Notes from, Japan. 139 



8. Nemuka cyanura (Pall.). Ked-flaiiked Bluetail. 

 Tarsi ger cyanurus Seebolim, B. Jap. Emp. p. 58. 

 Jap. : Shitaki. 



This bird was eucouutered in small numbers at a liigh 

 elevation near Clmzeiiji, and again near Subasliiri. In the 

 latter district it is said to breed further up the side of Fuji 

 later iu the season. In Japan, therefore, it is in all proba- 

 bility a mountain-loving species. Its eggs are said, by the 

 Japanese collectors^ to be pure white. 



9. CvANoPTiLA BELLA (A. Hay). Japaucsc Blue Fly- 

 catcher. 



Niltava cyanomelcBuu Seebolim, B. Jap. Emp. p. 59. 

 ' Xantliopyii'ia cyaiiomeUeaa Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. iv. 

 p. 251. 



Cyanoptila bella Sharpe^ Hatid-list of B. iii. p. 238. 



Jap.: Oruri. 



I found this beautiful Flycatcher common in many parts 

 of Japan and especially in the more hilly and densely-wooded 

 districts. Rising to the top of a tree the male will sing very 

 prettily for a longtime, but its song is by no means varied. 

 "When collecting on the slopes of Fuji, I found three nests of 

 this bird. All of them were placed in the deep recess of a 

 damp, moss-covered bank by the side of a burn. The mossy- 

 exterior of these nests harmonized so perfectly with their 

 surroundings that, I'rom a little distance, t\\Qy were extremely 

 difficult to perceive. However, once withdi'awn from their 

 natural positions, they were found to be very ornate, for the 

 inner lining was composed almost entirely of the bright 

 orange-coloured " flowering stalks" (capsule and seta) of a 

 certain kind of moss. The eggs were likewise conspicuous, 

 being very light in coloration. I cannot say whether this 

 species invariably uses the above-mentioned material for a 

 lining, but from enquiries it appears to almost always do so 

 in the neighbourhood of Subashiri. Under these circum- 

 stances it would seem that the presence of an overshadowing 

 ledge is a necessary protection for the nest. 



The eggs are of a warm cream-colour, w ith sometimes an 

 indistinct zone of grey and bull' speckle^;. Size 0*79 x 0'61 in. 



