NON-INDIGEAOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 57 



Family TURDID.^. Genus Phylloscopus. 



Sub-family SYL VIINM. 



YELLOW-BROWED WILLOW WREN. 



Phylloscopus superciliosus {Gnicli?i). 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter end of June. 



Brep:ding area : North-east Palaearctic region. 

 The Yellow-browed Willow Wren is presumed to breed 

 in the pine regions of Siberia, from the valley of the 

 Yenesay eastwards to the Pacific as far north as the 

 Arctic circle, and as far south as the mountains in the 

 Baikal area. It has, however, only been discovered 

 breeding in the valley of the Yenesay, where its nest 

 and ^ggs were taken by Mr. Seebohm during the 

 summer of 1877. 



Breeding habits : But little is known of the nidi- 

 fication of the Yellow-browed Willow Wren. The 

 account of the nesting of this species given in Professor 

 Newton's edition of Yarrell's History of Bj^itish Birds, 

 and in Mr. Dresser's Birds of Europe, refer to a totally 

 distinct species, an Indian Willow W'ren {Phylloscopus 

 Jitnmi). To Mr. Seebohm we are entirely indebted 

 for a description of the breeding habits of this interesting 

 little bird. It did not arrive at its breeding haunts 

 until the fourth of June, when, in company with the 

 Common W'illow Wren and the Siberian Chiffchaff, it 

 was observed amongst the bare branches of the willow 

 and birch trees on the banks of the Yenesay, where 

 the snow had melted. This species evidently migrates 

 in parties, and probably pairs after its arrival. AMiether 

 the sexes separate to perform the journey, as the 

 Common Willow Wren does, appears not to be known. 

 Probably such is the case, as Mr. Seebohm informs us 



