184 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



As far as Hippolais elaica, Lindermayer, is concerned, Mr. 

 Blanford is wrong in considering it identical with the Indian 

 species known as H. rama, which is identical with H. cali- 

 ffttta, Licht. 



I have the eggs of both ; and they are widely different. The 

 habits, notes, and nest of H. elaica are all described as dif- 

 ferent from those of the Indian bird. There are many birds 

 apparently much alike which are qnite distinct. I believe that 

 the bird usually now received as H. rama is not that species, 

 but that Jerdonia agricolensis, Hvune,^ Sylvia rama, Sykes. 



Mr. Bly th says, " Mr. Jerdon has sent me two very closely 

 allied races which he thinks have been confounded under P%/- 

 lopneuste rama. The one he regards as true rama, which is of 

 a more rufescent brown colour; the other has a more greyish 

 shade. I can hardly, however, bring myself to admit their dis- 

 tinctness. The latter variety occurs abundantly in Lower 

 Bengal, upon the sandy soil above the tideway of the Hoogly, 

 haunting babool topes and scattered trees near villages, as well 

 as hedges and low bush-jungle; and I have recently observed 

 it in the jungles north and west of Midnapore." — Journal 

 of the Asiatic Society, 1847, p. 439. 



Again he says, " Those of S. India have a slight ferruginous 

 tint throughout ; but we can detect no fui'ther difference.'^ — 

 /. A. S. xiii. p. 483. 



Col. Sykes's original description is as follows : — 

 " Sylvia rama. Sylv.pallide brunnea, subtus albescens ; caudd 

 obsolete fasciatd. Longitudo corporis 4^^^ cauda \-^." — 

 P. Z. S. 1832, p. 89. 



The more rufous bird is the smaller one, which Mr. Hume 

 described as Jerdonia agricolensis, from a large series of each 

 which 1 had prepared. The original description oi Sylvia rama, 

 on account of the small size of the bird, will not apply to the 

 larger and paler bird usually received as H. rama. This will 

 stand as H. caligata, Lichtenstein ; and the smaller, or Jerdonia 

 agricolensis, Hume, should, I think, be received in future as 

 the true H. rama, Sykes. 



The geographical distribution of the two birds also favours 

 this conclusion. 



