PHTLLOSCOriN^. 207 



dingy, with a few pale spots, and tipped pale ; quills dusky, yellowish 

 externally, and with a dark spot near the middle of the wings, 

 formed by the outer webs of the last pi imaries and secondaries ; tail 

 dusky, edged with yellow green ; plumage beneath dingy or green- 

 isii white. 



Length 4 inches ; wing 2^ to 2| ; tail If ; bill at front 8 mill. ; 

 tarsus f . 



Very like lieaulns cristatus of Europe, but larger, and the flame- 

 colored interior of the crest is more developed. 



The Himalayan Fire-crested Wren has only been found in the 

 N. W. Himalayas, and, even there, apparently not very common. 



Sub-fam. Sylviin.e, Grey- Warblers. 



These are a small series of birds, with mostly grey plumage, 

 and frequently marked with black on the head or throat ; their 

 bill is moderately slender ; the wings rather lengthened ; the 

 tarsus and the feet short, but strong, and with moderately curved 

 claws. They are less insectivorous than most of the previous 

 groups of Warblers, most of them eating freely both buds of 

 flowers, and fruit, and hence some of them are named Becca- 

 ficos or Fig-eaters in Italy {Ficednla, Brisson). They are mostly 

 inhabitants of Northern Africa, the South of Europe, and Western 

 (and perhaps Central) Asia, a few only, from the latter region, 

 migrating, in winter, to the tropical regions of India. They are 

 very arboreal in their habits, and in some degree, approxi- 

 mate the Tits (PariiKe) in their habits, as in their colours. 

 Many of them sing very sweetly. It appears undecided among 

 Ornithologists under what generic name to rank these birds. Some 

 call them Curruai after Bi-isson; Horsliekl, whom I shall follow hei'e, 

 in his Catalogue places them under Stjlcin. Gray, in his List of 

 Genera, ignores both Sylvia and Curnua, and places them under six 

 distinct sub-genera. 



Gen. Sylvia, Latham. 



Svn. Currvca, Brisson. 



Ch'ir. — Bill moderate or slijj;htly lengthened and slender, with 

 the rictal bristles almost obsolete ; wings lengthened and some- 

 what pointed ; 1st quill minute, 2nd a little shorter than the 3rd 



