358 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



supposed genera, and we should then have to make six groups, as 

 was done by Kaup. Sexes sometimes alike, more often different. 

 Nests open, eggs spotted. Numerous species in Palsearctic region, 

 northern forms migratory. 



Key to species of genus SYLVIA. 



1st primary a little shorter than or equal 

 to primary-coverts, both webs of outer 

 tail-feathers almost entirely white 



1st primary much shorter than primary- 

 coverts, little if any white on outer 

 tail-feathers 2 



1st primary distinctly longer than 

 primary-coverts, inner web of outer 

 tail-feathers, if at all, not more than 

 half white 4 



S.riippetti,p. 375 



Secondaries with rufous edges. 

 Secondaries without rufous edges . 3 



Outer tail-feathers with some white, tail 

 over 66 mm 



Outer tail-feathers without any white, 

 tail under 66 mm 



Tail longer than wing, outer tail-feather 

 more than 1 cm. shorter than middle 



Tail not longer than wing, outer tail- 

 feather not more and mostly much less 

 than 1 cm. shorter than middle . 5 



S. communis, p. 369 



S. niaoria, p. 359 

 S. borin, p. 364 



S. undata, p. 383 



S. hortensis, p. 361 

 S. atricapilla, $ ad., p. 366 



Whig 79 mm. or more, crown dull black 



or grey 



Wing under 79 but over 70, crown 



glossy black 



Wing under 79, but over 60, crown 



rufous S. atricapilla, $, p. 367 



Wing under 70, crown glossy black . S. melanocephala, ad., p. 377 

 Wing under 70, crown grey or brown 6 



Tail blackish, back dark brown . 



Tail brown, upper-parts dark grey or 

 paler brown 7 



Throat rufous, upper-parts ashy . 

 Throat not rufous, upper-parts pale 

 brownish 8 



Throat white 



S. mdanocephala, $, p. 378 



S. cantillans, $ ad., p. 380 



S. curruca, p. 372 



Throat buff S. cantillans, ? and juv., pp. 380-1 



