528 



there up to the Kuopio district, though everywhere found singly; it is most numerous at 

 Haminanlaks. Mr. Sabanaeff informs me that it occurs in the Governments of Vologda and 

 Archangel ; and Meves found it in several localities in North Russia by no means uncommon, 

 and observed it on the Ladoga, at Wuitegra, on Lake Onega, &c. Mr. Sabanaeff further informs 

 me that he observed it in the Ural, in the Ekaterinburg district, as far as 57° N. lat., and that 

 it is more frequently met with in the Ural than in the birch-woods of the south-eastern slopes. 

 Mr. Jacovleff does not refer to it in his list of the birds found in the province of Astrachan. 

 Borggreve speaks of it, under the name of Ficedula hypolais, as being exceedingly common in 

 North Germany ; and Dr. E. Rey informs me that it arrives in Saxony about the beginning of 

 May, and is tolerably common during the summer. In Denmark it is likewise common in the 

 summer; but, according to Kjaerbolling, it does not arrive till late in May and leaves again in 

 August. In Belgium, according to Baron De Selys Longchamps (Revue Zool. 1847, p. 5) it is 

 very common on the plains, especially in the provinces of Liege and Brabant, and is one of the 

 latest species to arrive, as it does not usually appear until about May 11th. In 1841 it was first 

 seen on May 4th, in 1842 on the 12th, 1843 on the 17th, 1844 on the 15th, 1845 on the 14th, 

 and 1846 on the 11th. 



In Holland it is common throughout the country, arriving in May, remaining to breed, and 

 leaving again in September ; and it is likewise common in the northern provinces of France, 

 where, according to Degland and Gerbe, it leaves in August ; but in Provence, according to 

 Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye, it is of very rare occurrence, only having been observed 

 two or three times, its place being supplied by Hypolais polyglotta. It is recorded from Portugal 

 by Professor Barboza du Bocage ; but I think it probable that he may have mistaken H. poly- 

 glotta for it ; and in Spain it appears to be replaced by that species, though Mr. Howard 

 Saunders thinks that it is found near Malaga. However, all the specimens I have seen from 

 Spain are referable to H. polyglotta, which is very common there during the breeding-season. 



Passing eastward, again, I find it, according to Bailly, of very rare occurrence in Savoy in 

 spring and autumn ; but it becomes more abundant on passage towards the middle of August. 

 In Italy it appears to be abundant throughout the greater portion of the country from May to 

 September; and the same may be said of Sicily. According to Mr. C. A. Wright (Ibis, 1864, 

 p. 71), " it is a regular visitor to Malta in April, May, September, and October. Although never 

 very numerous, it is far from being rare. I have frequently met with it on the sheltered sides of 

 hills, among fig-trees, and obtained a good many specimens at different times. Owing to its 

 restless disposition, which induces it to be constantly on the move, it is not easy to shoot ; yet it 



is not shy Dr. Adams tells me he has seen this bird in May hunting for flies on the wing 



like the true Flycatchers (Muscicapidse), and that its call-note is a harsh creak, but that he never 

 met with H. polyglotta." In Greece, according to Von der Miihle, it is rare, and only seldom 

 observed during the autumn migration. This gentleman refers to it (Monogr. Eur. Sylv. p. 98) 

 under the name of Sylvia hypolais ; but his description clearly shows that the present species is 

 the one found in Greece. Mr. Seebohm informs me that he shot a specimen between Athens 

 and Marathon on April 28th, 1873 ; but Dr. Kriiper informed him that it is only seen in Greece 

 and Asia Minor for about a fortnight in spring and again in autumn. Strickland obtained it in 

 Zante; and Von Heuglin (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 296) observed it singly in Egypt in the spring. 



