INTRODUCTION. XI 



Nostrils Ijasal, supernal and nearly round. Wings moderate ; the first quill 

 short ; the second equal to the sixth ; the third, fourth and fifth nearly equal, 

 and one of them the longest. Legs slender, the tarsus longer than the middle 

 toe, and covered in front by a single scale and three inferior scutellte (p. 31). 



Cyanecula, C. L. BrehiH. — Differs from the above in having few and very small 

 bristles at the gape, four inferior scutellse on the tarsus, and a short middle toe. 

 Practically, this genus is based on the blue colour of the throat, and a desire 

 to separate the members of this little group from the Redstarts (p. 35). 



Erithacus, Ciivier. — Bill narrow and depressed at the base, inflected towards 

 the point, the upper mandible slightly notched. Nostrils basal, lateral and 

 oval. Gape beset with bristles. Wings rounded ; the first quill only half as 

 long as the second, which is shorter than the third ; the fourth, fifth and 

 sixth nearly equal, and longest. Legs long and slender ; the tarsus with a 

 single scale in front and three inferior scutellas ; the outer toe a little longer 

 than the inner, and united at its base to the middle toe ; the hind toe longer 

 and stronger than the others. Plumage generally soft (p. 37). 



DAtJLiAS, Boie. — Bill moderate, straight ; the tip slightly deflected and emar- 

 ginated. Nostrils basal, supernal and round. Wings moderate ; the first 

 quill very short, the second longer than the fifth, the third the longest. Tail 

 rounded. Tarsus long and slender, covered in front by a single scale and 

 four inferior scutellte ; toes long ; claws rather short (p. 39). 



Subfamily Sylviin.*:. 



Young on leaving the nest differ very slightly in colour from the adults. 



Sylvia, ScopoU. — Bill rather stout, short, not very broad at the base ; uj^per 

 mandible decurved from the middle towards the point, which is slightly 

 emarginated ; nostrils basal, lateral, oval and exposed ; gape furnished with 

 bristles. Wings moderate ; the first quill very short. Tail of twelve feathers, 

 generally rounded. Tarsus scaled in front and longer than the middle toe ; 

 toes and claws short (p. 41 J. 



Regulus, Ciivier. — Bill slender, straight, the edges dilated at the base, com- 

 23ressed towards the point, which is notched. Nostrils basal, supernal and 

 oval, covered by a single bristly feather directed forwards ; the internasal 

 ridge stout ; the gape beset with hairs. Wings rather long ; the first quill 

 nearly half the length of the second, the fourth the longest. Tail of twelve 

 pointed feathers, slightly forked. Tarsus slender and rather long, covered 

 in front by a single scale ; toes moderate, the outer and middle toes joined at 

 their base ; claws much curved (p. 57). 



Phylloscopi's, i>o/t?.— Bill slender, rather short, upper mandible decurved from 

 the middle and compressed towards the slightly notched tip ; nostrils basal, 

 lateral, oblong and partly operculate, the membrane clothed with small 

 bristle-tipped feathers, the internasal ridge very thin ; gape beset with hairs. 

 W^ings rather long ; the first quill comparatively large, the third or fourth 

 the longest. Tail slightly forked. Tarsus scaled in front and rather long, as 

 are also the toes ; claws curved (p. 61). 



AeDON, Boie. — Bill long and strong, with the culmen curved and much com- 

 pressed at the tip, hardly notched ; nostrils supernal, small and oval ; the 



