SYLVIA pkiinbea, 

 Grey-backed Warbler. 



Cjeneric Character. 

 Rostri recti, tenuis, bad cdtiore quam latiore, mandibuld super iori ali- 

 quando emarginatd, iiiferiori redd. Nares basaks, laternles, 

 membrand parti?n tectcc. Crura longiora digito medio, qui digiio 

 exteriori ad basin annectitur. Ungue posteriore mediocri, digiio 

 posteriore breviore et arcuato. Remigum pinnd prima brevissimd 

 uliquando caret. Tect rices remigibus multo breviores. Temm. 



Bill straight, slender, base higher than broad; superior mandible 

 sometimes notched, the inferior straight. Nostrils basal, late- 

 ral, partly covered by a membrane. Legs longer than the 

 middle toe, which is united to the exterior toe at the base ; 

 hinder claw moderate, shorter than the toe, and curved. Wings; 

 the first quill very short, or wanting, greater covers much 

 shorter than the quills. Temvnnck. 



Generic Types — Tardus arundinaceus. Lath. Sylvia locustcUu. Lus- 

 cinia. Trochilus. Regulus. (Temminck.) 



Specific Character. 

 S. cceruleo-grisea, infra aurea ; dorso u/ivaceo ; tectricium apicibus a/bis. 

 Blue grey, beneath golden yellow ; back olive ; wing-covers tipt 

 with white. 



Jl HERE is an elegance of shape, and a harmony of colouring, 

 in the Warblers, that render these delicate little birds very 

 interesting. The species are exceedingly numerous, and are 

 spread over most parts of the world ; several abound in our 

 own woods and hedges, and the " sacred bird" of our child- 

 iiood, the Robin Redbreast, is among the number. Tiiat now 

 before us is a native of Brazil, from whence it was received by 

 Mr. Leadbeater; I never met with it myself. The first quill 

 feather is hardly shorter than the three next, which are all of 

 equal length ; the tail-feathers are even, and rather pointed ; 

 their colour black, margined with grey ; the two outer with a 

 white spot on the inner web ; the under wing and tail-covers 

 white. 



I have made no 'material alteration in Prof. Tcmminck's 

 definition of this overgrown genus, being convinced it might 

 lead to confusion, while the generality of the birds compos- 

 ing it remain so little known. 



PI. 139. 



