216 DRYMOICINyE. 



Bill black ; irides orange-buff ; legs deep yellow. 



Head and back dark ashy ; quills and tail reddish-brown, the 

 latter with a dusky band near the tip, and the outer feathers 

 with a small white tip ; beneath rufescent-whitish, the flanks 

 rufous. 



With the exception of Sind, the Dark-ashy Wren Warbler 

 is a common permanent resident throughout the region, breeding 

 during the monsoons ; its nest is very similar to that of the true 

 tailor-bird. The eggs, generally four in number, are bright 

 brick-red in color, generally a shade darker at the larger end. 



They measure 0'64 inches in length by about 0'47 in breadth. 



Prinia stewarti, Slyth. 



535. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 171 ; Burnesia socialis 



stewarti, Sykes. Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 



1885, p. 126. 



STEWART'S WREN WARBLER. 



Length, 5 '2 ; expanse, 5'5 ; wing, T8 ; tail, 275 ; tarsus, 075 ; 

 bill at front, 0'45. 



Bill black ; irides buff; legs deep-yellow. 



Above dark-ashy, brown on the wings and rufescent on the tail, 

 with a faint subterminal dark band (as seen from above) ; throat 

 white ; the rest of the body beneath pale rufescent, darker on 

 the flanks, and rusty on the vent and under tail- coverts. 



Stewart's Wren Warbler only occurs within our limits in the 

 Mhow Division (which includes Neemuch), it being replaced 

 elsewhere by the closely allied, even if distinct, P. socialis, 

 Both forms occur at Neemuch. 



It is a permanent resident breeding from the commencement 

 of July to the end of August, and even later. The nest is 

 similar to that of the tailor-bird, but is not quite so neatly 

 made, grass and fibres being used in addition to hair and cotton. 

 The eggs are usually four in number, oval in shape, and of 

 a bright brick-red or chesnut color, with sometimes a darker 

 shade at the larger end, forming an ill-defined cap or zone. 



They are highly glossy, and measure about 0'62 inches in 

 length by about 0'46 in breadth. 



Prinia gracilis, Franklin. 



536. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 173 ; Butler, Guzerat; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 480; Deccan, Stray Feathers, 

 Vol. IX, p. 406. 



FRANKLIN'S WREN WARBLER. 



Length, 4'5 ; expanse, 575 ; wing, 1'87 ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 075 ; 

 bill at front, 0'3 ; bill from gape, 0'58. 



Bill black ; irides deep amber ; legs fleshy-yellow. 



Slightly rufescent-olive above, tinged greyer on the head 

 and neck; the wing-feathers dusky, edged externally with 



