considerably, but are separable into two forms —one reddish brown, the other olive—between which, however, there is every gradation to be met with. In those in my collection, all of which are from the Scotch coast, the ground-colour is grey with an olive-green tinge, and the markings, which are small and very closely distributed over the surface of the shell, are dark brown with a reddish shade; but I have seen others in which the markings are quite olivaceous brown in colour. In size they average about 2% by 46 mch. As stated by Professor Newton in the edition of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ which he is now editing, there are two forms of the Rock-Pipit—one of which, during the breeding-season, has the breast tinged with vinous, and has by some authors been treated as a distinct species, under the name of Anthus rupestris, Nilss., and the other, our common British Rock-Pipit, which has the breast honey-yellow. Nearly two years ago I put aside the present article, then half written, because I found that I required further data respecting the vinous-breasted form, and have since then obtained as much information as can be had, and have examined a considerable series of specimens, the result being that I cannot separate these two forms specifically. It is true that in the south of England the vinous-breasted form appears occasionally in flocks separate from the ° ordinary honey-breasted form ; but during the breeding-season they do not appear to have distinct breeding-ranges, but breed together; and in measurements and winter dress they are quite inseparable. ‘The vinous-breasted form breeds, though probably rarely, in Great Britain, where, I may add, it has very generally done duty as the Water-Pipit (Anthus spinoletta); for after a careful search into the various recorded occurrences of this latter species, only three could, I found, be relied on, all the rest being, so far as I could judge, the vinous-breasted form of the present species. Mr. Hancock states that he has received this form from Chepstow with the 3K 347 et) os co 6 egg, which was carefully verified as belonging to the bird sent, and which, he adds, does not differ from the egg of the ordinary honey-breasted form. In the series I have examined I have found the one form graduate into the other, and some specimens are difficult to determine as to which they most resemble; and Mr. Hancock has arrived at the same conclusion from a careful examination of specimens which have passed through his hands. I can, however, scarcely confirm his statement that the vinous-breasted form is the prevalent one in Sweden. This is certainly not the case in Norway; for Mr. Collett refers to the occurrence of one breeding on the Hyaléer amongst individuals of the honey-breasted form as an exceptional case. And, judging from Von Wright's descriptions (Finl. Fog]. i. p. 145), only the common form is found in Finland. I have carefully measured a large series of both forms and can find no constant, but only individual, variation in measurements. Mr. Gatcombe writes to me (respecting a most peculiar monstrosity of this species, recorded by him in the ‘ Zoologist’ for February 1873):—‘ This bird had four legs but no tail (at least where it should have been); but there was a most perfect one growing on the head, just above the left eye, projecting behind much like the depressed crest of a Hoopoe. This head-tail (if I might so call it) was quite perfect, and the outer feather on each side marked with the usual dull white. Two of its legs were in their proper places; but the other pair were dangling from behind, the feet touching the ground, but of no earthly use, being dragged along, as it were, after the bird, and appeared thin, shrivelled, and very light in colour, with the claws much produced. I watched this bird, off and on, for more than two hours with a powerful telescope, and could see it as plainly as if it were in my hand. It was very active, running about and feeding among the sea-weed in company with many of its own species and others, none of which attempted to molest it. From either side of the rump of this extraordinary bird sprang tufts of ‘ fluffy’ slate-coloured feathers, from under which the legs appeared. I have now by me a very young duckling similar with regard to the legs, but the tail growing out of the side instead of on the head. The most extraordinary circumstance concerning the Rock-Pipit seems to be that of its having arrived at a state of maturity, such monstrosities, I believe, being seldom known to live.” On the Plate, in the foreground, to the right, is figured the male specimen above described, and in the background, to the left, a very fine specimen of the vinous-breasted form or variety— both birds being in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, 3g. Hampstead, October 5th, 1869 (Davy). 6,3,¢,2. Bexhill, Sussex, October 2nd, 1860 (H. E. D.). d, e. Brighton, Sussex, October 26th, 1869 (Davy). f,?. Hythe, February 9th, 1874 (Colonel Irby). g, h. Orkney (Dunn). i. Aker, Norway, April 5th, 1862 (R. Collett). k. Hvalée, Norway, May 27th, 1865, vinous-breasted form, shot from nest (R.C.). J, pull. Jederen, Norway, June 1872 (R.C.).. m, 3. Leiden, Holland, October 11th, 1870 (Sala). x. Tangier (Olcese). 349 7 E Mus. H. Stevenson. a, 3, 6,9. Norwich, March 7th, 1864, vinous form (H. S.). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 6. Karn Islands, May 1859. c. Farn Islands, May Ist, 1853. d. Teesmouth, Durham. e. Northumber- land (W. Proctor). f,3. Greece?, February 9th, 1858 (H. B. T.). E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. a, 3. Hunstanton, October 6th, 1871 (Baker). 6,3. Greatham, March 16th, 1866. c,¢. Bamborough, April 27th, 1866. d,9. Seaton, March 26th, 1866 (J. H. G., jun.). e,9. Minehead, November 28th, 1867. f, 2. Lynn, February 1870. g. Plymouth, February 10th, 1865 (J. Gatcombe). E Mus. G. Dawson Rowley. a,9, 6,2. March 15th, 1869. c¢, 3. March 17th, 1869. d,2. March 18th, 1869. e, 3, f,9. February 19th, 1869, all vinous forms from Brighton (G. D. R.). (sy) A bo SMR: agent Gi Beals it * + ae é Piatjeny te Family PYCNONOTIDE. Genus PYCNONOTUS. Turdus apud Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 295 (1766). “ Pycnonotus, Kuhl,” Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 973. Jus apud Ehrenberg, Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. 6b (1829). Hematornis apud Lesson, Rey. Zool. p. 98 (1840). Izvos apud Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1843, p. 27. THE birds comprised in this genus inhabit the Ethiopian Region down to South Africa, the south and south-eastern portions of the Western Palearctic Region, and the Oriental Region down to Sumatra and Malacca. ‘Three species only are found within the limits of the Western Palearctic Region, two being residents, whereas the third is only a rare straggler from South Africa. A fourth species, Pycnonotus arsinoé (Licht.), is found close to the borders of our region in North-east Africa, but cannot justly be included as a Western Palearctic bird. In habits the Bulbuls are said to resemble the Babblers (Argya). They frequent bush-covered localities, and are said to evince a partiality for places not far from the sea. ‘They are noisy and garrulous like Jays; and their flight resembles that of those birds. They feed on insects, berries, and fruit, and are extremely partial to oranges. ‘Their nest, which they usually place in fruit-trees, resembles that of the Woodchat; and they lay dull white eggs, closely marked with purplish grey and dull red spots and blotches. Pycnonotus capensis, the type of the genus, has the bill moderately long, slightly decurved ; nostrils oval, basal, placed in the anterior part of the nasal depression; gape furnished with a few tolerably strong bristles; wings rather short, broad, and rounded, the first quill short, the second rather shorter than the ninth, the fourth, fifth, and sixth nearly equal and longest; tail moderately long, nearly square ; tarsi tolerably strong, covered in front with one plate and three inferior scutelle; feet moderately stout, the hind toe rather strong, claws moderate, curved, acute, laterally grooved. 38 301 os vi : = RE DUSKY PYCNONOTUS BULBUL. BARBATUS. PYCNONOTUS BARBATUS. (DUSKY BULBUL.) Turdus barbatus, Desfont. Mém. de l’Ac. Roy. des Sciences, p. 500, pl. xiii. (1787). Izos obscurus, Temm. Man. d’Orn. iv. p. 609 (1840). Haematornis lugubris, Less. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 98. Ixos inornatus, Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1843, p. 27. Izos obscurus (Temm.), Schlegel, Rev. Crit. p. xlii. (1844). Pycnonotus obscurus (Temm.), G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, i. p. 237 sss —49). Pycnonotus inornatus (Fras.), G. R. Gray, ut supra (1844-49). Izos ashanteus, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 266 (1850). Pycnonotus ashanteus (Bp.), J. W. von Mill. J. fir Orn. 1855, p. 394. Ixos barbatus (Desf.), Bp. Cat. Parzud. p. 7, sp. 216 (1856). Bou lég-lag, Moorish; Naranjero, Spanish. Figure notabiles. Desfont. /.c.; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1871, pl. vii. fig. 3. $ ad. corpore supra umbrino-cinereo, capite saturatiore, loris et regione ad basin rostri nigricanti-umbrinis : mento et guld superiore saturaté fusco-umbrinis, hdc versus pectus pallidiore: pectore et hypochondriis pallidé fusco-cinereis: abdomine ceutrali, crisso subcaudalibusque albis: alis et caud& saturate fuscis : iride fuscé: rostro et pedibus nigris. 2 ad. haud a mare distinguenda. Pull. adulto similis sed vix sordidior. Adult Male (Algeria). Upper parts dull brown, rather paler than in P. capensis; head darker than the rest of the upper parts, being dark umber-brown ; lores and space in front of the eye at the base of the bill blackish ; chin and upper throat dull dark brown, gradually fading into pale ashy brown on the breast and the rest of the underparts, except the centre of the abdomen, crissum, and under tail-coverts, which are pure white; wings and tail dull dark brown; iris dark brown; bill and feet black. Total length about 8 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 4:1, tail 4°2, tarsus 1-0. Female. Similar to the male. Young. Resembles the adult, but is a trifle duller. THE present species of Bulbul inhabits North-western Africa from Algeria and Morocco down the coast as far as the Gaboon. Temminck certainly stated that it had occurred in Southern Spain; and on his authority it has been by most authors included amongst those species which inhabit Europe proper; but more recent investigation has shown that Temminck must have been x On us 2 in error, for no trace of its occurrence in Spain has since been found. Colonel Irby says that, if found anywhere, the coast near Tarifa would be the most likely ground; but the most careful investigation resulted in his failing to find any sign of such a bird as the Dusky Bulbul. In Algeria, however, it is a tolerably common and resident species; and Loche writes that it frequents wooded districts, is not shy, and may easily be approached. Its flight is not strong or rapid; and it is generally seen moving about amongst the trees, uttering its pleasant and clear song, which is a repetition of the same syllables varied and modulated, the syllables resembling the words tou-tu-tou-on, tou-tu-tou-on. Its food consists of insects, berries, and wild fruits. It is sedentary, and lives in families in the district it has fixed on, merely flying from tree to tree in pursuit of insects. It nests late, and conceals its nest with the greatest care, usually placing it in the orange-trees. The nest is constructed of fine roots and stems of plants; and the number of eges deposited is four, these latter being white, marked indistinctly with brownish, and closely spotted with numerous irregular dots of violet rose-colour and reddish brown. In size the eggs measure 22 by 18 millims. It does not, he adds, commence nidification in Algeria before June, and he has found nests containing fresh eggs as late as August and September. Mr. Salvin observed it, and obtained specimens at Kef Laks; and Mr. Taczanowski says (J. f. O. 1870, p. 45) that he met with it in all bush-covered localities in the highlands of Algeria, especially in districts not far distant from the sea; but at Batna he did not observe any, nor did he ever meet with one in the desert. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who also met with it in Algeria, writes (Ibis, 1871, p. 78) as follows :—“ These birds get up in a wood in coveys of eight or ten, like a party of young Jays, from thick scrub and brambles. Their Jay-like flight is as different as possible from that of the shy but active Blackbird; and when once flushed they no longer seek to bury themselves in the foliage, but perch in the most exposed situations. From among the feathers of the occipital region of one which I shot at Oued el Alleg grew a few very slender filaments divided into branches, and about # inch in length.” Colonel Irby writes (Orn. of Str. Gibr. p. 76) that, according to Favier, it is “very abundant and resident around Tangier. When the oranges are ripe they are always to be heard and seen chattering and fighting in the gardens. They nest in May, June, and July, laying from three to four eggs, which are very thin-shelled and tender, of a greyish white colour, marbled or spotted with reddish spots of two or three shades of brown and purple. The nest is built in the branches of fruit-trees (orange, apricot, pear, &c.), and is shaped like that of the Woodchat Shrike, coarsely interlaced outside with ends of small roots and with creeping plants. They feed on all kinds of fruit and different flowers, are very fond of oranges, and prefer them to any thing else.” Colonel Irby himself found the present species numerous in the gardens just outside Tangier, and says that they reminded him much of some of the Indian Babblers (Crateropus), particularly in their flight and garrulous chattering. Besides this noise, he says (/. c.), “ they have a melodious whistle which I took down at the time and tried to note thus, Pwit, Pwit, Quitéra, Quiterd, rather in the tone of a Black- bird. This song (if it may be so called) and their chatter are so remarkable as to attract attention at once..... Among the Jews who speak Spanish they go by the name of ‘ Najanero’ (litt. ‘The orange-man ’), from their orange-eating propensities. ‘They make a clean hole in the side of an orange, and completely clean it out, leaving nothing but a shell of orange-peel, which remains hanging on the tree. I have more than once pulled these husks down, taking them to 3 . be sound fruit. Owing to the mischief they thus do, they are not favourites, and consequently are more timid near Tangier than about Larache, where I shot some of them.” Found (as above mentioned) on the west coast of Africa as far down as the Gaboon, it has been obtained at Senegal and Lagos; and Captain Shelley has lent to me a nice series from Fantee, and one example from the Gaboon, which latter does not differ from specimens from Fantee. All the information I can glean respecting the habits of the present species is given above. I possess a single egg obtained in Algeria by Captain Loche, which in size is rather larger than the eggs of Pycnonotus xanthopygus, which it also resembles in colour and markings; but the latter are duller. It is dull white in colour, closely marked with purplish grey underlying shell- markings and red overlying surface-spots and marblings, and measures #2 by $3 inch in size. Specimens of the Dusky Bulbul from Tangier have the head darker than others from Algeria, and agree closer with examples from Fantee, which latter appear to run somewhat smaller than those from Algeria and Tangier; but a critical examination of the series in the collection of Captain Shelley shows that examples from Fantee vary in size from culmen 0-7, wing 3°6, tail 3:3, tarsus 0°85, up to the size of the specimen from Algeria above described, or even somewhat larger. According to Mr. R. B. Sharpe (P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 132) the Bulbul from the Gaboon is distinct from the present species, having the under tail-coverts tinged with yellow, and being darker in colour; and he consequently gave it the name of Pycnonotus gabonensis. However, the present species certainly occurs also at Gaboon, as a specimen from there in Captain Shelley’s collection does not in the least differ from examples from Fantee. In North- east Africa there is a species not unlike Pycnonotus barbatus, which, however, does not occur within the limits of the Palearctic Region. This species, Pycnonotus arsinoé (Licht.), inhabits North-east Africa, being found most frequently in Nubia and Abyssinia, but does not pass below the second cataract of the Nile. It differs from the present species in having the head and upper throat blackish, the upper parts rather paler, and the under tail-coverts and crissum pure white, and is smaller in size. The specimens figured and described are an adult male from Algeria, in my own collection, and a young bird in the collection of Canon Tristram. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. HE. Dresser. a,d,, c,d. Algeria (Fairmaire). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a,d. Algeria, June 16th, 1856 (H. B. T.). 6b, juv. Algiers, 1856 (H. B. T.). E. Mus. Howard Saunders. a, 3,6. Tangier (Olcese). E Mus. G. EL. Shelley. a,9. Algeria (Verreaux). 6,3,c,?2. Tangier, March 13th, 1873 (G. E.S.). d,e. Accra, February 15th, 1872 (G. E. S8.). jf. Fantee, January 30th, 1872 (G. #.S.). g. Fantee, March 7th, 1872 (G. E. S.). h. Gaboon (Ansell). x2 ar 14 Q e) {. PALESTINE BULBUL. PYCNONOTUS XANTHOPYGIUS. 2. GOLDVENTED BULBUL. PYCNONOTUS CAPENSIS. PYCNONOTUS XANTHOPYGUS. (PALESTINE BULBUL.) Ixus canthopygos, Ehr. Symb. Phys. Av. fol. 66 (1829). Lxos vaillantii, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 221 (1855, nec Temm.). Izos vallombrose, Bp. Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 766 (1856). Izxos xanthopygius (Ehr.), Tristram, Ibis, 1859, p. 30. Ixus xanthopygius (Ehy.), Tristram, Ibis, 1865, p. 81. Pycnonotus valombrose (Bp.), Heuglin, J. fiir Orn. 1867, p. 203. Pycnonotus xanthopygius (Ehr.), Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 131. Pycnonotus nigricans, Hartlaub, Griech. Jahreszeiten, iii. p. 229 (1875, nec Vieill.). Figura nulla. 3 ad. capite et collo superiore nitidé nigris: corpore supra pallidé cinereo-umbrino: remigibus primariis umbrinis, secundariis dorso concoloribus: uropygio saturatiore: caud& saturaté umbrina, pallideé brunneo vix apicaté: corpore subtus albido vix cinereo tincto, pectore et hypochondriis cinereo- brunneo lavatis, crisso et subcaudalibus leté flavis: rostro et pedibus nigris: iride rufescenti-fusca, marginibus palpebrarum pallidé brunneis. 2 ad. haud a mare distinguenda. Adult Male (Syria). Entire head and upper neck glossy black, not merging into the colour of the rest of the upper parts and lower throat, but clearly and sharply defined; upper parts dusty ashy brown, becoming umber-brown on the primaries, the upper tail-coverts being also rather darker than the rest of the upper parts; tail umber-brown, with rather paler tips to the feathers; underparts dull white, washed with pale ashy brown on the breast and flanks; vent and under tail-coverts brilliant king’s- yellow; bill and legs black ; iris dark brown; edge of the eyelid light-coloured. Total length 7-5-8 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3°7, tail 3°8, tarsus 0°9. Adult Female. Similar to the male. Tue range of this Bulbul is somewhat limited, as it occurs only in the south-eastern portion of the western Palearctic Region. According to Dr. Kriiper it has been met with in the Greek archipelago; for he writes (Griech. Jahresz. ii. p. 229) as follows:—“ This species, which is tolerably common at Beyrout and Damascus, in Syria, and also occurs at Cyprus and Rhodes, visits the Cyclades annually ; and a few examples have been obtained there. I did not personally meet with it, but obtained three sittings of eggs on Naxos.” Except this note of Dr. Krier, I have no data whatever of its occurrence in Europe proper; but it is extremely common in Palestine, where, Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1859, p. 30), “it was found in all parts of the country, wherever there is wood or gardens, from Jaffa to the Jordan. In its skulking habits it exactly resembles the [vos obscurus of Algeria; but its brilliant saffron vent renders it conspicuous it 307 2 among the bushes. The head and throat are of a deep black; and there is scarcely any perceptible difference between the sexes in plumage, but that the black on the head of the female is not quite so bright. It is the finest songster in Palestine, and has obtained the name of the Palestine Nightingale, which is well deserved, whether for the volume or the variety of its notes. It wants, however, the last two notes of the Nightingale’s song. On arriving at the banks of the Jordan long before sunrise, at 4 A.M., the thick jungle which fringes the river was alive with the cheery notes of these unseen musicians, who continued their concert until nearly noon.” He further writes (Ibis, 1865, p. 82) :—“ We found it plentiful in the Jordan valley, and in all the sheltered wadys and wooded lowlands on both sides of the river, as well as in the plains of Sharon, Acre, and Pheenicia, the glades of Carmel, and occa- sionally even in the sea-bound valleys of the Lebanon as far as Beyrout, but never in the hill ~ country. I have never seen specimens from Egypt or Asia Minor, though I have met with it in a collection said to have been made in the Red Sea.” Captain Shelley did not meet with it in Egypt, though he includes it in his work; and Von Heuglin writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 399), ‘‘it inhabits the date- and tamarisk-groves of Arabia Petreea and Arabia Felix, Wadi-Araba, Palestine, and Syria, where it appears to be resident; but we only had opportunities of seeing it during winter. In its habits it resembles P. arsinoe, but is more lively; its song is louder and more varied; and on account of this latter quality it is often kept in confinement.” Beyond the countries above named, I know of no locality where the present species is known to occur. Messrs. Finsch and Hartlaub (Vég. Ost-Afr. p. 297) unite the present species with Pycnonotus nigricans, Vieill.; it will therefore be necessary for me to state my reasons for keeping them distinct. Having a very rich series of both species before me, I find that they constantly differ as follows:—P. nigricans has the upper parts darker than in P. xanthopygus, and has the edge of the eyelid black, and not light-coloured. In P. nigricans the throat is dark brown and the breast lighter brown, the one shade gradually merging into the other, and the abdomen is pure white; whereas in P. xanthopygus the throat is black, and the breast very pale greyish brown, the division of the two colours being very sharply defined, and the abdomen is dull whitish or pale whity brown, not pure white. From the list at foot it will be seen how many specimens of the present species I have examined ; and I may add that I have had the use of a good series of Pycnonotus nigricans, for the loan of which I am indebted to Captain G. E. Shelley. Respecting the habits of the present species I find but little on record beyond the data above given; but Canon Tristram adds (Ibis, 1865, p. 81) the following particulars respecting its nidification:—‘“‘It is never gregarious, but scattered throughout the year in pairs, and commences its song soon after Christmas. For its music it well merits the name of Bulbul; and I never heard a finer songster, except the Nightingale, which it much resembles in power and variety of note. It is easily approached, and by no meaus so shy as most of the Turdidee The nest is very small and neat, placed either in the small fork of a tree or on a side branch, and covered externally to match the bark of the branch on which it rests. In character and structure it much resembles that of the Chaffinch. The eggs are three, seldom four; and while some pairs have hatched their young in March, others do not lay till towards the end of April. The egg partakes of the beautiful character of all the Pycnonotide, covered with rich chocolate, 309 3 crimson, and pink blotches and spots, and about the size of that of the Sky-Lark. It is subject to considerable variation in the intensity and size of the markings.” I possess eggs collected in Palestine by Canon Tristram, which are white, covered with faint purplish underlying shell- markings, and clearly defined chocolate-crimson surface-spots. In size they measure from g by go to go by g5 ich. The present species is easily kept in confinement, and is an excellent cage-bird. Mr. C. A. Wright informs me that he has kept them for long in confinement, and speaks very highly of their power of song. We have, however, only quite recently had the first living specimen in the Zoological Society's Gardens at Regent’s Park, Mr. E. T. Rogers, C.M.Z.S., late Vice-Consul at Cairo, having presented one to the Society; and it arrived just in time to enable my artist to colour his sketch from the living bird instead of from the dried skin. The specimen figured and described is an adult male from Syria, in my own collection, the soft parts, however, being taken from the living specimen in the Zoological Society’s Gardens. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a,d. Syria (H.C. Taylor). 6,@. Jericho, January 2nd, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). E Mus. Howard Saunders. a. Jericho, January 11th, 1864 (H. B. Tristram). E Mus. H. B. Tristram. a, 3. Jericho, January 2nd, 1864 (H. B. T.). 6,3. Plain of Sharon, March 24th, 1858 (H. B. 7.). oc, 6. Ghor el Safieh, January 28th, 1864 (4. B.7T.). d. Ghor el Safieh, February 7th, 1872 (H. B. T.). e, 3. Sidon, December Ist, 1863 (H. B. T.). f, d. Palestine, December 7th, 1863 (H. B. T.). g, 6. Palestine, December 5th, 1863 (H. B. T.). h, d. Palestine, May 25th, 1864 (H. B. T.). T 2 ine 2 » : ‘ : : } : “a od a Oe ae Oa rf esate Mie Pitty Seen eae ROU ahs aeN eae - < < y, r Hae ona Sass icin en RS Bas By ee?) caine e te ee crys et ols IVARLYY f ra i teeitiiath ahd Manip ry Mi i tate se “yes data ee Rea ian PYCNONOTUS CAPENSIS. (GOLD-VENTED BULBUL.) Turdus merula fusca capitis bone spet, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 259, pl. 27. fig. 3 (1760). Turdus capensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 295 (1766, ex Briss.). Le Brunet du Cap de Bonne espérance, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 390 (1775). Le Brunet, Levaill. Ois. d’Afr. ii. p. 36, pl. 105 (1802). Pycnonotus capensis (L.), G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, p. 29 (1840). Pycnonotus chrysorrheus, Thompson, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1845, xv. p. 308, nec Temm. Turdus aurigaster, Yaxr. Brit. Birds, Suppl. p. 15 (1845, nec Vieill.). Pycnonotus aurigaster, G. R. Gray, Cat. of Brit. Birds, p. 84 (1850, nec Vieill.). Ixos capensis (L.), Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay. p. 267 (1850). Figura unica. Levaillant, J. c. Ad. capite, collo, dorso et uropygio sordidé umbrinis, capite vix saturatiore, frontis et pilei plumis vix elon- gatis: alis et caudd saturaté umbrinis: gula et gutture dorso concoloribus, pectore et hypochondriis pallidioribus: abdomine centrali albido, versus crissum puré albo, plumis versus apicem vix sulphureo tinctis: crisso et subcaudalibus leté flavis: pedibus et rostro nigris: iride rufescenti-fuscé, marginibus palpebrarum sordidé rufescentibus, Adult (Cape of Good Hope). Head, neck, back, and rump uniform umber-brown, the head rather darker Obs. Ir is than the rest of the upper parts; feathers on the forehead and crown slightly elongated; wings and tail dark umber-brown, the latter with very indistinct bars (such as are observable in Locustella luscinioides) , which, however, can only be seen in certain lights; throat and neck in front similar in colour to the back, becoming gradually paler on the breast and flanks, the centre of the abdomen being dull whitish, but the lower part becoming almost pure white, tinged with sulphur-yellow towards the vent ; vent and under tail-coverts bright king’s yellow, edge of the wing sulphur-yellow; legs and bill black ; iris deep brown with a reddish tinge, edge of the eyelids deep red. ‘Total length about 7-75 inches, culmen 0°8, wing 3°55, tail 3-5, tarsus 0°9. Captain Shelley, who has shot the present species in South Africa, assures me that the edge of the eyelid is always dull dark red, whereas in Pycnonotus nigricans it is blackish. In Levaillant’s plate of Le Brunoir (Ois. d’Afr. pl. 106. fig. 1), on which P. nigricans was based, the edge of the eyelid is given as red (which is evidently an error); and at first I was inclined to believe that this figure might repre- sent true P. capensis ; but after a careful comparison with skins I found that this was not the case, but that the only difference between it and P. nigricans is the coloration of the edge of the eyelid. with some hesitation that I include the present species as belonging to the Western Palearctic avifauna ; for its only claim to a place in it rests on the single occurrence in Ireland. However, as Professor Newton retains it in his edition of Yarrell’s ‘British Birds, I have deemed it best not to exclude it from the present work. ‘The record of the Irish occurrence is 361 2 as follows:—“In the month of January 1838, this South-African bird was shot at Mount Beresford, three miles and a half from Waterford, by a lad while out shooting Blackbirds and Snipe. Considering it a hen of the former, he sold it to Dr. Robert Burkitt, who skinned and preserved it; the sex, however, was not noted. The specimen was exhibited by the late Mr. Thompson at the meeting of the British Association held at Cork in August 1843; and the brief notice in that part of the ‘Report’ of the Association for that year which contains the ‘Transactions of the Sections’ (p. 71) seems to be the first printed announcement of its occurrence. In May 1845 the same gentleman made known (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xv. p. 308, note) a few more particulars of the fact, as above given; and in January 1846 Dr. Burkitt pre- sented the skin to the Museum of Trinity College, Dublin, where, however, it is unfortunately not at the present time forthcoming.” By Thompson, Yarrell, and others this specimen was most erroneously referred to the “Cudor” of Levaillant; but fortunately their careful descriptions, together with a coloured drawing of the Waterford bird preserved by Dr. Burkitt, enabled Professor Newton to correct this mistake; and it is to be remarked that the ‘ Cudor” (P. aurigaster) is a species which inhabits Java. The present species has not been elsewhere met with in Europe, nor even in North Africa, it being a South-African species, apparently con- fined to the Cape colony. Levaillant (/. ¢.) says that it is ‘extremely common near the Cape of Good Hope, and especially in Swart Land, where it is called geet-gat, or yellow vent. It feeds on berries and insects, and is a very noisy bird.” Mr. HE. L. Layard, who met with it in South Africa, says (B. of 8. Afr. p. 138) that they ‘are found in great abundance in the neighbourhood of Cape-town, and indeed throughout the whole colony. ‘They migrate according to the fruit-season, and are especially partial to figs and grapes. They also feed largely on the berries of the ‘ Persian lilac;’ and when that tree is in fruit any number might be shot by a person lying in ambush near. When feeding they keep up a continued chattering; and as they usually go in flocks of ten or fifteen in number, their presence is soon detected.” I do not possess the eggs of this species, and have no other information respecting its nidification beyond that published by Mr. Layard, who writes as follows :—‘ These birds conceal their nests so skilfully that they are rarely detected, notwithstanding their numbers. It is com- posed of rootlets, lined sometimes with hair and feathers, and is generally placed in the fork of a tree or large bush. The eggs, three or four in number, are a lovely pale pink, densely spotted and blotched with dark pink and pale purple, presenting a most beautiful appearance: axis 11”, diameter 7}!".” The specimen described, and figured on the same Plate with P. xanthopygus, is one from the Cape of Good Hope, in my own collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a. Cape of Good Hope, 1871 (Butler). E Mus. G. E. Shelley. a, b. Cape of Good Hope (Butler). c. Wellington, Cape colony, January 6th, 1874 (G. E. Shelley). Family ORIOLIDA. Genus ORIOLUS. Turdus apud Brisson, Orn. ii. p. 320 (1760). Oriolus, Linneeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 160 (1766). Coracias apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 41 (1769). Ir is rather difficult to decide where the Orioles should be placed; for in many respects they stand more isolated than most of the other genera. Macgillivray places Oriolus between Sturnus and Cinelus, Keyserling and Blasius between Motacilla and Monticola, Degland and Gerbe between Cinclus and Pycnonotus, G. R. Gray between the Artamide and the Pittide, Professor Sundevall between Pycnonotus and Muscicapa, Professor Newton between the Muscicapide and the Cinclide, and Mr. Sharpe amongst the Corvide, between the Paridiseidee and the Dicruride. I was at first somewhat doubtful whether I was correct in placing it where I have; but on referring to Professor Parker he has fully indorsed the view I have taken. Only two species belong to the genus, one of which (Oriolus galbula) inhabits the Western Palearctic Region, the western portion of the Eastern Palearctic Region, and the Ethiopian Region down to Natal, and the other (Oriolus kundoo) inhabits the Indian Region. The Orioles inhabit gardens and groves, more especially where non-evergreen trees prevail ; and with us they are migrants, leaving for the south at the approach of winter. They are excellent songsters, and have a clear, loud, flute-lke note. They feed on insects and fruits, more especially on the former. Their flight is rolling and heavy, but swift; and they affect the tops of the large green wood-trees. Their nests are suspended in the fork of a branch, are con- structed of grass-straws firmly twisted round the branch, and are open, cup-shaped. ‘Their eggs are glossy and white, spotted with deep brown. The young birds when in their first plumage somewhat resemble the adult female. Oriolus galbula, the type of the genus, has the bill moderately long, stout, nearly straight, the tip of the upper mandible distinctly notched ; nostrils basal, oblong; gape furnished with a few short bristles; wings long, the first quill short, the second shorter than the fourth, the third longest ; tail moderately long, nearly square or slightly rounded; tarsus short, covered in front with four plates and three inferior scutelle; toes moderate, covered with large scutelle ; claws moderate, arched, acute, laterally grooved. 39 365 me ROG 14 GOLDEN ORIOLE ORIOLUS GALBULA. ORIOLUS GALBULA. (GOLDEN ORIOLE.) Turdus oriolus, Briss. ii. p. 320 (1760). Oriolus galbula, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 160 (1766). Coracias oriolus, Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 41. no. 45 (1769). Le Loriot, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. ii. p. 254, pl. xvii. (1785). Coracias galbula (L.), Bechst. Gemeinn. Naturg. Vog. Deutschl. i. p. 1292 (1805). Oriolus galbula, var. virescens, Ehr. Symb. Phys. fol. z (1829). Oriolus aureus, C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 156 (1831). Oriolus garrulus, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 157 (1831). Loriot, French; Papa-figos, Portuguese; Oropendola, Spanish; Rigogolo, Italian; Taira safra, Taira hadra, Maltese; Sufer, Arabic; Tair-es-sfar, Moorish; Goldamsel, Pirol, Wiedewall, Witwell, German; Wielewall, Dutch; Guldpirol, Danish; Sommargylling, Swedish; Auhankeittajd, Finnish; Ivolga, Russian. Figure notabiles. D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 26. fig. 1; Werner, Atlas, Omnivores, pl. 15; Kjzeerb. Orn. Dan. taf. xiii. ; Frisch, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 31; Fritsch, Vog. Eur. taf. 14. figs. 7, 8; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 61; Sundevall, Svensk. Fogl. pl. 67. fig. 2; Gould, B. of Eur. pl. 71; id. B. of G. Brit. ii. pl. 831; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pls. 115,114; Roux, Orn. Prov. pls. 125, 126, 127. g ad. pulcherrimé flavus, loris, alis et cauda nigris: remigibus vix sulphureo extts marginatis et apicatis: margine alari et subalaribus flavis, tectricibus primariorum eodem colore terminatis: rectricibus externis valdé, internis mints et centralibus vix flavo apicatis: rostro sordidé rufescente: iride rufescente : pedibus plumbescenti-griscis. @ ad. mari dissimilis, supra flavicanti-viridis, subtis alba fusco striata, pectore et hypochondriis flavo lavatis, crisso et subcaudalibus flavis, alis ut in mare sed brunnescentioribus, secundariis et tectricibus alarum viridi-flavo lavatis: cauda ut in mare picturata, sed rectricibus in pogonio externo omnino nigris: loris nigricanti-fuscis. Adult Male (Malta, April 21). Entire plumage, except the wings and tail, rich golden yellow; a broad stripe from the base of the bill to the eye, covering the lores, deep black; wings jet-black, the quills tipped and externally narrowly margined with yellowish white or sulphur-yellow; edge of the wing and under wing-coverts rich yellow, the primary coverts being broadly terminated with the same colour; tail black, broadly terminated with yellow, the outer rectrices being more broadly, and the inner ones less marked with this colour, the central rectrices black, only narrowly tipped with yellow; bill dull reddish; iris blood-red; legs lead-grey. Total length about 9-9°5 inches, culmen 0:95, wing 5:9, tail 3°6, tarsus 0°85. 222 2 Adult Female (Piedmont, May). Differs considerably from the male; upper parts (excepting the wings) greenish yellow or apple-green, the patch in front of the eye dull brownish black; wings as in the male, but duller and browner, the edgings being pale sulphur-yellow; secondaries and wing-coverts washed with dull greenish yellow; tail as in the male, except that the yellow markings are only on the inner webs, the outer webs of the feathers being blackish; underparts white, on the lower throat, breast, and flanks washed with bright yellow, the vent and under tail-coverts being entirely yellow; throat, breast, and flanks more or less distinctly streaked with blackish brown. ‘oung Male. Closely resembles the female, but is only a little more yellow in tinge of plumage. Nestling (Belgium). Upper parts greyish, tipped with yellow; underparts, where the feathers have grown, white, tinged with yellow and finely streaked with blackish; the short wings and tail have much the same character as those of the adult, but the quills are edged and tipped with yellowish. Obs. In the series I have examined I find scarcely any seasonal variation in the colour of the old birds, as an old male shot on the 4th September is as richly coloured as any I have. The moult appears to take place in August, and therefore this bird would be in full plumage. The young male appears to take at least two years before it attains the full adult livery, and it is therefore to be found in all stages between that and the plumage of the female, which it wears in its first year. A very old female in Captain Shelley’s collection has the entire underparts yellow, almost as rich in colour as in the male, but streaked with blackish, and the upper parts are coloured as in ordinary adult females. TuHE richly coloured European Oriole inhabits Central and Southern Europe generally, being but a rare straggler to Northern Europe. Eastward it occurs as far as Turkestan, and in Africa it has been met with as far south as Damara Land and Natal. With us in Great Britain it is a rare straggler; and though it is stated to have bred in England on several occasions, it must be looked on as being one of our rarer visitants. Professor Newton (Yarr. Brit. B. ed. 4, i. p. 236) says that “it appears almost every spring in the southern and eastern counties, from Cornwall to Norfolk—and especially often in the first and last of them, Sussex, Kent, and Suffolk being the next in order of abundance. In the west of England it has occurred by forty at a time; but most generally it appears in pairs, though the female, from her less conspicuous plumage, often escapes observation.” Mr. Gatcombe informs me that it is said to have occurred in the Saltram woods, the seat of the Earl of Morley, near Plymouth, and a very fine old female in his possession was killed at Millbrook, near Mount Edgcumbe; and Mr. Cecil Smith speaks of it as being an occasional visitor to Somersetshire, but he does not know that-it has ever attempted to breed there. Mr. Stevenson records numerous instances of its occurrence in Norfolk; but in the north of England its occurrences are rarer, and in Scotland it has only been met with on a few occasions. Dr. Fleming first records it, a specimen having, he says, been obtained on the island of Arran in 1807; a second was taken near Edinburgh; and a third was obtained in Berwickshire. Mr. Robert Gray mentions that a specimen was shot near Kirkaldy on the 22nd April, 1870, and another late in March at Loch Torridon, in Ross-shire. He also states that an example was shot in the Isle of Man in June 1868. In Iveland it has, according to Thompson, been recorded from Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Down; and Mr. W. A. Hackett records the occurrence of several specimens in the county Cork in April 1870. It is stated to have bred in various parts of the south of England; and I cannot 9 r) do better than transcribe what Professor Newton has (/. c.) written on this subject, as follows :— ‘“‘In Dorsetshire Mr. Octavius Pickard-Cambridge writes (Zool. p. 4366) that a male bird was constantly seen in a garden at Bloxworth for more than a week in May 1854, and though a large extent of woodland and orchard adjoins the place, yet nothing came of it. Some nests, however, are reported to have been found, and especially in Kent. Thus Mr. J. Pemberton Bartlett states (Zool. p. 824) that in June 1836 one was discovered in an ash plantation near Ord, from which the young were taken; but, though every care was shown them, they did not long survive their captivity. Mr. J. B. Ellman says (Zool. p. 2496) that at the end of May 1849 a nest was, with the owners, obtained near Elmstone. It was suspended from the extremity of the top branch of an oak, was composed entirely of wool, bound together with dried grass, and contained three eggs. Mr. Hulke, in 1851, also recorded (Zool. p. 3034) a third, of which he was told that it was found about ten years previously in Word Wood, near Sandwich, by a countryman, who took the young and gave them to his ferrets; and Mr. More, on the authority of Mr. Charles Gordon, mentions one at Elmstead, adding that the bird appeared again in the same locality in 1861. Myr. Howard Saunders and Lord Lilford have informed the editor that in the past summer (of 1871) they each observed, in Surrey and Northamptonshire respectively, a bird of this species, which probably had a nest. Messrs. Sheppard and Wheatear speak of a nest said to have been found in a garden near Ormsby, in Norfolk; but the eggs formerly in Mr. Scale’s collection, which it was thought were taken in that county, were really brought from Holland, - and the Editor is not aware of any collector who can boast the possession of eggs of this species laid in Britain.” Mr. J. E. Harting records (Our Summer Migr. p. 268) a recent instance of a pair having bred in the Isle of Thanet. This pair took up their quarters in Dumpton Park, Isle of Thanet, the seat of Mr. Bankes Tomlin, last year (1874), where they were carefully pro- tected by the proprietor, and were therefore enabled to rear and take away their young in safety. Mr. Harting visited Dumpton Park on the 12th July and- inspected the nest, the young being then hatched. Although a rare species in Scandinavia, it has once occurred as far north as Iceland, where, on the north coast, a specimen was, according to Dr. Kjerbdolling, found dead in December 1843. I find no record of its occurrence in Norway; and in Sweden it is a rare species. Professor Sundevall, who states that single birds have now and again been met with in Sweden, remarks that they are doubtless only stragglers from the countries on the south side of the Baltic or from Finland. Meves says that in June 1847 he saw a young male at Ottenby, and enticed it within fifteen paces by imitating its note. In Finland it is common in the southern parts of the country, where I used to see it in the vicinity of Wiborg almost daily; for a pair bred within gunshot of the house where I lived. It does not, however, range far north, as, according to Von Wright, the northern limit of its range is about Kuopio and the vicinity of Helsingfors. In Russia proper it would appear to straggle as far north as Archangel; for Messrs. Alston and Harvie-Brown say that they saw an example in Mr. Heinrich’s collection there. Mr. Sabanaeff informs me that it is tolerably common in the Smclensk Government, and also in Tula, but is only a rare species in the south-eastern portion of the Vologda Government. In the Ural he says it is doubtful if it ranges further north than about 58° N. lat.; but Von Middendorff states that on the Kama it occurs in 603° N. lat. 367 368 4 Throughout North Germany it is a common summer visitant, and is generally distributed throughout the country ; but, according to Borggreve, it does not ascend higher than 1000 feet above the sea-level. In Western Germany I saw it almost everywhere in suitable localities, and found it breeding on the Rhine. It is rare in Denmark, but less so in the Duchies than in Denmark proper, in which latter part it has, Kjerbolling says, only once been shot. In Holland, Mr. Labouchere informs me, it is common from the early part of May to the end of August, and appears to have increased in numbers during the last ten years; and in Belgium and France it is a very generally distributed and common species during the summer season. Both Professor Barboza du Bocage and the Rev. A. C. Smith state that it is common in Portugal; and the latter remarks that, strange to say, it had not arrived in that country in the middle of May. In Spain it appears to be common: Mr. Howard Saunders speaks of it (Ibis, 1871, p. 221) as being “abundant in spring and summer, resorting in Andalucia to the thickest pine-woods for shelter from the sun, whence it appears rarer than it really is;” and Colonel Irby says that it arrives at Gibraltar between the 4th and 21st of April and as late as the 14th and 15th of May. Some few remain to breed near Gibraltar ; but most pass on further north. Passing eastward I find it recorded as numerous in Savoy and Italy, breeding in the northern portions of the latter country; but in Sicily and Sardinia it is principally a migrant, though some few individuals remain to breed. Mr. C: A. Wright records it as a regular spring visitant to Malta, where it would, he believes, breed were it not disturbed. Lord Lilford met with it in Corfu and Epirus, where it arrives about the middle of April, but only a few remain to breed, the rest passing northward. In continental Greece it is stated to pass in large numbers, and a few doubtless remain to breed in suitable localities; but, Dr. Kriiper adds, there is no definite proof of any nest having been found. It arrives, he states, in Greece and Asia Minor about the middle of April: it arrived at Smyrna in 1864 on the 16th of April, and in 1872 on the 23rd of April; at the Parnassus, in 1866, on the 18th of April; in Attica, in 1867, on the 18th of April, and in 1873 on the 28th of April. Two specimens in the Athens Museum were shot on the 18th of April, 1859. The autumn passage commences late in July and in August, and lasts until about the middle of September; and Dr. Kriiper shot a female near Smyrna, in 1871, as late as the 6th of September. In Southern Germany it is generally distributed in suitable localities on the plains, but, as elsewhere, it is not found in the mountainous districts. The late Mr. Seidensacher informed me that near Cilli, in Styria, it was, he had remarked, one of the latest summer visitants to arrive, and one of the earliest to leave. It arrives there from the 21st of April to the 1st of May, and deposits, late in May, its four or five eggs, nesting usually in firs, oaks, and thorn-bushes. In all the countries bordering the Danube, where there are suitable localities, it appears to be tolerably common; and I have received at different times many specimens from Turkey. Professor Nordmann states that it is found near Odessa from May to September; and Dr. Radde, who observed the present species in Southern Russia during passage, remarks that in May they were arriving from the south-east and passing onwards towards the north-west. In Asia Minor it passes and repasses at the two seasons of migration, and he thinks it not impossible that it may breed near Smyrna; and as regards its occurrence in Palestine, Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1867, p. 364) as follows:—“ It is rather a bird of passage than a summer resident. Numbers of these splendid birds were to be seen for a fortnight from 5 the middle of May; but they rapidly disappeared; nor did I ever meet with the nest, though twice in June I found pairs of Orioles evidently settled down in their breeding-habitat.” In Africa it is a tolerably common winter visitant, ranging far south. Captain Shelley states (B. of Egypt, p. 156) that it “ passes through Egypt and Nubia on its spring and autumn migrations, but does not remain to breed in the country. In spring it arrives about the middle of April, when it is rather plentiful among the thicker-foliaged trees.” Von Heuglin says that it arrives in scattered parties in the middle of April, and again in August and September; and, he adds, it does not appear to pass the equator. He met with a family in September 1857 at Asab Bay, and he saw it in October in Adel Land in Abyssinia, on the White Nile, and on the Somali coast. Males in full plumage are, he says, very rare in North-east Africa. Dr. Brehm also writes (J. f. O. 1854, p. 75) respecting its range in North-east Africa as follows :—‘ I observed it, in 1848, on the 12th September in Upper Nubia, below Berber (173° N. lat.); in 1849, on the 3rd and 8th May on Lake Mezaleh; in 1850, on the 6th September near Chartum, on the 12th and 18th September on the Blue Nile; in 1851, on the 17th September in the province of- Dongola, and even as late as the 10th October in Upper Egypt.” In North-west Africa it is also found, during passage and in the breeding-season. Loche writes that it breeds in Algeria, arriving in April and leaving late in August. Near Tangier it would appear to be only a migrant; for Colonel Irby says that, according to Favier, it ‘‘ crosses the Straits in great numbers during April and May, returning in July, August, and September.” It passes as far south in Africa at least as Damara Land. Verreaux, who records it from Casamanze, says that he fre- quently obtained it in South Africa. Mr. Gurney mentions that Mr. Sharpe possessed a specimen obtained by Mr. Andersson at Ondonga; and Mr. Andersson himself states (B. of Damara Land, p- 124) that it “arrives in Damara Land with the return of the rainy season, but is comparatively rare, and very few adult birds are seen.” It was obtained by Mr. Ayres in Natal; and, according to Hartlaub, it is also found in Madagascar. It would appear also to occur on the Azores ; for Mr. Godman saw a half-plucked specimen in Flores which, he says, he does not hesitate to attribute to this species. To the eastward it occurs as far as Sindh and Turkestan, in which latter country Dr. Severt- zoff informs me it meets with Oriolus kundoo, its eastern representative. Mr. Blanford says that it abounds in Persia in the summer, and breeds throughout the higher parts of the country. The large gardens and orchards which surround many of the higher Persian villages, at eleva- tions of above 6000 feet, afford an admirable habitat for this bird during the breeding-season. Dr. Severtzoff also informs me that it breeds throughout Turkestan. The Golden Oriole is a shy and unobtrusive bird; and, in spite of its gaudy coloration, it is by no means a conspicuous or easily observed species. It affects evergreen groves and woods, where it keeps to the dense foliage, and appears to be a restless, uneasy bird, continually moving from place to place. When in Finland, now nearly twenty years ago, I had very ample oppor- tunities of observing this species; for a pair bred in a garden, and were generally to be found in the high trees of a fine old avenue in front of the windows of the house in which I was living, and the clear, bold whistle of the male and his mewing call could generally be heard. In spite of being unmolested they were shy, and used to hide amongst the dense foliage of the tree-tops, seldom descending into the bushes, and were usually observed flying from one grove to another. 36 310 6 I noticed that the flight was rolling and heavy, but swift; and it appeared to avoid taking long flights. I have since then seen the Golden Oriole in many countries, and have always found it a shy bird, difficult to observe or approach. During the pairing-season they may be seen chasing each other from grove to grove; and at that season especially it is a quarrelsome bird, not only as regards its own species, but it will chase away other birds that approach its chosen haunts. For any one who can closely imitate its note it is no difficult matter to approach within a short distance of it, or rather to entice it within range. Amongst the German foresters I have found many who can immediately entice an Oriole within range; but the bird has so good an ear that, although it will at first answer the call, it soon discovers the trick played on it, should a single note be false, and it is then hopeless to try and approach it. I can call this species tolerably well; but an old Oriole will generally find me out before he gets within range. Mr. Carl Sachse, however, is an adept in calling an Oriole; and I have been with him when he has enticed one within a few yards of the place where we were concealed. On one occasion he got three Orioles within range at the same time, which, considering the general wariness of this bird, is a tolerably good proof of his power of mimicry. The note of the Oriole is a clear loud whistle, varied somewhat so as to resemble the syllables huidleo, huitidleo, huidleo ; so clearly is the tone given. From its note many of its local names, such as Vogel Biilow, Schulz von Biilow in Germany, and Kuhankeittdjd, as it is usually called by the Finnish peasants, are derived. Besides its clear whistle, it has a peculiar harsh mewing call-note; and its note of alarm is a harsh chrrr. During the pairing-season it utters what is apparently a note of affection, resembling the syllable iio, by mimicking which, together with its whistle, it can generally be enticed within range. Mr. Carl Sachse sends me the following note on its habits as observed by him in Rhenish Prussia, viz.:—‘“ With us it inhabits the groves where there are small ravines through which water flows, especially beech- and oak-groves, and where the under- growth is dense, It arrives at rather irregular times, according to the season. It arrived earliest in 1863 and 1865, in both of which years it was seen as early as the 18th April; whereas in 1875 the first was seen on the 5th May. About the middle of August, or from then to the early part of September, it leaves us again; and, as may be almost taken for granted, it raises only one brood in the season. It is a wild, restless, quarrelsome bird; in the pairing- season bitter encounters take place, and I have seen four or five together fighting in the air. Long before sunrise its clear flute-like note may be heard; but during the day-time it whistles less frequently. It ranges over a considerable tract; and hence its nest is hard to find, except when it breeds in the gardens. It may be enticed, by imitating its note, to within a few yards’ distance, but is hard to shoot; for it hops from twig to twig in the dense foliage, uttering its song in a low tone. Usually a male and a female arrive together, sometimes, however, three or four individuals; and then they immediately commence quarrelling.” The food of the present species is varied according to the season of the year, but it is chiefly insectivorous when insect food is to be had, and more especially so in the spring, before any fruit is ripe. It devours all sorts of insects that inhabit the woodlands, but is especially fond of the large green caterpillars which are found on the leaves of the trees. It also feeds largely on berries and fruit when in season, but is not more destructive in a garden than many other birds, and amply repays any mischief it may do by the number of noxious insects it kills. It is most ih partial to cherries, of all garden-fruits, but will also feed on currants, and especially on mulberries. Mr. Sachse informs me that it often does much damage amongst the cherries; and when it has once or twice visited a cherry-tree and finds the fruit to its liking, it may be shot, whilst feeding there, without much difficulty. In Germany, where I have several times found its nest, it commences nidification soon after its arrival in May, the place chosen being usually in a dense wood or grove, the nest being placed on the upper part of a tolerably small tree, and neatly suspended amongst the smaller branches. It is always placed in the fork of a small branch, the nest being basket-shaped, and neatly woven to the slender branch on each side, and is one of the most artistic structures amongst the nests of our Kuropean birds. Both male and female cooperate in the construction of the nest. One I have before me is built in the fork of a slender oak branch, and is made of strips of pliable bark, straws, dried grass-bents, &c., closely and firmly constructed, and carefully twisted and woven round the branch. The outside is ornamented with strips of paper-like white birch bark ; and the interior is lined with fine grass-bents. In size it measures 4 inches one way and 5} the other in outside diameter, the inside cup measuring 3-34 inches in diameter and 2} inches in depth. As the nest is not built until the foliage is fully developed, it is by no means easy to find it. The female deposits four or five eggs, late in May or early in June, and incubation lasts fourteen or fifteen days, the male assisting his mate in the tedious work, so as to allow her to search after food and to get some rest. The eggs are glossy white, more or less spotted with deep reddish brown, and marked with a few pale purplish brown shell-blotches. Those in my collection vary in size from 174; by 24 inch to 142 by 23 inch. When the young are hatched they are carefully tended by their parents, and fed with insects, especially caterpillars, a by no means easy task, as they are extremely voracious. ‘The young grow quickly; for I examined a nest this spring which contained freshly hatched young, and on revisiting it a week later they had already got a tolerably close crop of feathers, those in the wings and tail being pretty well developed. The young do not, however, leave the nest until they are fully fledged, and soon learn to find food for themselves. Mr. Sachse informs me that they can be reared without much difficulty in confinement, the best food for them being the larvee of ants; but as cage-birds the males never assume so rich a plumage as is worn in a state of nature, but resemble old females. The specimens figured are the adult male and female above described, and are in my collection. In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— Sv el S12 8 E Mus. H. E. Dresser. a, pull. Belgium (Dubois). 6, Qad. Silesia, 1870 (O. Finsch). c, dad. France (Fairmaire). d, 2. Fontigny, France, June Ist, 1868 (J. H. Harting). e, 3 gw. France, August 1861 (Harting). f, 3,9, 9. Piedmont, May 1868 (Salvadori). h, 3. Malta, April 21st, 1866 (C. A. Wright). i, 3 juv.,k, 2. Seville (Ruiz). l, 2 ad. Wiborg, Finland, July 7th, 1856 (H. E. D. ipse). m, 3. Constantinople, September 4th, 1869 (T. Robson). n,d ad. April. 0, d juv. May, Smyrna. p, @. Alexandria (S. Stafford Allen). E Mus. G. E. Shelley. a, b,3,¢, 2. Egypt, April 1870. d, 2. Egypt, May 5th, 1870. e, f, 2. Egypt, 1871 (G. E. S.). Family LANIIDZ. Genus LANIUS. Lanius, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 135 (1766). Enneoctonus apud Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 973. Collurio apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 40 (1829). Phoneus apud Kaup, op. cit. p. 33 (1829). Collyrio apud Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1852, p. 86. Otomela apud Bonaparte, Rev. Zool. 1853, p. 437. Leucometopon apud Bonaparte, tom. cit. p. 438. Tue Shrikes are certainly not very distantly allied to the Flycatchers, though some authors have placed them close to the Crows: Degland and Gerbe, for instance, place the Laniide between the Corvide and the Sturnide, where, so far as I can judge, they are quite out of place; and I have followed most of the later authorities in assigning them a position close to the Muscicapide, separated from that family only by the Ampelide, to which they are also very closely related. The Shrikes inhabit the Palearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, and Nearctic Regions. Nine species are found within the limits of the Western Palearctic Region, eight of which breed there and are by no means uncommon within that region ; but the ninth, Lanius tsabellinus, is a rare visitant from the Eastern Palearctic Region. The Shrikes are strong, powerful birds, well able to defend themselves against even the larger birds of prey; and they frequently attack, kill, and devour smaller birds and mice, feeding also on frogs, lizards, and large insects. ‘They are peculiar in their habit of spitting their prey on thorns, or fixing it in the fork of a branch, from which they have obtained the name of Butcherbirds. Although their usual note is not musital or pleasing, they possess the power of mimicry to a considerable degree, and are able to modulate their voice to a great extent, and to imitate the notes of several other species. They build open nests of twigs and plant-stems, lined with finer plants, hair, wool, or feathers, rather large for the size of the birds, but tolerably well constructed. They differ a good deal as regards the coloration of their eggs, the Grey Shrikes having eggs greenish or greyish white in colour blotched and spotted with purplish grey, wood- brown, and olivaceous, whereas the smaller Shrikes deposit white eggs tinged with greenish and blotched with lilac and olivaceous, or warm cream-coloured or salmon-coloured, marked with red and lilac blotches and spots. In some species the males and females resemble each other very closely, whereas in others the sexes are very dissimilar. Lanius excubitor, the type of the genus, has the bill short, thick, higher than broad at the base, upper mandible much hooked at the point and strongly toothed; nostrils basal, roundish, partially covered with bristly feathers directed forward; gape furnished with stiff bristles; wings moderate, broad, the first quill short, the second rather longer than the sixth, the third longest ; tail long, much rounded; legs moderately short, the tarsus covered in front with six large plates and three inferior scutellz; toes rather small, claws long, arched, laterally grooved, extremely acute, 40 Bf rd Pie Ai sls peg dey (gS aa iki: fsa ee ec aes Mando SN Sie aera kan ite lacie ea Cee sb Wusit i steep aiie s paras be) ie Levers breaek of EO) wv EXCUBITOR. LANIUS LANIUS EXCUBITOR (GREAT GREY SHRIKE.) Lanius excubitor, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 135 (1766). Collyrio excubitor, Gray, Handl. of B. i. p.390 (1869). Lanius cinereus, Leach, Cat. Mamm. and Birds in Brit. Mus. p. 19 (1816). Pie-grieche grise, French ; Pica griega cenicienta, Spanish; Averla maqgiore, Italian; grosser Wirger, German; Graa Tornskade, Danish ; Storre Tornskata, Var fogel, Swedish ; Varsler, Norwegian; Klaauwwier, Dutch. Mas pulchre cinereus: fronte, linea superciliari genisque albis: fascia orbitali per oculum eunte usque ad regionem paroticam producta, nigra: scapularibus pure albis: dorso postico cinereo, uropygio albo: tectricibus alarum nigris, minoribus cinereo marginatis: remigibus brunnescenti-nigris, extus ad basin albis, duplicem fasciam alarem formantibus, secundariis etiam albo terminatis: cauda nigra plumis omnibus versus apicem albis, duabus mediis paullulo, proximis gradatim albo magis terminatis usque ad extimas fere omnino albas ad basin tantum nigras: subtus albus, hypochondriis paullo cinerascen- tibus: rostro et pedibus nigris. Fem. mari similis, sed subtus paullo cinerascens et interdum fasciis obsoletis transfasciata. Male. Above generally light blue-grey; forehead, extending backward over the eye, pure white; lores, feathers under the eye, and ear-coverts black; scapularies blue-grey, conspicuously edged with white ; wing-coverts black, the least ones for the most part grey, the primary coverts and occasionally some of the greater coverts narrowly edged with greyish white; primaries black, white at the base on both inner and outer webs; secondaries black, the outermost white at the base on both the inner and outer web, thus forming a double bar on the wing; the secondaries conspicuously, and the primaries occa- sionally, tipped with white, the latter sometimes narrowly edged with the latter colour on the outer web; rump and upper tail-coverts greyish white; tail black, tipped with white, the latter colour gradually predominating towards the outer feathers, the two outermost being almost entirely white ; cheeks and the whole of the under surface of the body pure white; legs slender, dark brownish black ; bill black. Total length 9°5 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 4°4, tail 4:0, tarsus 1-0. Female. Similar to the male, but the underparts greyish and exhibiting slight traces of transverse vermiculations. Young. Much duller in plumage, the black parts bemg mixed with brown, the underparts dirty greyish white; bill and feet brown. Tue distinguishing character by which the Grey Shrike of Europe may be recognized from all its congeners appears to be the double white bar on the wing, which is caused by the basal half of the secondaries being white as well as the primaries, and so a double band is formed. This second bar is assumed gradually, and is more fully developed in adult birds, though traces of it can in most cases be discovered on a careful examination of the bases of the secondary quills. 2 Further characteristics of the adult seem to be a hoary forehead and eyebrow, and a greater extent of white on the lower part of the back, and especially on the tail-feathers; the older the bird the greater the extent of white on the outer rectrices, so that sometimes the outermost feathers are pure white. Some examples have a very distinct tinge of pink on the breast, as portrayed in the hinder figure of our Plate; this, again, seems to be a character of age, and not sex, as we have seen males and females both tinged with this pink colour. We have not yet succeeded in identifying the bird called by Pallas Lanius major (Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. i. p. 401), from Siberia. In our recent paper on the Grey Shrikes (P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 090), we stated our belief that this species might ultimately prove to be the North-American Lanius borealis, basing our opinion on the cross-barring of the breast, to which Pallas draws particular attention, and which is one of the peculiar characteristics of the North-American species. Lately, however, we procured, through the kindness of M. Jules Verreaux, a specimen of a Grey Shrike which had been forwarded to M. Taczanowsky, of the Museum of Warsaw, by MM. Dybowsky and Parrex. ‘The plumage of this bird is so extraordinary as to merit a short description :— Male, killed on the southern portion of Lake Baikal. General colour grey, everywhere pervaded on the upper surface with an ashy-brown tint, except on the lower part of the back, which is clear grey shading into pure white on the rump, the upper tail-coverts grey, transversely vermiculated with ashy brown; fore- head and a narrow superciliary line whitish; ear-coverts dusky black; scapulars white; wing-coverts dusky black tipped with buff; secondaries tipped with whitish, some of these tips obsoletely vermicu- lated, both the primaries and secondaries externally white at their bases, forming a very distinct double alar bar; tail-feathers black tipped with white, the latter colour gradually predominating toward the outermost feathers, which are almost entirely white; cheeks and entire under surface of the body greyish, everywhere strongly vermiculated with greyish brown; abdomen and under wing- and tail- coverts white, the latter, as also the thighs, marked with obsolete vermiculations; feet black; bill brownish black, yellow at base. Total length 10 inches, culmen 0°7, wing 4°55, tail 4-4, tarsus 0°9. It may be presumed that we have here the true Lanius major of Pallas; and if so, the next question is, to which species is it referable? This cannot be answered without a larger series of the Siberian bird being examined; but at present we are inclined to believe that the species is distinct from both L. excubitor and L. borealis, resembling the latter in the ashy-grey hue of the upper and in the strongly marked vermiculations of the under surface, but possessing the double alar bar of Lanius excubitor. ‘The name of major scarcely appears to be justified; for a series of Great Grey Shrikes, from Europe, show great variation in size, and some of them are larger than the Siberian bird. ‘The tarsus in the latter is ;45 inch shorter than in the European species. Lanius excubitor is one of the typical species of the Western Palearctic Region, extending its range over the northern and central portions, and it is known to occur in very high latitudes. To the eastward its habitat is not yet clearly defined, while the records of its occurrence in Southern Europe must also be received with caution. We believe that in this quarter Lanius lahtora has been mistaken for it. In the British islands it is by no means an uncommon visitant in autumn and winter; but there is no authentic evidence of its having bred with us, and we are glad to see that Mr. A. G. More, in his paper on the Geographical Distribution of Birds in Great Britain during the 9 cD) nesting-season, holds the same opinion. We are indebted to Dr. Edward Hamilton, V.P.Z.S., for the accompanying note as to its occurrence in Bedfordshire:—‘‘ On the 25th of November, 1848, I observed one of these birds perched on the top of a decayed ash tree in the Litany, a marshy place studded with small bushes, about three miles from Dunstable, Bedfordshire. After watching him for some time, he flew to a bush about four hundred yards from the tree, when I was able to creep up within a short distance and shoot him. He proved to be a fine old male; and I believe this is the first recorded instance of the bird being killed in Bedfordshire. I watched him for at least half an hour, and did not observe any motion of the tail, as noticed by Selby in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ (vol. i. p. 151). The specimen is still in my possession.” Thompson enumerates several instances of its occurrence in Ireland. It is found the whole year round in the north of France, and throughout that country appears to be not uncommon. In the north of Spain Lord Lilford states that it is met with occasionally; and the Rev. A. C. Smith has recorded it from Portugal. Malherbe refers to it in Sicily, and Lindermayer in Greece, as a bird of passage, but we are doubtful as to whether these naturalists refer to the true Lanius excubitor or to one of the nearly allied southern species; for notwithstanding the supposed occurrence of the species in Palestine, as recorded by Dr. Tristram (Ibis, 1867, p. 364), we find on examination that all his specimens must be referred to L. lahtora. Probably also the bird recorded as L. excubitor by Mr. C. W. Wyatt as occurring in the Sinaitic peninsula (Ibis, 1870, p. 12) is also of the latter species. We must, however, observe that Lord Lilford (Powys) (Ibis, 1860, p. 184) includes it in his list of the birds of the Ionian Islands. In Switzerland and Northern Italy this species is only a winter visitant, and is of rare occurrence in the latter country. Throughout Germany, more particularly in the north, it breeds not uncommonly; and it passes the whole winter in Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Rhenish Provinces, breeding generally. In Denmark it is not uncommon, many remaining throughout the winter; in Sweden it is found occasionally, and occurs as far north as the birch- and willow-regions extend, breeding even in Lapland. In von Wright’s ‘ Finland’s Foglar’ (p. 69) it is recorded as occurring in that country during the spring and autumn migrations, though he can offer no authentic evidence as to its breeding there; but Mr. Dresser has himself shot specimens in Finland, in the month of May, with the ovaries largely developed; so that it is not improbable that it does breed in that country. Demidoff states that it is very common in Southern Russia, nesting in the gardens, some remaining throughout the winter, but the larger quantity migrating at the beginning of the cold weather and returning in the early part of April (Voy. Russ. Mérid. iii. p.113). Pallas found it in Northern Russia, and Radde in South-eastern Siberia throughout the whole country he visited, excepting the elevated steppes of Dauria (Reis. im Stiden von Ost-Sib. ii. p. 274). Messrs. Dubowski and Parrex (J. f. O. 1868, p. 333), however, state that it is found rarely in the winter at Darasun, in Dauria. In the Indian Museum, according to Messsrs. Horsfield and Moore (Cat. i. p. 162), there is a specimen from Mesopotamia. From the above notes it will be seen that the range of this species is very extended, being the northern and central represen- tative of the genus Lanius in the Palearctic Region. In the southern part of the Mediterranean basin it is replaced to the west by ZL. meridionalis and L. algeriensis, and to the east by L. lahtora, whereas in the Indian Region it never occurs, its place being taken entirely by the latter species. 377 4 A bold, fearless bird, the Great Grey Shrike brooks no intruder on the domain he has chosen for himself, and will attack and drive off even the most powerful birds of prey. During the breeding-season it is particularly watchful in ousting any Crow or Hawk from the neighbour- hood of its nest. Like its American congener (Lanius borealis), which Dresser has often observed during the severest part of the Canadian winter, it is able vo endure severe cold, and stays even in the colder countries, though not in the same locality where it has nested. Its favourite habitat is in the open fields where bushes and trees are scattered round, and it does not frequent the true forests. In Scandinavia, where Dresser has had several opportunities of observing it, he found it frequenting the open country where a few trees were to be found, and generally saw it perch- ing on the topmost bough of a tree, whence it could have a clear view of the surrounding country, and when disturbed it would fly off with a Magpie-like flight to the nearest elevated perch, where it would again resume its position on the highest possible place. Swampy and low districts it appears to avoid, but is often found in the hill-country ; and Radde (R. im S. vy. O. S. Band ii. p. 274) remarks that he found it in June 1859 on the Sajan mountains, in Siberia, on the boundary of the tree-growth, at an elevation of from 6000 to 7000 feet above the level of the sea. Its food consists of field-mice, beetles, grasshoppers, and small birds, which latter it hunts down with great pertinacity, and will even attack Blackbirds and Thrushes. Like the other Shrikes, it spits its prey on thorns, or jams it into the fork of a branch in order to tear it up with greater facility; and its larder often presents a curious appearance from the variety of its leavings. Naumann states that in summer its food consists of insects, small frogs, lizards, and blindworms, but that it is fond of young birds, and frequently robs nests. Herr Karl Miller (J. f. O. 1868, p. 179) gives some interesting notes respecting the habits of this bird, from which we translate the following :— “During this winter I had the opportunity of often observing a Great Grey Shrike. He lorded it over a considerable tract, and, Shrike-like, preferred the hedges and the young lime- trees skirting an avenue, where, emboldened by hunger and the severe weather, he watched for his prey, undisturbed by the passers by. I often saw him fly a considerable distance, then suddenly rise in his flght, and hover over one spot. Once when flying along he observed a mouse; he turned sharply round and, hovering, commenced a careful examination of the ground ; and his watchfuless and perseverance astonished me. Now he would hover from 30 to 40 feet above the ground, now only from 10 to 15 feet; then, flying down to a small mound, he would sit with outstretched neck and eager glance, carefully surveying every spot near him, and after watching for a time would again take to wing. For more than ten minutes he waited and searched for the mouse, and then flew off to a thorn bush about 100 yards distant. But he had not given up the chase; for after a short rest he again returned to where he had first observed the animal, and repeated the search. He persevered even longer than before, and at last secured his prey by a quick surprise and several hard blows with the bill delivered as he was hopping and fluttering over it. This Shrike once attacked a Blackbird I used to feed, which had become quite tame. He came behind it as it was feeding, threw it on its back, and holding it fast with his claws gave it repeated blows on its head with his beak, and, had I not hastened to the rescue, would soon have killed it. It may not be generally known that the Shrike is attracted 5 to its prey not only by sight, but also by the sense of hearing. I have seen him hunt by ear after a young Lark neglected by its parents, crouched in the grass calling for food, or a young Goldfinch sitting chirping on the ground; and he is well acquainted with the difference in the call-note of young and old birds. ‘The note of the Great Grey Shrike is harsh. Naumann (Joc. cit.) very correctly describes it as follows :— “©