274 TURDID^. 



334. Chsetornis locustelloides, (StytK), Btym, 7. A. S. B. xL 



p. 602; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. p. 130. Dasyornis collurioceps, Blytk 

 torn, cti.p, 603. Chaetornis striata y Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 167, pi. 48, fig. 9; 

 Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 72, No. 441 ; Ball, Str. F. 1875, p. 288 ; Butler, Sir. F. 

 1877, p. 209; Ball, t. c. p. 416 ; Hume, Str. F. 1878, p. 215 ; Cripps, t. c. 

 p. 279; Butler, Cat. B. Sind, &c., Str. F. 1879, p, 29. The GRASS 

 WARBLER. 



Upper surface brown, the feathers streaked mesially with dark brown, and 

 edged with fulvous or whity-brown ; lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts 

 less broadly streaked ; quills dark brown ; broadly edged externally with 

 rufescent or tawny buff ; centre tail feathers dark brown, darker along the 

 middle from where dusky bars radiate, forming dusky bands; rest of the 

 feathers dark brown externally washed with lighter brown and tipped with 

 white ; forehead fulvous brown ; lores dull whitish ; supercilium buffy white ; 

 throat and centre of body dull white, yellowish buff on the chest, sides of the 

 body, thighs, and under tail coverts ; axillaries and under wing coverts buffy 

 white ; bill dusky brown above, fleshy brown beneath ; legs brownish fleshy ; 

 irides dull greyish brown. 



Length. 7-75 to 8 inches ; wing 3*3 to 3*5 ; tail 3-3 to 375 ; tarsus PI ; 

 bill at front 0-46 to 0*5. 



Hab. Bengal, Southern India, and Central India. It has been found on 

 the Neilgheries and at Nellore during the cold season in long grass and rice- 

 fields, also in thickets of reeds. Its habits are quite those of Megalurus. 



Group.CISTICOIwE. 



The position of this group of birds has not been anywhere well defined. 

 There can, however, be no doubt as to its position being next the Badypleri, 

 with 10-12, tail feathers strongly graduated or round. The shape and form 

 of the bills of the different Indian genera comprising it show a general 

 affinity, as also the thick orbital bristles, which serve to protect the eyes of 

 the members forming the group, when forcing their way through tufts of 

 grass. 



Gen. Suya. Hodgs. 



Bill stout and compressed, slightly (generally o'l) shorter than that of 

 Choetornis striata, and proportionately less in width ; nostrils apert ; gape with 

 two strong rictal bristles on each side ; tail of 10 feathers very long and much 

 graduated. 



335. Suya Crinigera, Hodgs., As. Res. xix, p. 183 ; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. 

 p. 183; Hume, Nests and Eggs,- p. 353; Wald. in Bl. B. Burm. p. 120; 

 Hume, Str. F. ix. p. 138 ; id., Str. F. vii. p. I ; viii. p. 151 ; Scully, Str. F. 



