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on the 10th (22nd), and near the Nikolaieffsk Post on the 19th April (1st May), at which time 

 there was still much snow on the ground ; and these birds were seen in pairs and small flocks 

 near houses, where I still saw them on the 3rd (15th) May. In August 1854 I frequently met 

 with them in the willow and alder thickets on the Amoor, near the Nikolaieffsk Post, and on the 

 24th of that month shot a young bird in nestling dress. I observed the last near there on the 

 15th (27th) September, a few days later than Von Middendorff last saw them at Udskoj-Ostrog ; 

 and at the same time, the 15th (27th) September, Mr. Maack shot this bird on the Southern 

 Amoor, below the Bureja Mountains." Dr. G. Radde also states (Reis. im Siid. v. Ost-Sib. 

 ii. p. 259), " this Warbler arrived earlier in the Bureja Mountains in the spring than at the 

 mouth of the Amoor; for the first was shot there on the 30th March (O. S.) It does not occur 

 on passage so numerously by far on the Central Amoor as in Dauria; for I only observed 

 stragglers there (on the Amoor), whereas it was very common in Transbaikalia in the middle of 

 April. The main body appears to pass on the 10th April ; for it was noted as the day of arrival 

 by me at Tarei-nor, and by Von Schrenck at the mouth of the Amoor, and I observed flocks on 

 this day in the Bureja Mountains. This Warbler remains but a short time to rest ; and though 

 I found some on the 13th April, which had arrived the night before, so tired that I caught them 

 with the hand, yet most proceeded onwards the next night during a strong breeze from the 

 north-west; for I did not observe one on the 14th." He further remarks that most of the males 

 shot on passage had the testes much swollen, and dark blue-grey or reddish grey in colour, also 

 that this bird and Ruticilla aurorea remain the latest of any of the Warblers in South-east 

 Siberia, and he shot two near Irkutsk on the 22nd September (O. S.) 1855. In Mongolia he 

 found that the autumnal passage took place at the same time as Von Middendorff and Von 

 Schrenck observed it on the coast-regions of East Siberia. Colonel Przevalsky, who obtained it 

 in Mongolia, says (Rowl. Orn. Misc. pt. vi. p. 179) that he first met with it in the Alashan about 

 the end of September and beginning of October 1871. It breeds commonly in the wooded parts 

 of Kansu, where it arrives in April, after which time the males sing beautifully. About Lake 

 Hanka the first spring migrants appeared early in April ; and it is common there until May ; but 

 he never saw it in summer, though Maack says that he found it breeding sparingly in the Ussuri 

 country. Pere David says that it is very common in Mongolia and China, where it affects forests 

 and wooded localities, but sometimes visits the towns, and is not rare in Pekin on passage. It 

 usually perches on the bushes and low branches of trees, and frequently goes on the ground in 

 quest of insects. It shows no more fear of man than does the common European Redbreast, 

 which species it resembles in its habits, as well as in its call-note, which is short, and consists of 

 two deep syllables, toc-toc. Mr. Swinhoe says that he only met with it in summer in North 

 China, and on the island of Formosa he only once observed it in March. How far south it 

 ranges in Eastern Asia I am unable to say ; but it probably winters in South China. In Japan 

 this Bluetail does not appear to be uncommon ; but I find but little on record respecting its 

 occurrence or range there. Mr. Whitely says (Ibis, 1867, p. 197) that he obtained a specimen 

 on the 6th November in the scrub near Hakodadi Head ; and it was obtained by Von Siebold, 

 and is figured in the ' Fauna Japonica.' 



But little appears to be on record respecting the breeding-habits of this bird beyond what is 

 given by Mr. A. O. Hume in his work on the nests and eggs of Indian birds, which I transcribe 



