29' 



in Savoy in March, and leaves again about the middle of September. In Italy, according 

 to Salvadori, it breeds in the mountains, and in the autumn migrates, some few remaining 

 in the lowlands ; and many are offered for sale during the winter in the markets of Pisa and 

 Florence. Mr. A. B. Brooke found it not uncommon in Sardinia, but does not think that 

 it remains to breed in the south of Sardinia. Mr. C. A. Wright says that it occurs on the 

 island of Malta in the spring and autumn, but is not so common as the common Redstart. He 

 occasionally saw it when the winter was far advanced. Lord Lilford found it common in Corfu 

 and Epirus in winter, and says that a few remain there to breed. Lindermayer and Von der 

 Miihle both state that it is resident in Greece ; and the latter says that it breeds in Rumelia and 

 the Maina. In Southern Germany it is tolerably common in some parts and rare in others. 

 Mr. Stejneger says that it occasionally winters in Southern Tyrol ; but in Styria it is a summer 

 visitant, arriving in March and leaving in the late autumn, being rather rare than common. 

 The Bitter von Tschusi Schmidhofen says that it is common in Lower Austria till the end of 

 September, and he saw one as late as the 20th October. It occurs in Turkey and in Southern 

 Russia. Professor von Nordmann says that it breeds in the mountains of Ghouriel, Abasia, and 

 the Crimea. On the autumn migration he observed it on several occasions near Odessa, and 

 once near Theodosia, in the Crimea. Menetries says that he obtained it near Zouvant, on the 

 mountains of Talyche in the Caucasus, at an altitude of 10,000 feet ; Strickland observed it 

 near Smyrna, in Asia Minor; and Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1867, p. 86) that it is "common 

 throughout the year in the rocky hills of Palestine. In winter it is the commonest and most 

 conspicuous bird in these dreary ranges, and especially affects the sea-coast, as near the Ladder 

 of Tyre. It is partially migratory, ascending in spring to the spurs of Lebanon and the sides of 

 the Hermon, very few remaining south to breed." It occurs in North-east xlfrica ; but Captain 

 Shelley never saw it. According to Von Heuglin (Orn. N.-O. Afr. p. 334), however, it is not 

 very common in North-eastern Africa in the winter, and does not travel so far southward as 

 B. plmnicurus, but is plentiful in Southern Nubia in September. Mr. S. Stafford Allen (Ibis, 

 1864, p. 237) observes that it arrives from its southern winter quarters in April; while Mr. E. C. 

 Taylor (Ibis, 1867, p. 61) says that it is "resident in small numbers throughout the winter, fre- 

 quenting ruined buildings." In North-western Africa it is not uncommon. Mr. O. Salvin (Ibis, 

 1859, p. 308) says that it is "not an uncommon bird near Tunis and many of the villages of 

 the Regency ; but it would appear to be more rare in the mountainous districts, as I have no 

 note entered of having observed it." Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake saw it at Tetuan ; Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 jun., met with it at Algiers and Blidah ; and Mr. Taczanowski found it everywhere in the moun- 

 tains of Algeria as far as the desert. It is, I may add, said to breed in Algeria. 



To the eastward it occurs at least as far as Persia. De Filippi obtained it at Demavend, 

 north-east of Tehran; and Mr. Blanford has lent me a specimen obtained by him in that 

 country. 



In its habits the present species much resembles the common Redstart, but it frequents 

 inhabited places much more than that species. In spite, however, of its love of such breeding- 

 localities as are in the middle of towns or villages, it is on the whole a cautious and shy bird. 

 Lately when at Altenkirchen, near Coblentz, I frequently saw it, and daily watched a pair which 

 had young, the nest being placed on a beam in a partly finished house. When I first found the 



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