2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



the median wing coverts. A much safer guide is to be 

 found in the wing formula. In this species the second 

 primary quill is intermediate in length between the fifth and 

 sixth, the third and fourth are equal and are the longest, the 

 fifth is much shorter, and the sixth is considerably shorter 

 than the fifth. In all these respects the Fair Isle specimen, 

 which is a male, agrees with the descriptions, and the wing 

 measures 2.55 inches. 



In colour the upper surface is darker than that of our 

 familiar Willow Warbler {P. trochilus), being dusky greyish- 

 green ; the eye-stripe is well defined, extends on to the 

 nape, and is yellowish-white ; the greater wing coverts are 

 broadly tipped with greyish-white, forming a conspicuous 

 wing-bar ; the cheeks whitish, dappled with grey ; the under 

 surface whitish, greyer on the breast and flanks, and faintly 

 washed with greenish-yellow. 



On examination, the contents of the gizzard were found 

 to consist of a Phalangid, two Noctuid larvae, and the remains 

 of Scatophaga stercoraiHa and Anthomyia pJiorbia and many 

 fragments of other Dipterous insects. 



This species has only once before, I believe, been obtained 

 in Western Europe, namely, at Heligoland on the 6th of 

 October 1854. This is, perhaps, somewhat remarkable, since 

 the bird occurs in summer in Finmark and Northern Russia. 

 It also summers throughout Siberia, and has been obtained 

 in Alaska, where it is known to American ornithologists as 

 Kennicott's Willow Warbler. In winter it occurs in Burma, 

 the Malay Peninsula, the Andaman Islands, China, Formosa, 

 Borneo, etc. It would be extremely interesting to know 

 where the European contingent pass the cold season, for it 

 is difficult to believe that there are no winter retreats for the 

 species nearer than the eastern section of Southern Asia. 



Eversmann's Warbler frequents woods composed of 

 deciduous trees in elevated districts, especially those in the 

 vicinity of water. Its food consists of insects, which it seeks 

 high up among the foliage. The nest is described as being 

 a semi-domed structure of moss and dry grass, placed on the 

 ground, and lined with fine grass. The eggs are five or six 

 in number, rather larger than those of the Willow Warbler, 

 and are white abundantly spotted with pink. 



