return new ImmutableSortedMap<>(
          ImmutableSortedSet.emptySet(comparator), ImmutableList.<V>of());
    }
  }

  /**
   * Returns the empty sorted map.
   *
   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> the instance returned is a singleton.
   */
  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  // unsafe, comparator() returns a comparator on the specified type

      return new ImmutableSortedMap<>(
          ImmutableSortedSet.emptySet(comparator), ImmutableList.<V>of());
    }
  }

  /**
   * Returns the empty sorted map.
   *
   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> the instance returned is a singleton.
   */
  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  // unsafe, comparator() returns a comparator on the specified type