THE BRITISH ROBIN. 481 



side passage can be traced through western isles to Solway. Irish 

 records end-Sept, to end Nov. particularly those from north-east, 

 north and west coasts and absence of records west coast England 

 and Wales at this period suggest probability of continuation of 

 passage of western division, but no Irish specimens have been 

 determined. On east side passage is traceable down whole coast 

 to Channel and there is evidence of direct oversea immigration 

 as well. Emigration from south coast (Sussex and Hants.) Oct. 4 

 to Dec . 1 1 . Passage throu gh Channel Is! ands mid -Sept . to beginning 

 Nov. Very few spring birds have been determined, but arrivals 

 Hants, coast recorded March 25 to April 23. Northward passage 

 movement recorded Isle of May end April to end May and in northern 

 isles second week March to third week May. Probably participates 

 in passage -movements as described under British race, but no proof 

 at present, while records in May from east and north coasts Ireland 

 and western isles Scotland are also probably referable to this form. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Europe generally up to 68 north from 

 France to Urals, west Siberia and west Turkestan, wintering in 

 Persia, and Mediterranean countries to oases of Sahara. Casual, 

 Jan Mayen. Replaced by allied forms in Sardinia and Corsica, in 

 north-west Africa, on the Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores, 

 north Persia and Caucasus. 



197. Erithacus rubecula melophilus Hart. THE BRITISH 

 ROBIN. 



ERITHACUS KUBECXILA MELOPHILUS Hartert, Nov. Zool., vm, p. 317 

 (1901 British Isles). 



Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus), Yarrell, i, p. 305 (part) ; Saunders, p. 37 

 (part) ; E. r. melophilus, Hartert, Brit. B., i, p. 219. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 16). Adult male and female. Winter. Fore- 

 head extending over eyes reddish-orange ; fore-part of crown 

 dark olive-brown, feathers more or less washed bluish-grey ; rest 

 of upper -parts uniform dark olive-brown, feathers with grey bases* 

 but those of rump with middle portions silvery-white which shows, 

 if feathers are disturbed ; upper tail-coverts rufous-brown ; lores, 

 round eyes joining fore-head and most of ear-coverts, sides of 

 neck, chin, throat and breast rich reddish-orange, extending from 

 over eye to side of breast a fringe of bluish-grey ; centre of belly 

 white ; flanks pale olive-brown ; under tail-coverts pale buff ; 

 axillaries pale buff to whitish ; under wing-coverts deeper buff ; 

 tail-feathers dark brown with a tinge of rufous especially on outer 

 webs ; primaries and secondaries outer webs brown, inner webs 

 black-brown narrowly edged pale buff, innermost secondaries 

 more olive-brown usually (but not always) with a small buff mark 

 or edging at tip ; primary -coverts black-brown edged oh" ve-brown ; 

 greater coverts same but all feathers except inner ones, with buff 



2 i 



