160 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



appears to me to correspond sufficiently well, the pale tip to the 

 tail, one of the distinguishing points of the latter from aS. locus- 

 tella, being distinctly present, in wliich however it agrees with the 

 next bird. It is, possibly, a distinct species, and in tliat case I 

 would propose the name of LoCUSTELLA TEMPORALIS. 



This bird frequents long grass and grain, and is with some diffi- 

 culty procured, as it always tries to conceal itself among the long 

 grass ; and, when flushed, takes but a very short flight, again hides 

 itself, and is with difficulty dislodged. It probably breeds in this 

 country. It feeds entirely on insects. 



521. Locustella rubescens, Blyth. 



J. A. S. XIV., 582— Blyth, Cat. 1084 



The Ruddy Reed-warbler. 



Descr. — Back ruddy-brown, with blackish centres to the fea- 

 thers ; crown dusky olive ; sides of neck and breast olivaceous ; 

 throat and belly white, fulvescent brown on the sides of the neck, 

 flanks, and under tail-coverts ; some of the latter brown, tipped 

 white ; rump and tail dark ruddy-brown, all the outer feathers 

 tipped with grey and obsoletely barred ; wing-coverts edged with 

 olivaceous, and the quills with ruddy-brown; tips of tertiaries 

 slightly albescent ; a narrow whitish line from bill to occiput. 



Bill dusky horn, pale beneath ; legs light brown ; irides hazel. 

 Length 6^ inches ; wing 2^ ; extent 7| ; tail 2 ; tarsus | ; bill at 

 front 12 mill. 



This interesting bird has been found frequenting reeds and long 

 grass in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, in the cold weather only. 

 It probably extends into other parts of Lower Bengal, Assam, and 

 the Burmese countries. I got one specimen in a reedy tank near 

 Jounpore, in March 1848. Mr. Blyth suggested that this species 

 may be the Sylvia certhiola of Pallas, from Northern Asia ; but 

 Temminck's description, I think, applies better to the previous 

 species. 



Some Australian forms appear to belong to this section, which 

 is not very distinct from the last. 



Tiie three following genera differ from the pi'evious ones by 

 tlieir shorter and more rounded wings, and thus lead to the next 



