A FEW REMARKS ON SCHCENICOLA PLATYURA. 211 



spotted below, while another is quite plain. In some of the 

 Phylloscopi the first primary is very small, while in others it is 

 largely developed. Tribura will, therefore, do very well for 

 all the group, whether spotted or unspotted. 



I forgot to note in the proper place that the cross bars on 

 the under side of the tail of S. platyura are most remarkable. 

 They are exceedingly bold and of a blackish brown, far more 

 distinct than the bars on upper surface of tail. The tail 

 feathers are not pale tipped as in some Locustellas. 



[Note by the Editor. — On the whole I have come to the con- 

 clusion that Schcenicola platyura may reasonably be retained 

 in a genus of its own. It is very close to the group of birds 

 that we formerly called Dumeticola, and to which I later extend- 

 ed the term Schcenicola, but still there is a difference in the bill 

 (a slight one, but still appreciable), and a clear difference in the 

 strong rictal bristles and long foot and ample much graduated tail. 

 Tribura j therefore, appears to me now to be the proper term to 

 apply to the olim, Dumeticola group, as most certainly what- 

 ever may be said about Schcenicola platyura there is no valid 

 generic distinction between Dumeticola affinis and Tribura 

 luteoventris. 



The following additional information about Schcenicola pla- 

 tyura, received recently (in lit.) from Mr. Frank Bourdillon, 

 will be interesting to all who are concerned with this trouble- 

 some group : — 



" Last week, April 17th, I made an expedition to the Cola- 

 thoorpolay Patnas" (you will possibly be able to recall the 

 name) in search of more Schcenicolas. I was only there two 

 days, and on the second I was fortunate enough to bag three 

 specimens. They are funuy little birds and difficult to collect 

 (at least without blowing them to bits), for they skulk in long 

 grass and brushwood at the edges of forest, and only appear 

 for a second or two at the very muzzle of one's gun. 



" I found that very early in the morning, and late in the 

 evening, when there was barely enough light to see them at 

 20 yards, they were less shy, and would take short flights or 

 sit warbling on a bare rock, somewhat as Corydalla rufula, does 

 in the middle of the day. Their song is a pleasing, but very 

 feeble warble, which also contains one or two harsh notes. In 

 flight they appear much overweighted by their broad and long 

 tails, and the way in which they hurl themselves out of a tuft 

 of grass at one's feet to drop suddenly into another just before 

 one can bring the gun to bear on them is quite annoying. In 

 covert their comparatively long and strong legs enable them 

 to run and creep about with great activity. 



