266 Mr. W. E. Brooks on some 



colour and in its seasonal changes of plumage, and would 

 scarcely be entitled to specific rank were it not that it appears 

 to have a more eastern geographical range. It is a slightly 

 smaller bird with a somewhat more rounded iving." (Cat. 

 B. Brit. Mus. vol. v. p. 48.) 



To this I would add that it is of a considerably more dusky 

 tone, especially on the head, and in fresh spring dress it 

 is quite distinct from P. magnirostris. In size the males of 

 each species differ greatly, P. magnirostris being a larger 

 bird every way. 



Moreover, I have a fair knowledge of both birds in life, 

 and I can safely say that the two species are as thoroughly 

 distinct as could be wished. P. magnirostris has a most 

 peculiar call-note, formed of two notes, the terminal half an 

 octave or four notes above the note on which it begins. 

 These two notes are distinct from each other, and not gliding 

 the one into the other. They are shrill. The call-note of 

 P. lagubris is wholly different, more like that of P. viridamis. 



As I only met with P. lugubris about Calcutta during the 

 early months of the year and late in the fall, I have not 

 heard its song, if it has one. So far, every Phyltoscopus 

 that I have met with in the summer-time has a song, that 

 of P. humii being least deserving of the name ; for it consists 

 simply of a double repetition of its ordinary call-note, which 

 latter is a truly Phylloscopine " tis-yip,''^ but shriller than 

 that of P. trochilus. 



As an extremely shrill and very sweet song, that of 

 P. magnirostris is most singular, and I have heard nothing 

 at all approaching it but the song of the North-American 

 White-throated Sjjarrovv, Zonotrichia albicollis. It will be 

 found that the song of P. lugubris differs notably from that 

 of P. magnirostris. 



Mr. Gates remarks concerning P. scindianus that it 

 '' resembles P. neglectus so closely as to require no separate 

 description, and only differs in being larger " [' Fauna of 

 British India,' Birds, vol, i. p. 406). 



This is not satisfactory and is liable to mislead. A 

 difference in total length of half an inch, in wing of half an 



