;4 



from the base of the bill over the eye ; chin and throat pure white ; breast pale buffy ; flanks and 

 under tail-coverts warm buff, the latter tipped with white; centre of the abdomen pure white; bill 

 brown, the under mandible paler ; legs fleshy brown ; iris dark brown. Total length about 5'25 inches, 

 ' culrnen 0"55, wing 2 - 8, tail 233, tarsus 0"9. 



Young just fledged (Yemiesaisk, 18th August). Upper parts blackish brown, almost black, the feathers 

 margined with warm reddish brown, with an olivaceous tinge ; rump more of a reddish brown colour ; 

 underparts yellowish buff; the throat nearly sulphur-yellow ; the streak over the eye yellowish buff ; 

 lower throat spotted with dark brown ; flanks and under tad-coverts warm brownish buff. 



Obs. From the young plumage above described the bird gradually assumes the adult dress ; and several that 

 I have examined shot in the early summer are iu an intermediate stage between the young and old 

 plumage. Judging from examples I have seen, there is no appreciable difference between the summer 

 and winter dress, and the sexes are alike as regards plumage. 



The present species inhabits Eastern Asia, and is only a very rare straggler to the Western 

 l'alrearctic Eegion. Temminck first included it (I. c.) as a European species, stating that it 

 inhabited Southern Eussia; but he appears to be in error as regards its having ever been killed 

 in European Eussia ; and although it has been very generally retained in the European list, 

 there seems to have been no authentic instance of one having been obtained in Europe until 

 Mr. Gatke procured a very fine example in Heligoland. 



In Asia it is found from Western Siberia eastward to China. Mr. Seebohm informs me 

 that he found it breeding at Yennesaisk ; Von Middendorft' does not appear to have met with 

 it, as the bird referred to by him under the name of the present species really proved to be 

 Locustella ochotensis ; and Mr. Seebohm says that all the specimens in the St.-Fetersburg 

 Museum labelled Locustella certhiola belong also to that species; but, judging from the descrip- 

 tions given, both Von Schrenck and Dr. Eadde obtained the true Locustella certhiola. The 

 former says that Mr. Maack met with it on the shores of the Schilka, close to its confluence 

 with the Argunj, on the 3rd June; and Dr. Eadde shot one on the Tarei-nor. Dr. Dybowski has 

 sent many skins from Dauria ; and Colonel Frjevalsky writes, it " is tolerably abundant in the 

 Hoang-ho valley, but is very rare at Ala-shan and Halka, inhabiting only small, clear marshes. 

 We did not obtain it more than once in Kan-su. It is extremely common in the Ussuri country ; 

 and on the coasts of the Japanese Sea I observed it migrating in the early part of October." 

 Pere David met with it in Central China, though not near Pekin ; and Mr. Swinhoe obtained it 

 on passage at Chefoo. In India, according to Dr. Jerdon (B. of India, ii. p. 159), it was first 

 observed by him near Mhow, in Central India during the rains. Blyth procured it from Lower 

 Bengal, not far from Calcutta ; and Jerdon subsequently obtained it near Monghyr, and also 

 observed it in other places along the Ganges, and surmises that it will probably be found in 

 suitable localities throughout India. Under the name of Locustella rubescens, he adds that he 

 obtained one near Jounpore in March 1848. It ranges tolerably far south; for Captain Legge 

 obtained it in February in Ceylon ; there are specimens in Lord Tweeddale's collection procured 

 in December and January in South Andaman. Salvadori describes it from Borneo; and there 

 are examples in the British Museum from the same locality. It does not appear to occur in 

 Japan ; for according to Mr. Swinhoe the Japanese bird is Locustella ochotensis. 



