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the south-west frontier. Danford saw them at that season on the banks of the Klopotiva, near 
Réa, among thick bushes; and some specimens in Herr Buda A’dém’s collection are from the 
same locality.” 
According to Dr. Kriiper it occurs during passage in Greece, but is rare. He obtained two 
at Taygetos in September 1860. It appears to be tolerably numerous in Turkey during passage. 
Messrs. Alléon and Vian say that it is common on the Bosphorus from the early part of Sep- 
tember to the end of October, though at no other season of the year; but I have a specimen shot 
in the early summer there by Mr. Robson. 
It becomes more numerous towards the east, and is common in Southern Russia. Professor 
von Nordmann says that it breeds numerously in the rugged portions of Abasia, very probably 
in similar districts in Bessarabia, and possibly near the steppes. ‘The young make their appear- 
ance in the gardens of Odessa as early as the end of July, and remain till the end of October. 
Mr. Ludwig Holtz found it breeding commonly in Southern Russia in woods where the under- 
growth is dense. It is not recorded by Ménétriés from the Caucasus, where it probably occurs; 
and was not met with by Canon Tristram in Palestine; but Hemprich and Ehrenberg obtained 
it in Arabia. ‘There does not appear to be any record of its occurrence in North-east Africa ; 
but it is stated by Loche to be a rare straggler in Algeria, though he cites no instance of its 
occurrence. 
In Asia it occurs as far east as the Bengal Presidency, where a closely allied species 
(Muscicapa leucura), differing in having the throat only red, and not the breast, is found. 
Mr. Blanford obtained it between Shiraz and Bushire, and at Dizak in Baluchistan, but says 
that ‘‘it appears to be by no means a common bird in Southern Persia and Baluchistan, though, 
according to De Filippi, Doria found it abundant in spring in the vicinity of Tehran.” In Sindh 
there is another well-marked species, Muscicapa hyperythra (Cab.), which differs in having the 
sides of the neck rich velvety black, and which also occurs in Ceylon. Mr. W. E. Brooks has 
sent me a beautiful specimen of this interesting Flycatcher in full breeding-plumage, obtained 
by him at Goond, on the Sindh river. The present species, however, appears to be the pre- 
dominant species in India. Dr. Jerdon gives (Ibis, 1872, p. 128) its range as “all through 
Southern India, Central India, the N.W. Provinces, and the Punjab.” Severtzoff records it as 
rare during passage in Turkestan; and both Von Schrenck and Dr. Radde state that it is found 
in Eastern Siberia; but it appears more probable that the species obtained by them was J/usci- 
capa leucura, and not true MZ. parva. 
In its habits this bird is exceedingly shy and secretive; hence it is very probably overlooked 
in many localities, and is considered rarer than it really is. Its range is somewhat peculiar ; for 
it would appear that it migrates from Central and Eastern Europe south-eastward to India, 
not towards Africa unless in very exceptional cases; its occurrence in Algeria, as recorded by 
Loche, appears open to doubt. It arrives in Southern Europe early in May or late in April, 
and leaves again in August or September, or sometimes remains as late as October. Mr. A von 
Homeyer, who found it breeding in Silesia, gives some interesting notes respecting its habits 
(J. f. O. 1873, p. 221), from which I cull the following information :—“ Where the beech and fir 
are intermixed, the latter trees being in number about half as compared with the former, and 
where the light and dark green foliage intermixes and is so dense that the rays of the sun 
