SYLVIA 77 



dried bents lined with fine bents, rootlets, and horsehair. The 

 eggs, usually 4 or 5 in number, are white, boldly but sparingly 

 blotched with dull light brown and purplish grey shell- 

 markings, and darker brown surface-spots which are larger and 

 more profuse at the larger end, and in size average about 0*65 

 by 0-51. 



113. SIBERIAN WHITETHROAT. 

 SYLVIA AFFINIS. 



Sylvia affinis Blyth, Cat. B. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 187 (1849) ; Dresser, 

 ix. p. 53 ; Seebohm, Cat, B. Br. Mus. v. p. 19 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. 

 Birds, ii. p. 397. 



Kesembles fl. curruca, but has the second primary intermediate between 

 the sixth and seventh and the upper parts are browner. Culmen 0'5, 

 wing 2'55, tail 2'4, tarsus 0*85 inch. 



Hob. Western Siberia, north almost to the limit of the forest 

 growth, Turkestan, Persia, and Northern China, wintering in 

 Baluchistan, India, and Ceylon. 



In habits and nidification it does not differ from S. curruca, 

 and its eggs closely resemble those of that species. It differs, 

 in fact, but little from S. curruca and is rather a questionable 

 species, as the wing formula is frequently somewhat variable. 



114. LEAST WHITETHROAT. 

 SYLVIA MINUSCULA. 



Sylvia minuscula Hume, Stray Feathers, viii. p. 103 (1879) ; Pleske, 

 Orn. Ross. p. 102, pi. i. figs. 5, 6, 7 ; Dresser, ix. p. 53, pi. 646, 

 fig. 1 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. f>. 20, pi. 1 ; Gates, F. Brit. 

 Ind. Birds, ii. p. 398. 



Tint-Kornu, Tvmtu in Yarkand. 



Ad. Crown bluish grey ; back sandy brown, much paler than in 

 S. curruca ; second primary intermediate between the seventh and eighth, 

 or equal to the seventh. Culmen 0'5, wing 2'4, tail 2*15, tarsus 0'8 inch. 



Hob. Asia from the Caspian through Afghanistan, Turkestan, 

 and Kashmir to Mongolia, wintering in Baluchistan, Sind, and 

 northern India as far east as Jodhpore. 



In habits and nidification it closely resembles S. curruca, but 

 its eggs are somewhat smaller than those of that species. 



