BIRDS. 



215 



The bird is well known to be a groat wanderer, re.sorting in winter to the southern ])ortiou of 

 Asia, migrating through Japau, China, aud Formosa, and reaching the Malayan Peninsula and 

 Archipelago; while in summer it seeks the high latitudes of Asia, extending to Xortberu Eussia 

 and thence east even to Alaska, as recorded. At Tapkan, northwest of Bering Sti'aits, on the 

 Siberian shore, Nordenskjold tells us that considerable flocks of these birds visited the vessel 

 during June, before the ground was free from snow. They appeared much exhausted and remained 

 about the vessel for some days. The abundance of this bird here at this season would indicate 

 its presence in considerable numbers throughout the Chukchi Peninsula during summer. During 

 my visits to this shore in the summer of 1881 it was not found, as might have been anticipated from 

 the lack of bushes and suitable locations along the immediate coast where we landed. 



Its habits while in America are almost unknown, hence we must draw upon the records 

 furnished us b.y European naturalists, who have visited its haunts in Northern Euroije and Asia. 

 Seebohm found it on the Lower Yenesei, where it arrived a fortnight later than P. trocliihis, 

 P. tri.^tis, and P. si^perciliosus. His account (Ibis, III, 9, 1879) is as follows: 



I had given up P. horealis in despair, when saddenly it arrived In great number.?, and became the commoue.st 

 of the four species. The song is almost exactly like the trill of the Eedpole, hut not quite so rapid, and a little more 

 melodious. Its call-note is generally a single monotonous "chit," but sometimes made iuto a double note by dwelling 

 on the first part, " d—z, zit." It is less restless than the otber Willow-Warblers, by no means shy, and is easy to shoot. 

 When I left the Arctic Circle it bad probably not conuueiiced to breed; but on the Gth of July I had the good fortune 

 to shoot a bird from its nest at Egaska, in latitude 6/'^. The eggs are larger than those of our Willow Warbler's, pure 

 white, and profusely spotted all over with very small aud very pale pink spots. They were five in number. The 

 nest was built on the ground iu a wood tliiuly scattered with trees, aud was placed in a recess on the side of a tus- 

 sock or little mound of grass and other plants. It was semidomed, the outside being composed of moss, aud the 

 inside of fine dry grass. There was neither feather nor hair used in the construction. I did not see this bird farlher 

 north than lat. 69"^. 



From the same author we learn that this species breeds in the north of Asia, at or near the limit 

 of forest growtli aud in a similar climate to the subalpine districts of Southern Siberia. It passes 

 through China on its migrations, and winters in the East Indian Islands and the i.slands surround- 

 ing theBurmah Peninsula. It unites an extreme southeastern winter range with a wider northern 

 range than any other species of the genus. Collett has recently obtained it iu Fiumai k, and it 

 is not uncommon at Archangel. It has been shot on the Meseu and on the Petchoya. It occurs 

 as far east as the Ochotsk, aud breeds in Southeastern Mongolia. It has been taken in Japan and 

 west to Heligoland, and passes in great numbers through Amoy in spring and autumn. 



The following description is taken from specimens obtained by me at Saint Michaels: Entire 

 dorsal surface, including broad edging of wing and tail feather, nearly uniform olive-green, 

 brightening on the wings to a shade very similar to that on the back of the Golden-crowned 

 Warbler. The under surface white, washed with a pale yellow like that of Yireo philadelphicus. 

 Across the breast and along the flanks is a wash of a dull olive-brown, heavier on the flanks, and 

 with a well marked superciliary stripe of greenish yellow extending from beak over the lores to the 

 nape. Extending from bill through the lores and including the eye, ending coincident with the 

 superciliary stripe, is a dusky-greenish band; thence down the cheeks extends a dusky greenish 

 yellow shade, which changes to a yellowish-white on the neck and throat. The bend of wings and 

 edges of axillaries are clear yellow and the lower edge of tips of secondary coverts are pale yellowish- 

 white, forming a distinct wing-bar. The abdomen is grayish-white, with a foint yellowish shade, 

 and the upper surface is dull olive-green. The upper mandible, and sometimes the tip of lower 

 mandible, dusky horn color. Lower mandible pale brown aud legs olive-brown. 



Meaeurements. 

 TYPE OF KENNICOTTI. 



