SYLVIAD^. 



163 



Sylvia nana. Ilempr. et EIw. Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. c. c; Gray, 

 Handlist B. p. 212; Heugl. Orn. N. 0. ^/r. i. p. 306 ; Dresser, Ibis, 

 1876, p. 80; Blf. East. Pers. ii. p. 187; Str. F. i. 199; ii. 330; Murray, 

 Hdhk., Zool., 3)'c., Sind, p. 164; SceJxt/im, Chit. B. Br. Mus. vol. v. 

 p. 26. Sylvia delicatula, -ffari'/f^fi/.Ji/^-, 1859, p. 310, pi. x. fig. i. ; Blyth, 

 Ibis, 1867, p. 28; Htoiie, Ibis, 1869, p. 355; Str. F. i. p. 199.— The 

 Desert Warbler. 



" The lores are greyisli white; from the nostrils to the upper margin 

 of the eye runs a very narrow yellowish streak, whiter and less grey 

 than the lores; this line ceases to be visible in nine out of ten skins, 

 but is sufficieutly apparent iu the fi-eshly killed bird. A circle of 

 yellowish white feathers surrounds the eye; forehead, crown, occiput, 

 nape, back and scapulars pale fawn brown ; rump and upper tail- 

 coverts pale rufous ; central tail feathers pale rufous, with dark shafts ; 

 external lateral feathers wholly white ; next pair white on the outer 

 webs, and with a moderately broad white tip to both webs, the rest 

 of the inner webs dark hair brown ; the rest of the feathers dark hair 

 brown, margined on the outer webs with pale rufous. The whole of 

 the lower parts white, with, in the freshly-killed birds, a just perceptible 

 rufesceut tinge ; wing lining and axillaries pure white ; wing pale 

 brown, narrowly margined and tipped with rufescent white ; the ter- 

 tiaries pale dingy rufescent with brown shafts. 



" Length. — 4'8 to 4'9 inches, expanse 7 to 7*2, tail from vent TS to 2, 

 wins;' 2 to 2'2, wins; when closed reach to within 1 to 1*2 of end of 

 tail, bill at front 0*3 to 0"33, tarsus 0'8, irides yellow to orange 

 yellow, legs and feet pale yellow, in some very pale lemon yellow, 

 claws dusky, bill pale yellow, dusky, or horny grey on culmen and 

 at tip."— a"M7?ie, Sir. F. i. p. 199. 



Hab. — Sind, Beloochistaii, Kokand, Southern Persia and Algiers ; 

 also Punjab, N. W. Provinces and Rajputana. Breeds in Turkistan. 

 In Sind it is a winter visitant, affecting arid plains, and sides of hills 

 wherever there is an abundance of scrubby vegetation. 



Sylvia familiaris, Menetries, Gat. Beds. Ceiuc. p. 32; Seebohm. 

 Monug. B. Br. Mus. p. 36. Aedon familiaris. (Menetr.) Gray, Gen. 

 B. i. p. 173; id. Handlist I?, i. p. 211; Dresser, B. Eur. pt. xxxii. ; 

 Hume, Str. F. iii. p. 476; Murray, Hdbk., Zool., Sfc, Sind, ]p. 151. — 

 The Grey-backed Warbler. 



The following is Mr. Hume^s description of Indian specimens, eic 

 " Stray Feathers,'' vol. iii. p. 477. 



" A broad superciliary stripe from the nostrils over and for some 

 little distance behind the eyes dull white or yellowish white ; a brown 

 stripe from the nostrils to the anterior angle of the eye, continued 

 backwards, though not conspicuous, for some distance from the posterior 

 angle; forehead, crown, occiput, sides of the neck, entire back and 

 wing dull earthy brown, paler and more drabby in some; quills and 

 coverts margined and narrowly tipped with dull yellowish or brownish 

 white, with usually a slight rufescent tinge on the margins of the 

 primaries. Rump brownish chestnut ; upper tail-coverts and tail 



