SYLYIID7E. 



Genus SYLVIA, Scop., 1769. 



The genus Sylvia contains six Indian species, three of which are 

 very closely allied to each other and to a European form, and a 

 fourth is merely a race of another bird common in Europe. Sylvia 

 and Hypolais are almost congeneric ; but the former has a smaller 

 bill and brighter colours, and in some of the species the sexes differ 

 in colour to some small extent, while in Hypolais the sexes are 

 always alike. 



Sylvia has two moults a year ; but these do not cause any 

 important difference in the colour of the plumage at the two 

 seasons. All the species are migrants, but their migrations are of 

 very limited extent, consisting of a change from the plains to the 

 mountainous parts and back again, and there is reason to think 

 that one or more species may be resident in India. This is almost 

 a certainty in the case of S. nana. 



The true Warblers frequent trees and bushes, have for the most 

 part a pleasant song, and build cup-shaped nests at no great height 

 above the ground, laying eggs which are usually marked with 

 yellowish brown. 



In Sylvia the bill from the gape to the tip is shorter than the 

 middle toe and claw ; the three rictal bristles are weak, and the 

 supplementary hairs nearly obsolete ; the feathers of the forehead 

 are decomposed and rough. The first primary is small, and the 

 second is equal to the sixth or thereabouts. The tarsus is stout 

 and short, and the tail very slightly graduated. 



Key to the Species. 



a. First primary minute, not reaching to tips 



of primary-coverts S. cinerea, p. 395. 



b. First primary large, extending considerably 



beyond tips of primary- coverts. 

 a'. Crown of head black or brown j wing con- 

 siderably more than 3 S.jerdom, p. 395. 



b' . Crown of head fawn-brown, concolorous 



with back ; wing under 3 S. mma, p. 396. 



c'. Crown of head grey ; wing under 3. 



a". Upper plumage greyish brown, slightly 

 darker on crown ; wing 2'6 to 2'8 ; 

 second primary generally between sixth 

 and seventh, sometimes equal to seventh, 

 and rarely between seventh and eighth . S. althcna, p. 397. 

 b". Upper plumage earth - brown, crown 

 brownish grey ; wing 2-45 to 2-65 ; 

 second primary equal to sixth, rarely 



between sixth and seventh S. affinis, p. 397. 



c". Upper plumage sandy brown; crown 

 pale bluish grey ; wing 2'3 to 2'45 ; 

 second primary equal to seventh and 

 sometimes between seventh and eighth . S. minuscula, p. 398. 



