51 



Nightingale may at once be distinguished from those of D. luscinia and D. philomela by the lack 

 of that note and the strophe-poverty. Otherwise in habits the Hafiz Nightingale resembles the 

 other two Nightingales, and all three agree in their movements on the ground, in their call-note, 

 in the elevation of their feathers when uttering their song with the utmost fervour, and in 

 every other respect." 



Mr. Blanford also states (E. Pers. ii. p. 170) that "The song of the Persian Nightingale is 

 said to be considerably inferior to that of our European bird." Mr. Blyth remarks (Ibis, 1867, 

 p. 18) that Persian Nightingales which were brought to Calcutta were larger than Daulias 

 luscinia, and scarcely equal to that species as songsters ; and Mr. Blanford writes (I. <?.), " the 

 difference in the Persian Nightingale would scarcely have attracted my notice, but for the 

 distinction in the song, which is certainly shorter and less varied than that of the European bird." 



Mr. Zarudny, who found it breeding in Transcaspia, says that in May and early in June he 

 found many nests, which were invariably placed on the ground in shady places in gardens. The 

 number of eggs varied from three to six. On the 23rd July he first observed young birds which 

 had left the nest at Merv, and late in August he saw a few on migration on the banks of the 

 Tehandyr. Dr. Radde also writes (I. c.) as follows: — "I procured two nests of this species, which 

 were placed low down in the densest thicket. The material at Lenkoran consists chiefly of dry 

 leaves of Quercus castancefolia. The upper edge of the cup is neatly formed by a twisted 

 rice-straw as shown on my plate xv. The inner wall is constructed of fine grasses and rootlets, 

 and there is no regular lining, but only a few hairs in the interior. The eggs, four in number, 

 are olive greyish-green, resembling those of the Common Nightingale." 



The specimens figured and described are in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a, $ . Derbent, May 9th, 1880 (Dr. G. Raclde). b, £. Lenkoran, March 26th (Hotel), c, J, d, $ . Merv, 

 June 25th (Prof. M. Menzbier). e, g . Kenderlyk, Tarbagatai (Kolomeitzeff). 



E Mus. Brit. 



a. Pei'sia (Darwin). b,c,£. Shiraz, Persia, June 1869; d. Shiraz (Sir O. St. John), e. Terai, Oudh, 

 October 1867 (Hume Collection). 



E Mus. H. Seelohm. 

 a, g . Lenkoran, May 2nd (Hoist). 



H a 



