120 TURDID^. 



serving of specific rank, and that L. macropus, L. minutus, and 

 L. lanceolata -will be found to be one species, which, like Acrocephalus 

 aquaticus, is sometimes much streaked on the underparts, and some- 

 times scarcely at all so, but whether these variations are subspecific, 

 or are due to age, sex, or season, I do not know. 



Temminck's Grasshopper Warbler appears to breed near St. Peters- 

 burg, and probably east\vards in suitable localities as far as Turkestan, 

 Lake Baical, and the Amoor. It passes through China on migration, 

 and winters in the Eurma peninsula, the Andaman Islands, and 

 possibly in some of the islands of the Malay archipelago, 



6. LUSCINIOLA. r^ype. 



Lusciniola, Gray, List Gen. B. p. 28 (1841) L. melauopogon. 



Phraganiaticola, Jerdon, Madras Jottrn. xiii. pt. 2, 



p. 129 (1844, ex Bh/th MS., descr. null.) L. aedon. 



Tribura, Ilodi/s. P. Z. S. 1845, p. 30 L. luteiventris. 



Dumeticola, Bhjth, J. A. S. Beiuj. xiv. pt. 2, p. 583 



(1845) L. thoracica. 



Aiundinax, Blyth, J. A. S. Bemj. xiv. pt. 2, p. 595 



(1845 ) L. aedon. 



Herbivocula, Stvinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 354 L. schwarzi. 



Oreopueuste, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 355 L. armandi. 



The genus Lusciniola comprises a small group of aquatic Warblers 

 in which the tarsus is more or less distinctly scutellated in front. 

 The tail consists of twelve feathers, and is generally considerably 

 rounded, the outside feathers being in many species only from three 

 fifths to four fifths the length of the longest. The wing is rather 

 short and slightly concaved. The bastard primary is always much 

 longer than the primary-coverts, but never much more than half 

 the length of the second primary. The predominant colours are 

 russet-brown and olive-brown, with a shade of ash-grey on the 

 breast in adult plumage of some species. 



This genus may almost be considered a Himalayan one, seven 

 species being represented there in the breeding-season, one of which 

 also extends its range to South-east Siberia and North China, where 

 four other species breed. Westwards the genus is represented by a 

 single species extending from Persia to the basin of the Mediter- 

 ranean ; whilst the thirteenth species appears to have become isolated 

 in South Africa. 



Key to the Species, 



A. Bill short and thick, and wide at the base. 



Eictal bristles well developed. Outside 

 tail-feathers I'O to 0*7 inch shorter than the 



longest. (Subgeneric group Aeundinaces.) 

 a. Tail longer than wing aedon, p. 121. 



B. Bill long and slender, not very wide at the 



base; rictal bristles small. Outside tail- 

 feathers 0'7 to 4 inch shorter than the 

 longest. (Subgeneric group Lusciniola.) 



6. Larger. Upper parts nearly rmiform brown. (/racili7-ustris, ■p. 122. 



c. Smaller. Head nearly black ; feathers of 



back with obscure dark centres melanopoyon, p. 132. 



