74 PROCEEDINGS OF THE \\TI<>\ I/. MUSEUM. vol.38. 



PETROPHILA MANILLA (Boddaert i. 

 BLUE AND RED ROCK THRUSH. ISO HIO-DORI. 



This bird was not uncommon on Matsushima, in the Sea of Japan. 



CALLIOPE CALLIOPE (Pallas). 

 RUBY-THROATED NIGHTINGALE. KAMCHATKAN NIGHTINGALE. 



• 



Tlic "Kamchatkan Nightingale" was the most abundant bird 

 aboul Petropaulski and also the best songster. Its fine, clear song 

 was the most characteristic bird note of the place, and was heard 

 from sunrise to sunset. This species shows a preference for hillsides 

 covered with scrubby growth, in which it is very adept at concealing 

 itself. It is also common on the lowlands where any little clumps of 

 bushes occur sufficienl to afford it shelter. Most of its time is spent 

 on or near the ground, but the song is usually delivered from the tops 

 of t he bushes or the lower limbs off small trees. If surprised in such a 

 situation, the bird is very quick to take refuge in the thick under- 

 brush. 



At Simushir I found two or three pairs of this species among the 

 driftwood well beyond high-water mark. They were rather shy and 

 kept well under cover. From their actions I judged that they were 

 breeding here. 



A careful examination of twenty males of this species shows that 

 breeding birds from Kamchatka are appreciably larger than those 

 from Yezo in all dimensions. The birds appear to fall into two 

 classes in regard to size; a larger, measuring, wing 78-83 (80.5) mm.; 

 tail, 61-67 (64) mm.; tarsus, 29-32 (30.5) mm., which is the size of 

 t he Kainchat kan hirds: and a smaller, measuring, w ing72-76(74)mm. ; 

 tail,. IS 60 (59) mm; tarsus, L'7 30 (2S.5) nun., which is the size of 

 breeding birds from Yezo. 



Of autumn and winter hirds belonging to the first class, the National 

 Museum possesses specimens from the following localities: Hakodate, 

 Yezo (2); at sea off Kinkoan Light. Hondo; Yaeyama LslandjAmoy, 

 China ; Malate, Philippines; and of the second class from Tung Chow, 

 China (2); Malate, Philippines; and Nepal. 



I <an find no constant difference in color between birds from differ- 

 ent localities not apparently the result of individual variation, but 

 my materia] i- unsatisfactory in this respect. 



During the first two weeks of October, when we were about the 



southern Kurilsand the eastern coast of Yezo and Hondo, these birds 

 were frequent \ isitors \<> the ship. One was captured on October 10, 

 several miles easl of Kinkesan Light, on the coasl of Hondo. 



