THE THRUSHES. 71 



THE PERSIAN NIGHTINGALE (Daulias golzii) has only 

 twice been known to occur wild in India, in both instances 

 in Oudh. It is, however, well known as a cage-bird 

 among the natives, under the name of Bulbul bostha, 

 and very possibly the two unfortunate specimens who 

 were " recorded " were merely " escapes." The proper 

 range of this species, which differs very slightly in appear- 

 ance, but more in song, from the famous Nightingale 

 of Europe, is from Turkestan and the Caucasus through 

 Persia, and it is the bird called Bulbul in oriental poetry 

 and legend, the lover of the rose. The name Bulbul, 

 however, must have been early transferred to the birds 

 which now bear it, inasmuch as it is the recognized term 

 for them among all natives. 



In Yarkand the Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) is 

 called Bulbul, it being the finest songster in that district ; 

 and it must be remembered that the Persian Bulbul 

 (Molpastes leucotis) is a good singer, as also is a Bulbul 

 found in Palestine and there called by that name among 

 the Arabs. This Palestine Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantho- 

 pygus) is a bird of about the size of the common Bengal 

 Bulbul, dark brown in colour, with a yellow patch under 

 the tail ; it may sometimes be seen in captivity in Port 

 Said. Canon Tristrom, who has heard it in its native 

 haunts, considers that it is a very fine melodist indeed, 

 and closely approaches the true Nightingale in the quality 

 of its notes. 



To return to the genuine Nightingale ; the figure 

 (Fig. 4) on Plate III, which was drawn from a living bird, 

 kindly lent me by Mr. D. Ezra for the purpose, gives a 



