PASSERINE BIRDS OF TEYLOX. 79 



little structure placed generally in 4ie middle of a tussock 

 of grass ; the outer wall is laced on to the surrounding grass 

 blades, the interior is lined with vegetable down felted with 

 cobwebs or saliva. 



The three or four egg? are white, thickly spotted, generally 

 in a zone round the larger end, with brownish-red and purple. 

 Average size 'Gl by '4:Q. 



Franklinia gracilis. 

 Franklin'^ Wren Warbler. 



Franklinia gracilis (Oates, Voi. J., p. 376); Prima hodgsoni 

 (Legge, p. .523). 



Description. — Male in breeding season : Upper plumage 

 dusky ash-gray, the rump slightlj'- paler, the wing quills 

 dusky -brown with paler rufous edgings ; the tail feathers with a 

 whitish tip and a sub-terminal dusky patch seen most clearly 

 on the under side ; cheeks and lower parts white ; the breast 

 ash colour. 



In the off season the upper plumage and tail are rufous - 

 brown ; the wings brown with broader rufous edges ; the 

 white of the lower parts is tinged with fulvous. 



In females the pectoral band is lighter than in males, and 

 not quite complete in the centre. They are slightly smaller 

 than males. 



Bill blackish ; iris reddish ; legs fleshy-yellow . 



Length about 4*5 ; wing 1-75 ; tail 1-9 (in the off season 

 up to about 2-25) ; tarsus -7 ; bill from gape '55. 



Distribution. — This species appears to be confined to the 

 south-east of the Island, its habitat being roughly bounded 

 by a line drawn from Batticaloa through Madulsima and the 

 southern slopes of the Uva range to the south coast, a few 

 miles east of Tangalla. It occurs over the greater part of the 

 Indian Empire. 



Habits. — Decidedly a Bush and not a Grass Warbler. It 

 frequents the edges of low jungle, underwood by the sides of 

 paths, and deserted chenas in which the growth is springing 

 up. It frequently goes about in little family troops. The 

 flight is weak, and the usual note a feeble little twitter. The 

 breeding season appears to be about June. The nest is rather 



