CISXICOLJE. 175 



Group IV. ClS'nCOLM. 



The Grass-Warblers form a tolerably well-defined group, the 

 genera being all rather closely connected together, with the excep- 

 tion of the Australian genera Acanthlza and Sericornis, which show 

 in their general form an affinity with the Willow- Warblers (Fhyl- 

 loscopi). The genus Gramimcola and some of the larger Gisticolie 

 connect the group with some of the Bradypteri, such as Mfgalurus 

 and Chcetornis (vide supra, pp. 122, 130) ; and Siii/a also inclines 

 towards Bradtjpterus, Dromceocercus, etc. The genus Buruesia re- 

 sembles the Tailorbirds in its leaf-sewing propensities ; and some of 

 the latter, separated by me under a distinct generic heading, lead on 

 naturally to the aberrant Muscicapidce, such as Crijptolopha, etc. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. With 10 tail-feathers. 

 «'. Tail strongly graduated. 



a". Bill short and thickset; culmen not 

 so long as hind toe and claw ; rictal 



bristles very strong 1, Suya, p. 176. 



h". Bill long and stout, deeper than broad 

 at nostrils ; culmen not exceeding 

 length of hind toe and claw ; rictal 

 bristles more developed and reaching 



to anterior margin of nostrils 2, Pbinia, p. 183. 



c". Bill longer and more slender, less 

 stout than in succeeding geiuis, 

 broader at nostrils than it is high ; 

 culmen exceeding length of hind 

 toe and claw ; rictal bristles veiy 

 small and not reaching beyond 



nostrils 3. ByENESiA, p. 203. 



//. Tail nearly square 4. Scotocerca, p. 212. 



/■. With 12 tail-feathers. -_ 

 f'. Tail strongly graduated or rounded. 

 d". Bill very long and slender, rather 

 flat, the culmen exceeding tlie length 

 of the hind toe and claw. 

 a'". Middle tail-feathers elongated be- 

 yond the rest and pointed 5. Sutoeia, p. 21o. 



b'". Middle tail-feathers not elongated. 

 ((*. Outermost tail-feather much 

 shorter than the others, falling 

 short of them by about the 

 length of the cidmen, and being 

 only just visible beyond the 

 under tail-coverts ; bill more 

 pointed 6. Oethotomus, i\ 219. 



