343 



been received from the Philippines. Mr. Swinhoe obtained it commonly in China, where it 

 appears to be a cold-weather visitant. He obtained it at Tamsuy in April, and says that in that 

 month it passes Amoy on its migration northward. He also writes (Ibis, 1861, p. 329), "This 

 is a common bird in the neighbourhood of Peking, and, I think, is a permanent resident. I 

 observed it as late as October skulking about amongst the long grass, like a Reed- Warbler, 

 whence it was very difficult to drive it. Perched on a tree, it assumes many of the habits of the 

 Redbreast, throwing the tail up and bobbing forward. It is a great favourite among the 

 Chinese, who call it the Hung-po (Red-throat), and sometimes Chin-po (Golden-throat)." Pere 

 David also records it as numerous in North China at both seasons of passage ; and Temminck 

 and Schlegel state that it inhabits Japan. 



Von Middendorff and Dr. Dybowski have both given tolerably full details respecting the 

 habits of the present species. The former says (Sib. Reise, p. 174) that he found it in willow- 

 thickets, and, owing to its shyness, he found extreme difficulty in obtaining a specimen of the 

 adult male. He met with it during the breeding-season, and says that the nests were placed on 

 the ground near the river-banks or on an island, usually at the foot of some willow bush. 

 Dr. Dybowski gives a more detailed account, which I translate from his notes published by 

 Mr. Taczanowski (J. f. O. 1872, p. 433), as follows: — "In Dauria this is a common bird, 

 arriving late in May. Throughout June its soft, quiet, somewhat unvaried song is heard; and 

 it is one of the pleasantest of our songsters. So soon as the sun has left the horizon this bird 

 begins to sing, — first one or two commencing; and gradually more join in, until in the dusk of 

 the evening all the males are in full song ; and I have often heard from three to five singing close 

 to our tent. They sing more or less, according to the weather ; forduring rain they seldom sing, 

 being only heard now and again. During the daytime they frequent the thickets. 



" The present species inhabits the wooded plains near rivers and streams, and is met with as 

 far as the boundary of tree-growth, thus at a much greater altitude than Larvivora cyane. It 

 nests on the ground in out-of-the-way places, either in heaps of boughs swept together by the 

 floods, or else in bush thickets or dense grass, or under the shade of hillocks. The nest is only 

 found by accident ; we only found a few, although the bird is so numerous. The nest is 

 domed and has an opening in the side. It is constructed of dried marsh-grass, and lined with 

 fine bents. Although artistically built, the structure is weak, and it is difficult to take it away 

 without destroying its original shape. Late in June the female deposits five oval-shaped eggs ; 

 some, however, are rather elongated, others shorter and stouter ; and they have a slight gloss. 

 The ground-colour is greenish blue ; and the entire surface is sparingly marked with very pale 

 brick-red (almost imperceptible) spots, which are rather more thickly scattered round the larger 

 end. They measure from 18*8 by 15-3 millims. to 21-4 by 1G millims. The female sits very 

 close, and may be taken on her eggs. When frightened off, she escapes through the dense 

 thicket, and will not soon return to her nest. Whilst the female is sitting, the male sings all 

 night through in the vicinity of the nest. 



" In the autumn they remain until the middle of September ; and stragglers are met with 

 as late as the 5th October." 



The specimens figured are an adult male from the Upper Ural, and a female from China, 

 both of which are in my collection. 



3s 



