70 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



divided among seven genera. They are all restless little 

 birds, which generally keep to reeds, long grass, or bushes, 

 seldom taking long flights in the open. They spend most 

 of their time actively threading their way among the grass- 

 growth or foliage, to the upright stems of which their slim 

 toes enable them to cling in the most characteristic attitudes. 



II. — Tree Warblers, w^hich have 12 taU feathers, and in 

 which the feathers of the forehead are soft, disintegrated, and 

 with somewhat produced shafts. In addition to the rictal 

 bristles, there are some supplementary hairs in front of them. 

 In Hypolais and Sylvia, however, these bristles are small, 

 and are clearly visible only under a lens, in Acanthopneuste 

 they are more strongly developed. Six species belonging 

 to the above-mentioned three genera have been recorded 

 from Ceylon. They are aU migrants, and only two are regular 

 visitors. They are generally found in trees, and not in bushes 

 or long grass. 



III. — Three resident and common species of Wren Warbler 

 belonging to the genus Prinia, which has only 10 tail feathers. 

 The feathers of the forehead are smooth, and there are no 

 supplementary bristles. In their habits they much resemble 

 the Grass and Bush Warblers with 12 tail feathers, and have 

 the same attitudes when perching. 



Key to Ceylon Sylviidse. 



I. — Reed, Grass, and Bush Warblers ; mainly resident. Tail 

 of 12 feathers ; feathers of the forehead short and 

 rounded ; no bristles on the margin of the forehead, 

 except the ordinary rictal bristles near the gape. 



A. — Under tail coverts extremely long ; tail only normally 

 broad. 



(a) Outer tail feathers less than three-quarter length of 

 tail. 



(1) Upper plumage streaky; length under 5*5. 

 Locustella certhiola (Pallas' Grasshopper War- 

 bler). 



