412 SYLVIIDF.. 



ing to Mv. (rniy, it is sparingly met with in Ayrshire, Ren- 

 frewshire and Dumbartonshire, and it extends to the middle 

 of Argyleshire. It also occurs in the three Lothians, and 

 Mr. J. Murray informs Mr. More that it breeds regularly in 

 Stirlingshire. Dr. Saxby has found it in Shetland ou several 

 occasions.. 



On the Continent it visits Norway, and, according to Herr 

 Collett, is pretty common as far as Trondhjem, but does not go 

 beyond lat. 65° N. In Sweden its range is much the same as 

 that of the last species. From information kindly supplied 

 by Dr. Malmgren it appears to reach about the same parallel 

 in Finland, and it was often found by Herr Meves in north- 

 western Russia. It was obtained on the mountains of 

 Sajansk l)y Dr. Stubendorft", and is mentioned by Eversmann 

 and Karelin as having been killed near Tunka in Western 

 Siberia. We may infer that it occurs throughout the 

 southern part of that extensive country, since Pere David 

 states that it is common at Ordo on the northern limits of 

 the Chinese Empire ; according to Mr. Swiuhoe, however, it 

 is very rare at Peldn. It has long been known to the orni- 

 thologists of India as visiting the greater part of that country 

 in the cold weather, and Mr. Brooks thinks that it may 

 even breed at Almorah. Returning westward Mr. Blanford 

 observed it throughout Persia. In Palestine it is said to 

 occur only as a spring-migrant, and Dr. von Heugiin states 

 that it is pretty common on its double passage through Arabia 

 and Egypt, wintering in Nul)ia, Abyssinia and Kordofan. 

 It is also found in North Africa, being a winter-visitant to 

 the oases of the Algerian Sahara, but its southern and 

 western limits are there unrecorded. Mr. Saunders says 

 that it is abundant, though it does not breed, in Southern 

 Spain ; but in Portugal it is said to occur in summer. In 

 all the rest of Europe it is known as a bird more or less 

 plentiful during the breeding-season. 



In the adult male the bill is nearly black ; the base of the 

 lower mandible yellowish-brown : the irides yellowish-white, 

 or in very old birds pearl-white : the head, neck and back, 

 smoke-grey ; the ear-coverts almost black ; wing-quills black- 



