Species of Phylloscopus. 267 



iuch^ and in tail of half an inch is surely something in such 

 small birds. But in fact one of these is a true Phylloscopus, 

 closely similar to P. trocMlns in note and habits, while the 

 other in these respects resembles a small Curruca. Moreover 

 it has the Whitethroat's restless habit^ when intruded upon, 

 of endeavouring to conceal itself as quickly as possible. So 

 far as appearance goes, in one respect it is unlike the 

 Whitethroats, for it has a full dark eye. 



P. scindicmus flits away when too closely observed, but 

 P. neglectus creeps up the tree, uttering rapidly its peculiar 

 alarm-note, till it is near the top, when it flies ofl". This 

 extreme shyness and rapid mode of escape is quite '' non- 

 Phylloscopine." I think I have said enough to show that 

 these two little birds, though of similar coloration, are 

 thoroughly distinct. When the nests and eggs of both of them 

 are known, and the songs ascertained, the distinctness will 

 be still clearer. P. scindianus was common both at Sukkur 

 and Sehwan in Scind, so I had ample opportunity for 

 observing its habits. Being the winter season when I was 

 there I did not hear its song, if it has one. 



It is hardly possible to describe the notes of a bird by 

 syllables, but in the account of the bird in ' Stray Feathers ' 

 I intended to use the word " charring " to describe the 

 Whitethroat-like note of P. neglectus ; this was misjjrinted 

 ^' cheering,'^ which made the attempt pretty wide of the 

 mark. If the " churr " be loudly whispered instead of being 

 formed by the vocal organs, the idea will jippear more 

 reasonable, especially to any one acquaintea with the 

 " churr " of the Whitethroat. This little bird is, I think, 

 wrongly placed generically in Phylloscojms, and is still 

 further out of place when grouped with such birds as P. 

 horornis and P. dumeticola. It requires, perhaps, a genus of 

 its own. 



Four Plvjlloscopi of similar coloration — P. super cUiosus, 

 P. humii, P. subviridis, and P. prorecjidus — have very distinct 

 voices. I could be sure of recognizing any one of them by 

 note alone, before shooting it. 



Of another allied species, P. mandelli, I obtained only two 



