386 SYLVIID^E. 



still very rare. It is characterized by its large size, spinous plu- 

 mage, and very ample tail. 



Hodgson figures two specimens, to each of which he assigns a 

 different name ; but an examination of his types, together with 

 some other specimens, leaves it little doubtful, I think, that both 

 drawings represent the same species, and that the differences 

 shown are due to season. Acanthoptila, like most Warblers, has 

 two moults a year, probably only a partial one in the spring, but 

 one which affects the colour of the throat very distinctly. The 

 sexes are probably alike. 



This genus has a bill nearly as long as the head and gently 

 curved ; the rictal bristles are short, there are no supplemen- 

 tary hairs, and the forehead is flat and smooth as in other Grass- 

 Warblers. The wing is rounded, and the first four quills graduated. 

 The tail is much longer than the wing, broad and well rounded. 

 The tarsus is about one third the length of the wing and very 

 strong. 



391. Acanthoptila nepalensis. The Spiny Warbler. 



Timalia nipalensis, Hoclys. As. Res. xix, p. 182 (1836). 

 Timalia pellotis, Hodgs. As. Res. xix, p. 182 (1836). 

 Timalia leucotis, Hodgt. in Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 83 (1844). 

 Malacocercus nipalensis (Hodgs.\ Blyth, Cat. p. 140 j Horsf. $ M. 



Cat. i, p. 222. 

 Acanthoptila nipalensis (Hodgs.\ Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 57 ; Hume, S. F. 



vii, p. 459 ; id. Cat. no. 431 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 380 j 



Oates in Hume's N. 8f JE. 2nd ed. i, p. 252. 

 Acanthoptila pellotis (Hodgs.), Hume, N. $ E. p. 269. 

 Malacocercus pellotis (Hodys.), Hume, Cat. no. 431 bis. 

 The Spiny Babbler, Jeid. 



Fig. 124. Head of A. nepalensis. 



Coloration. In winter, the whole upper plumage, tail, and 

 visible portions of the wings are rich olive-brown, the feathers of 

 the head and back with stiff black shafts ; tail distinctly darker 

 cross-rayed; lores and the feathers behind and below the eye 

 whitish ; ear-coverts brown, the central portion mixed with white ; 

 lower plumage rufescent, each feather with a dark brown shaft- 

 streak, the streaks increasing in size as they recede from the head ; 

 under tail-coverts and flanks plain rufescent brown. 



In summer, the lores, the feathers round the eye, the ear-coverts, 



