SYLVIIN^. 209 



feeding on various insects, grubs, and caterpillars, and ulso on 

 flower-buds. It is sometimes seen alone, at other times two or 

 three together. 



The next bird is, I presume, classed by Gray under Epilais 

 Kaup. ; but Bonaparte places it in his genus Pymphthalma, along 

 with S. melanocephala and S. sarda of Southern Europe. 



582. Sylvia afi&nis, Blytii. 



J. A. S., XIV., 564, Note — Curruca cinerea, apud Jerdon, Cat. 

 Ill — Blyth, Cat. 1124 — Nella kumpa-jitta, Tel. 

 The Allikd Grey-warbler. 



Descr. — Head and neck cinereous; ears dusky; the rest of the 

 plumage above reddish cinereous ; wings and tail brownish; outer 

 tail feathers nearly all white, the others only tipped with white; 

 throat white, rest of the plumage beneath white with a tinge of 

 reddish. 



Bill and legs brown; irides brownish yellow. Length 6 inches ; 

 wing 2f ; tail 2^ ; bill at front 11 mill. ; tarsus f . 



This species, which in my Catalogue I considered to be 

 the White-throat of England, has been separated by Mr. Blyth. 

 It is however nearly allied to the European bird. Like the 

 last it is migratory, being only a cold weather visitant. It 

 frequents similar situations and has similar habits and food, and 

 it feeds miich on flower buds. On one occasion I found it ver}' 

 numerous in a hedgerow in the Carnatic, and observed it feeding on 

 the pupa? of some ants which were swarming about, to seize which 

 it descended to the ground. I have found it in the Carnatic, 

 at Jaulnah, and other parts of the Deccan, and also at Mhow, but 

 no further east ; it does not appear to extend into Bengal, 

 but probably will be found in the N. TV. Provinces. It has also 

 been obtained in Ceylon. 



The following species would, I imagine, be classed by Gray under 

 Sterparola, of which Mot. sijlvia of Linnaeus is given as the type. 



583. Sylvia curruca, Gmelin. 



MotaclUa curruca and M. sylvlolla, Gmel. — Curruca garrula, 

 Brisson — Jerdon, Cat. 112 — Blyth, Cat. 1125 — Horsf., Cat. 



2 D 



