80 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



like that of a Tailor Bird, and is composed of fine grass stitched 

 with cobwebs, silk, or wool, into the cavity of a leaf which 

 is drawn round it. There seem to be three eggs ; the ground 

 colour is pale blue, in one type unspotted, in another finely 

 speckled with brownish or purplish-red, often in a zone round 

 the larger end. Average size '59 by '42. 



SCHCENICOLA PLATYURA. 



The Broad-tailed Grass Warhler. 



Schcenkola platyura (Oates, Vol. I., p. 384 ; Legge, \). 532). 



Description. — In the breeding season the upper plumage 

 including the sides of the head and neck, is ruddy-brown ; 

 wing quills darker brown with brighter margins ; tail brown 

 with distinct dark cross-rays, the tips of the feathers paler ; 

 lores and an indistinct streak above the eye whitish ; chin, 

 throat, and centre of abdomen pure white ; rest of lower 

 plumage tawny -brown. 



In the off season the upper plumage is duller, the whole 

 lower plumage is whitish fulvous, the colour being most 

 pronounced on the breast and flanks ; the under tail coverts 

 are darker and tipped with dull white. 



Bill black above, pale horny below ; iris olive-brown ; 

 legs and feet pale brownish. 



Length 6 ; wing 2 • 6 ; tail 2 • 7 ; tarsus • 9 ; bill from gape 

 •65. 



Distribution. — A single specimen from Ceylon is in the 

 British Museum. The exact locality is not known. 



It is found on the west coast of India, from Belgaum to 

 Travancore, and appears to be resident throughout its range. 



Habits. — Possibly a rare resident species, which should be 

 looked for skulking in the long grass at the edge of paddy 

 fields and on the outskirts of the jungle. Messrs. Cave and 

 Symons believe they once saw two specimens in lantana 

 scrub near the Government bungalows in Colombo. In 

 South India it breeds about September. The nest is a ball 

 of grass, with the entrance at one side, and is placed in a 

 tussock of grass close to the ground. The four eggs are white 

 spotted with brownish-red, and measure about 'IZ by -6. 



