477 



PHYLLOSCOPUS TEISTIS. 



(SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF.) 



Sylvia trochilus, Jerd. Madr. Journ. xi. p. 6 (1840, nee Linn.). 



Phylloscopus tristis, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xii. p. 966 (1843). 



Eegulus tristis (Bl.), G. E. Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 175 (1848). 



Abrornis tristis (BL), Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 290 (1850). 



Phyllopneuste tristis (BL), Gould, B. of Asia, pt. xvii. (1865). 



Phyllopseuste tristis (Bl), G. R. Gray, Hand-list of B. i. P . 215, no. 3048 (1869). 



Figura unica. 

 Gould, B. of Asia, pt. xvii. pi. 16. 



3 ad. Ph. collybita siniilis, sed minor, corpore supra magis brunneo, corpore subtus albicantiore, linea, super- 

 ciliari magis cervino tincto, rostro saturatiore et pedibus nigro-fuscis nee pallide brunneis. 



2 ad. mari similis, sed vix minor. 



Adult Male (Oxus river, 24th September) . Resembles Phylloscopus collybita, but is browner in colour on 

 the upper part of the body, and rather whiter on the underparts ; the superciliary stripe is more buff in 

 tinge; the bill is darker than in Ph. collybita, and the legs are dark blackish brown and not light 

 brown. In size it is less than Ph. collybita. Total length nearly 4 inches, culmen 044, wing 2 - 3, 

 tail F92, tarsus 0"8. First primary short, only - 3 longer than the primary-coverts, second 03 shorter 

 than the third and a trifle shorter than the seventh ; third, fourth, and fifth nearly equal, the fourth 

 being, if there is any difference, the longest. 



Adult Female (Etawah). Similar to the male, but a trifle smaller, measuring — culmen - 44 inch, wing 2 - 2, 

 tail 1'88, tarsus 078. 



Young Female (Kischkin, Ural, 9th August). Resembles the adult ; but the plumage is softer and looser 

 in texture. 



Obs. Like our Chiffchaff the present species has the summer plumage somewhat greener than that worn in 

 the autumn ; but it is always browner and duller than Phylloscopus collybita. 



This, the eastern representative of our common European Chiffchaff, was hitherto only known in 

 its winter quarters, and nothing whatever has been recorded respecting its nidification. Indeed, 

 until Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown found it breeding on the Petchora river, in Northern 

 Russia, its breeding-haunts were literally unknown. I have for some years possessed examples 

 from the Ural, both in adult and immature (almost nestling) dress, showing clearly that the 

 present species breeds thereabouts ; but I have been unable to obtain any precise data respecting 

 its breeding-haunts in that range. It is doubtless met with during the summer season not only 

 in North-east European Russia, but also in Northern Asia ; but how far to the eastward, I am 



3x 



