3 
it is generally distributed, but is, as elsewhere, only a summer resident. Colonel Irby says that 
at Gibraltar they arrive from the 3rd to the 11th of May, and he has obtained an egg as early 
as the 24th of that month. In the autumn they leave some time previous to the middle of 
September; but he omitted to record the exact dates when the last were seen. Herr A. yon 
Homeyer, who met with it on the Balearic isles, remarks (J. f. O. 1862, p. 256) that not only 
does it occur on the mountains but is common even on the small rocky isles, even where there 
are no trees. In Italy, Sardinia, Sicily. and Corsica it is common during summer; and Mr. C. A. 
Wright says that it is common in Malta during the two seasons of passage, being the last bird 
that leaves the island in the spring. Lord Lilford found it common in Corfu and Epirus during 
the summer; and both Lindermayer and Von der Mile say that it breeds in Greece, but leaves 
for the south in September. I met with it during the early summer in Austria and in the 
countries skirting the Danube; but it appears to remain very late in Turkey ; for a specimen sent 
to me by Mr. Robson was obtained in Turkey in Asia on the 4th October. In Southern Russia 
it is, Professor von Nordmann says, excessively common even in the barren treeless steppes; and 
in Asia Minor it is also numerous, and would appear to remain there occasionally, if not 
regularly, over the winter; for a specimen given to me by Mr. C. Danford was shot near Smyrna 
on the 27th November. Lord Lilford informs me that he met with it sparingly in Cyprus in 
April and May of the present year (1875); and Canon Tristram obtained it in Palestine, where 
it would seem to be only a summer visitant ; for he writes (Ibis, 1867, p. 361) as follows :—“ Our 
common Flycatcher was first obtained on the 23rd April, but continued to arrive for three days 
in great numbers, remaining to breed in all parts of the country, its favourite nesting-places 
being in the branches of gnarled old trees overhanging the paths.” 
Captain Shelley and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., both inform me that it is but a rare bird in 
Egypt and Nubia. The former obtained only one specimen at Alexandria, in April; and the 
latter informs me that he obtained one on the 22nd of April, and from time to time saw single 
birds up to the second week in June. Von Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 439) that it arrives 
in Egypt in August and September, and ranges into Nubia, Sennaar, and Abyssinia. In October 
he met with it on the Adel and Somali coasts, where it was not uncommon, and in December 
near Aden. He further says that he believes it breeds in Lower Egypt. On the west side of 
Africa it is also found very generally distributed. Loche says that it is tolerably common in 
Algeria; and Colonel Irby says (J. c.) that, according to Favier, it is “ very common near Tangier, 
where they arrive in April and May in pairs and small flights, some remaining to nest, the rest 
passing across the Straits to return in September, when they disappear.” Carstensen met with 
it at Fez; and Mr. Ussher, who sent a specimen from Fantee, says (Ibis, 1874, p. 60) that it is 
there migratory. ‘The specimen he sent was shot by himself on Connor’s Hill, near Cape Coast, 
in February 1871, and he observed others at the same time. Messrs. Shelley and Buckley also 
say that it is not uncommon on the Gold Coast. Swainson records it from Senegal, DuChaillu 
from the Gaboon, Ogobai, and the Rembo river. Dr. Reichenow obtained it in the Cameroons ; 
and Andersson says (B. of Damara Land, p. 129) that it is common in Damara and Great Namaqua 
Land throughout the year. Mr. E. L. Layard also says that his son procured the present species 
near Swellendam. I find but little information as to its occurrence on the east side of the conti- 
nent beyond what is above given, except that Baron C. von der Decken obtained it at Zanzibar, 
449 
