M. J. NICOLL : THE BROWN FLYCATCHER. 113 



Not only is this Flycatcher new to the British list, 

 but this is the first occurrence of the bird in Europe, 

 and it has never before been recorded as occurring west 

 of Chamba, Kashmir. It is unlikely, for many reasons, 

 that this example escaped from confinement, and an 

 " assisted " passage — an easy way out of a difficulty — is 

 not to be thought of in this instance. 



The summer range of the Brown Flycatcher, as given 

 by Dr. E. Hartert (Vog. pal. Fauna, IV., p. 477), is East 

 Siberia to the Baikal Sea, Korea and North China, the 

 Himalayas westwards to Chamba.* Its winter range, 

 however, extending to India, Ceylon, Malacca, Andamans, 

 Hainan, South China, etc., gives us a clue, I think, to its 

 appearance on our shores. The bird would meet during 

 the winter such species as Phylloscopus swperciliosus, and 

 it seems quite possible that the example under discussion 

 came westwards in company with some such species as 

 the Yellow-browed Warbler, which, although of rare 

 occurrence in Western Europe in spring, has been 

 recorded at that season from Heligoland, and once just 

 lately from Scotland. 



* Japan must, however, be added to the breeding range of this 

 species (c/. Seebohm, Birds Jap. Emp., p. 62; C. Ingram, Ibis, 1908, 

 p. 140). Apparently it also nests in India (c/. Stuart-Baker. Ibis, 1906, 

 p. 277).— F.C.R.J. 



