84 



of Tamak in the Crimea, being P. nitidus. As, however, it was shot in January 1856 it 

 remains a doubtful question as to whether it breeds there, which is not impossible. As to its 

 occurrence in the Caucasus, it is true that only Mr. Lorenz procured it there ; but it is probable 

 that some, if not the most, of the records of P. sibilatrix from the Caucasus refer to P. nitidus. 

 In any case I have never seen a single P. sibilatrix from the Caucasus, and would refer all to 

 P. nitidus, were it not that Mr. Michalovski and Prof. Nordmann speak of having heard the 

 very characteristic song of P. sibilatrix in the Caucasus. Lorenz first observed P. nitidus early 

 in May, 1884, in the Beresowaja ravine, at Kisslovodsk, and a few days later on the Grischkina- 

 Balka and in the Eschkakon ravine, on the Bermamut. In 1885 the bird was found breeding 

 not uncommonly in the Eschkakon ravine and on the heights of the Dschinal, and was also met 

 with in the Alikanowka ravine. In May 1866 Mr. Lorenz received sevei'al specimens from 

 Bermamut, one of which he kindly presented to our Museum. In the Transcaspian district it is, 

 according to Zarudny, common in the gardens of Achal-teke, in Gjarman, and in the wooded 

 valleys by the mountain-streams. In his collection was a male obtained at Gjarman between 

 the 10th and 22nd July, and one from Askabad obtained late in July." Zarudny further states 

 (Bull. Soc. Mosc. iii. p. 778) that it is " common in the woods bordering the Tedgend, but 

 tolerably rare on the central part of the Murghab, and is of frequent occurrence early in 

 August in the juniper region on the Kopepet-dag." He met with it in the second, third, and 

 last weeks of April in the oasis of Ahal, but was uncertain if these were migrants. After the 

 moult, which some complete by the middle of July, they become very fat, as they also do in 

 the spring. Dr. Kadde obtained two specimens in Transcaspia — one at Tschikischljar on the 

 14th May, 1887, and one at Krasnovodsk on the 2nd May, 1886. 



I find no record of its occurrence in Persia, where it is, however, probably to be met with ; 

 but it winters in India, where it is, according to Mr. Oates (Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, i. p. 413), "a 

 winter visitor to the whole of India, from the Himalayas to Ceylon, and from Sind to about the 

 longitude of Calcutta." He also surmises that it breeds in Kashmir and the higher levels of 

 the Himalayas. According to Col. Legge it is very numerous in Ceylon, arriving about the 

 middle of September and leaving again late in March or early in April. 



With regard to its habits as observed by him in Ceylon, Col. Legge writes (B. of Ceylon, 

 p. 552) as follows : — "This species frequents the upper branches of umbrageous trees, no matter 

 whether they may be situated in busy thoroughfares or in the quiet of the forest. It is especially 

 fond of Jack-trees, Avhich are mostly found in the gardens of the natives, and, again, is very partial 

 to the monarchs of the forest which surround the many romantic tanks of the interior. In these 

 spots its perpetual little chirrup invariably discloses its presence, when otherwise it would 

 certainly be passed over in the lofty foliage which it frequents. It affects the leaves of trees 

 more than Phylloscopus magnirostris, and darts out from its place of concealment on various 

 insects, after the manner of a Flycatcher. It is very lively in its actions, and is sociably inclined, 

 for one or two' of its fellows may usually be found in an adjacent tree, each answering the other 

 with its cheerful little note. Its flight is swift, although its powers of locomotion are not much 

 brought into play after it once locates itself in its winter-quarters ; it then merely darts from 

 tree to tree, and often remains for a considerable time without moving out of its retreat." 



According to Lorenz, the call-note of this Warbler resembles the note of Budytes Jlava, but 



