RUBY-THUOATED WARBLER. 17 



This beautiful War"bler is an inhabitant of India, 

 tbe Philippine Islands, Japan, and other parts of the 

 eastern world. It is also found in Siberia, Kamtschatka, 

 and occasionally in Russia and the Crimea, in conse- 

 quence of which it has been introduced into the 

 European fauna. According to Blyth it is common in 

 Lower Bengal during the cold season. In Eastern 

 Siberia it is found plentifully at Jenisei, Selenga, and 

 Angara, where it arrives in May and disappears in 

 September. 



It was placed by Temminclc among the Accentors, 

 but more naturally, I think, by Miihle among the 

 Sylvia, and near the Blue-throated Warbler. Its 

 long synonymy will shew the contest which has arisen 

 in men's minds as to the right designation of this 

 interesting songster. But if a bird which in structure 

 and many parts of its plumage closely resembles the 

 Nightingale, which, as we are told by Pallas, frequents 

 willow bushes, from the top of which emulating the 

 queen of song, it sends forth its glorious notes at 

 sunrise, noon, or midnight alike; if, I say, such a bird 

 does not deserve to be ranked amono- the Warblers, 

 and to stand high in the well-marked family of Sylma^ 

 I cannot understand how we are to make natural 

 affinities the bond or links of classification. 



Of the nidification of S. calliope we know very little. 

 Pallas tells us that it builds a careless nest, and that 

 its eggs are greenish in colour, and that its call-note 

 may be heard as it flies. It is entirely insectivorous. 



Male. — The whole upper part of the body is olive 

 green; top of the head, primaries, and tail, umber 

 brown tinged with olive; a clear white streak over the 

 eyes, and another larger one extending from the base 

 of the lower mandible to the middle of the side of 



