Birds of Lucknow. 535 



parties hunting for insects, Reicl says that it arrives as 

 early as Septeiuher, and leaves as late as April, but I have 

 only noticed it during the colder months. It is also found 

 in mango-topes. 



No. 418. Phylloscopus HUMii. Hume's Willow -War bier. 



Fairly common, though less so, I should fancy, than 

 P. tristis. It inhabits much the same localities, and arrives 

 and departs about the same time. 



No. 421. AcANTHOPNEUSTE NiTiDUs. Green Willow- 

 Warbler. 



Reid says : — " Only, I think, a cold-weather visitant, 

 though I have shot it in September, and as late as the end 

 of April. It frequents mango-topes, and is fairly abundant 

 in the fences along the railway. ^^ 



My observations agree Avith the above, and I have nothing 

 further to add. 



No. 42.2. *AcANTHOPNEusTE viRTDANUs. Greenish WHloio- 

 Warbler. 



In the Museum are three specimens {S S ? )j identified as 

 belonging to this species, labelled " Lucknow.^"* They were 

 obtained by the native Museum collector. 



No. 464. Prinia socialis. Ashy Wren-Warbler. 



Pliutki [H.I. Tom-tit [Anglo-Indian boys] . 



This little bird is a common and permanent resident, 

 and is especially fond of dhak- and thorn-jungle. Reid 

 remarks that " it is very destructive in gardens, where it 

 destroys peas with a vengeance, snapping its tail at anyone 

 who attempts to interfere with its apparently favourite 

 pastime.'^ The reference to the tail-snapping brought ou 

 poor Ileid's head the scorn of A. O. Hume, but, though 

 badly expressed, the former's observation was correct. When 

 disturbed this bird flits about, jerking its tail, and making 

 a snapping noise. This snap is, in my opinion, made by 

 bringing the two mandibles sharply together. Whenever it 

 does this, the bird jerks its tail — hence Reid's error. It makes 

 a nest like that of a Tailor-bird, but with rarely less than 



