PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 73 



In young birds the under parts are tinged with j'ellow, and 

 manj' of the throat feathers have dark centres. 



Bill, upper mandible dark brown, lower pale horn colour ; 

 iris reddish-brown ; legs fleshy-brown. 



Length about 5*3; wing 2 • 35 ; tail 2*3; tarsus • 85 ; bill 

 from gape • 7. 



Distribution. — Legge obtained two specimens in the Muttu- 

 rajawela swamp, north of Colombo, in February, 1877. This 

 is the only Ceylon record. This species breeds in Xorthern 

 Asia, and winters chiefly in China and the Malay Archipelago, 

 but is not uncommon in the north-east monsoon in portions of 

 Burma and India. 



Habits. — A skulking little bird, which may on occasions 

 visit us unnoticed. It should be looked for in grass}' swamps 

 and paddy fields. It lurks in the thick grass, and does not 

 rise until almost trodden on, when it darts out to take cover 

 again almost immediately. 



ACROCEPHALUS STENTOREUS BRUNNESCENS. 



The Indian Qreat Reed Warbler. 

 Acrocephalns st^nt-oreus (Oates. Vol. I., p. 3o6: Legge, p. -541 ). 



Description. — Upper plumage olive-brown with a tinge of 

 fulvous, more pronounced in some specimens, on the back and 

 rump ; wings and tail brown, the outer webs edged with the 

 hue of the back ; an indistinct pale eyebrow ; lores dark 

 brown ; chin and throat grayish-whita ; lower cheeks and 

 sides of neck generally streaky brown and white ; lower parts 

 from fore-neck pale fulvous, the flanks and the sides of the 

 breast almost the hue of the back. In the breeding season the 

 under parts are paler, and the feathers are much worn. 



BiU, upper mandible dark brown, lower horny-pink ; iris 

 yeUowish-brown ; legs and feet plumbeous-black. 



Length about 7*7 ; wing 3*2 ; tail 2'75 ; tarsus 1 -05 ; bill 

 from gape 1*02. 



10 6,17)21 



