82 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



white, only the base of the inner web and the shaft being 

 brown, the remaining feathers have white tips, which are 

 often abraded ; the lores, round the eye, and the ear coverts 

 dark brown ; lower plumage, including the edge of the wing 

 and the wing-lining, ashy-white. 



Bill brownish-black, slaty-blue at the base of the lower 

 mandible ; iris brown ; legs and feet plumbeous black. 



Length 6; wing 2-7; tail 2-5; tarsus -85; bill from 

 gape "6. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Kashmir and winters on the plains 

 of India. There are several specimens in the Colombo Museum 

 obtained at Mannar in FebruarJ^ 



Habits. — A rare migrant, which should be looked for from 

 November to February, especially in the north-west of the 

 Island. It appears to keep chiefly to trees, but also frequents 

 bushes, hedgerows, &c. 



Sylvia curruca affinis. 

 The I7idia7i Lesser White-throated Warbler. 



Sylvia affinis (Gates, Vol. T., p. 397 ; Legge, p. 538). 



Description.- — -This form differs from S. althsea in being 

 slightly smaller and having the plumage earth-brown with a 

 grayish tinge ; the forehead, crown, and nape are brownish- 

 gray. 



Bill dusk}'', slaty horn colour at the base of the lower 

 mandible ; iris j^ellowish-brown ; legs and feet plumbeous. 



Length about 6 ; wing about 2 • 55 ; tail 2*2; fcarsus • 75 ; 

 bill from gape • 55. 



Distribution. The present sub-species is merely the 

 eastern form of the Lesser White Throat, which is found over 

 a great part of Europe. The eastern race breeds partly in 

 Kashmir, but mainly, apparentl}^ in Siberia, wintering in 

 the plains of India. There is a specimen in the Colombo 

 Museum from the Eastern Province. 



Habits. — Like the last species, this is apparently one of the 

 migrants which on rare occasions penetrate as far south as 

 Ceylon in the winter. It may be looked for from November 

 to February. The habits are much the same as those of the 

 last species. 



