SYLVIID.E — TIIK SYLVIAS. 



71 



across the wing. Bill rather dark brown ; paler beneath. Legs dark olive ; toos not sen- 

 sibly different. Nest probably on ground, and domed. Egg's white, spotted with pink. 



Spurious quill in length about one fourth the second, which about equals the sixth, or 

 very slightly exceeds it ; third and fourth longest ; fifth a little shorter. 



Dimensions (fresh specimen before being skinned) : total length, 4.V5 ; expanse of 

 wings, 6.00 ; wing from carpal joint, 2.50. 



Dimensions (prepared specimen) : total length, 4.60 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 2.00. Exposed 

 portion of first primary, 0.42; of second, 1.56; of longest (measured from exposed base 

 of first primary), 1.85. Bill: length from above, 0.38; from nostril, 0.29; along gape, 

 1.55. Legs : tarsus, 0.66 ; middle toe and claw, 0.55 ; claw alone, 0.16 ; hind toe and 

 claw, 0.36 ; claw alone, 0.20. 



Had. Northeast Asia (China, East Siberia) ; adjacent to Behring's Straits and Alaska. 



This species, in general ajspearance, apparently comes nearer to P. trochihis 

 than to any other of its congeners. It is, however, more olivaceous-green 

 above, and more yellow beneath, and has a distinct band across the wing. 

 The superciliary light stripe is more distinct and longer; the bill and legs 

 are darker, and the toes not sensibly different in color from the tarsus. The 

 proportion of the quills is much the same, except that the interval between 

 the tips of the fifth and sixtli quills is greater, and the second is aluKjst inap- 

 preciably longer than the latter, not reaching nearly midway between the 

 two. The first or spurious quill is rather sliorter. 



A single specimen of this species was obtained August 16, 18G6, on St. 

 IMichael's Island, in Norton Sound, Alaska, by ]\Ir. Charles Pease. Mr. 

 Bannister met with no other specimen in that locality, and from this it is 

 inferred that this is not an abundant species there. It was described as a 

 new species under the name of P. kennicottii (Baird), but has been ascer- 

 tained by Mr. Tristram, to whom it was sent for examination, (Ibis, 1871, 

 p. 231,) to be identical with P. borealis of Blasius. 



Dr. Blasius also states (Xaumannia, 1858, p. 303) that a specimen of this 

 species has been obtained on the island of Heligoland, showing it to be also 

 an accidental visitant to "Western Europe. 



Habits. ]\Ir. E. Swinhoe, who describes this among the birds of Formosa 

 as P. sifh-ii:i(/fi-Li\ states it to be a summer visitant to Southern China, passing 

 in large numbers tlirough Amoy in its autumnal migrations soutlieastward, 

 probably to the Philippine Islands, touching at Southwestern Formosa and 

 Twaiwanfoo, wliere he found them abundant. This was for a few days in 

 October, but lie neither saw any before nor afterwards, nor did he meet with 

 any at Tamsuy (Ibis, 1863, p. 307). The same writer (Ibis, 1860, p. 53) 

 spealcs of this bird as very abimdant in Amoy during the mouths of April 

 and ^lay, but passing fartlier north to breed. 



We have no information in reference to its liabits, and nothing farther in 

 regard to its distribution. As it bears a very close resemblance to the Wil- 

 low Wren of Europe, P. trochllus, it is quite probable that its general habits, 

 nest, and eggs will be found to correspond ^•ery closely with those of that 

 bird. 



