190 6ontribuUons to the Ornithology of India, ^"c. 



This species was common everywhere, at times even in the 

 most desolate localities^ throughout all the districts and pro- 

 vinces which we traversed. 



514.-~Cyanecula csernlecnla, Pal. 



The Asiatic blue-throat occurred hut sparingly and only in the 

 better cultivated portions of Sindh. Larkhana and Mehur were 

 the only places where I noticed several pairs on the same day. 

 All these birds are analogous to what I take to be the true 

 suecica, having red throat-patches^ the lencocyanea type, with 

 the white satin throat-patch, is of very rare occurrence, and I 

 have only succeeded as yet in procuring two in India. I think 

 it very doubtful whether this variety is entitled to specific 

 separation. 



It will be seen, that having myself no European specimens 

 .for comparison, I have followed Mr. Gray in separating the 

 Asiatic blue-throats from the European. The matter needs in- 

 vestigation, a p-iori, I should doubt the specific distinctness 

 of the two. 



515.— Oalamodyta brunnescens, Jerdon. 



This large reed bird, as indeed might have been expected, 

 swarmed in the reedy clumps that fringe and dot the many 

 inland waters of Sindh, and was not unfrequently noticed on 

 the tamarisk bushes, where reeds were scarce. I have so often 

 mentioned this species in my diary, that it is needless to say 

 more of it here. 



517.— Oalamodyta agricola, Jerdmi. 



Of this species I saw only a few specimens, but I did not 

 hunt after the bird, and it never, I think, shows itself so freely 

 as do brunnescens and dumetonim. 



518 &i5.— Lusciniola Melanopogon, Tem. 



The occurrence of this pretty reed warbler in India was first 

 made known by my friend Mr. W. E. Brooks, who met with it 

 abundantly in the Etawah district. There are dunds, or in- 

 land lakes, in Sindh which looked at, even from their margins, 

 appear one waving field of herbage, so dense, close, and even 

 is the growth of a species of rush throughout their whole extent. 

 The fowlers and fishermen have cut through tliis rush many little 

 narrow channels, just sufficiently wide to admit the passage of a 

 small canoe, and along these alone is it possible to progress at 

 all satisfactorily. The rush rises from two feet six inches to three 

 feet six inches above the surface of the water. 



These meadow-like broads are, the special haunt of the present 



