358 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



supposed genera, and we should then have to make six groups, as 

 was done by Kaup. Sexes sometimes alike, more often different. 

 Nests open, eggs spotted. Numerous species in Palsearctic region, 

 northern forms migratory. 



^< 



B'] 



s{ 



Key to species of genus Sylvia. 



1st primary a little shorter than or equal 

 to primary-coverts, both webs of outer 

 tail-feathers almost entirely white . S. rtippelli, p. 375 



1st primary much shorter than primary- 

 coverts, little if any white on outer 

 tail-feathers 2 



1st primary distinctly longer than 

 primary-coverts, inner web of outer 

 tail-feathers, if at all, not more than 

 half white 4 



Secondaries with rufous edges. . . S. communis, p. 369 



Secondaries without riifous edges . 3 



Outer tail-feathers with some white, tail 



over 66 rmn S. nisoria, p. 359 



Outer tail-feathers without any white, 



tail under 66 mm 8. horin, p. 364 



Tail longer than wing, outer tail-feather 



more than 1 cm. shorter than middle S. wndata, p. 383 



Tail not longer than wing, outer tail- 

 feather not more and mostly much less 

 than 1 cm. shorter than middle . 5 



Wing 79 mm. or more, crown dull black 



or grey 5. hortensis, p. 361 



Wing under 79 but over 70, crown 



glossy black <S. a<ricap*7Za, (J ad., p. 366 



Wing iinder 79, but over 60, crown 



rvifous S. atricapilla, 9. P- 367 



Wing under 70, crown glossy black . S. melanocephala, ^ ad., p. 37 7 



Wing under 70, crown grey or brown 6 



Tail blackish, back dark brown . . S. melanoceph-ala, $, p. 378 



Tail brown, upper-parts dark grey or 

 paler brown 7 



Throat rufous, upper-parts ashy . . S. cantillans, ^ ad., p. 380 



Throat not rufous, vipper-parts pale 

 brownish 8 



Throat white S. curricca, p. 372 



Throat buff S. cantillans, '^ and iuv., pp. 380-1 



