50 



The present species, the Bulbul of Persian writers, inhabits the Caucasus, Transcaspia. Persia, 

 and Turkestan, and has also been met with in Oudh in India. 



Dr. Eadde (Orn. Cauc. p. 248) writes as follows: — "From Central Caucasus to the Caspian 

 this species has been met with everywhere, and it breeds to an altitude of 5000 feet. It remains 

 an open question if it is found in the Western Caucasus and on the northern slope of the 

 mountains, as no observations have been made there; but I am convinced that on the Lower 

 Kuban and the east coast of the Black Sea the Sprosser [Baulias philomela) occurs chiefly, if 

 not alone. At Lenkoran I heard the first D. liafizi on the 16th (28th) April, and they were 

 found chiefly in the town garden and in the underbrush on the outskirts of the forest ; I seldom 

 met with them in the jungle. They nest in the town as below stated. It is a common species 

 in the lowlands of Talysch, and from Gilan to Rescht." Dr. Eadde also says (Vog. Transcasp. 

 p. 54) that this Nightingale is found throughout Transcaspia wherever there are gardens or 

 water-courses bordered with bushes and reeds, and is extremely common. In 1886 the first 

 arrived at Askabad on the 12th April, and in 1887 on the 15th April at Sary-jasy on the 

 Murghab. Mr. Zarudny (Bull. Soc. Mosc. iii. p. 772) found this Nightingale very common in 

 the gardens in the Merv oasis, but rarer in the Pinde oasis, and it breeds but very seldom in the 

 forests bordering the central course of the Murghab and Tedgend. He also states that he found 

 it very common in the Persian gardens, in the mountain villages, and on the banks of the 

 mountain-streams. On the plain of Abal-Teke he met with it but rarely. In the first half of 

 July they were in full moult. Dr. Severtzoff met with it commonly in Turkestan, where it 

 breeds up to an altitude of about 6000 feet, and it appears to be numerous in Persia. 



Mr. Blanford says (E. Pers. ii. p. 170) that " this Nightingale is, of course, the true 

 'Bulbul' of the East, and is as famous in Persian tales and poetry as its representative is 

 throughout Europe. It abounds throughout the Persian highlands, keeping much to the 

 avenues of Lombardy poplars and other trees which abound in the gardens around all towns 

 and villages. At Karman it was said by the people to be comparatively scarce, and we were 

 begged not to shoot any ; but around Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tehran Nightingales abound, and I 

 rarely entered a well-wooded garden without hearing their notes. I never heard or saw any 

 further east than Karman." 



The Persian Nightingale has, however, occurred in British India, as, according to Mi - . Oates 

 (Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, ii. p. 101), "Two specimens of this rare Nightingale have been procured 

 in Oudh — one in October and the other in November; they are both in the Hume collection." 



In habits, song, and mode of nidification the Persian Nightingale differs but little from its 

 European ally, but its song is not so good. Dr. Eadde writes {I. c.) as follows : — " Early in June 

 when travelling to Rescht I heard it singing at night everywhere ; it affects dark places in close 

 thickets, and does not frequent tall trees. The song reminds one of that of the Nightingale, but 

 is greatly inferior; but one finds better and worse songsters amongst them, the latter probably 

 young birds. The song of these latter consists of short strophes, and they and also the old birds 

 utter first the soft flute-like mournful note hil, Ml, Ml, Ml four or six times, commencing low and 

 rising in tone and time. In the case of young birds this is often followed only by a quick five- 

 or six-syllabled warble; but in the case of better songsters five or six strophes are continued 

 without interruption, but in these the harsh note is entirely wanting ; and the song of the Hafiz 



