BIRDS OF UPPER PEGU. 187 



Lord Walden's original description rims as follows : — 



" It is a well-marked form, having the head and nape dull 

 cinereous brown, contrasting- distinctly with the slightly ruddy 

 brown of the dorsal plumage. The upper surface of the wings 

 and tail is of a similar color, the outer edges of the primaries 

 being edged with ferruginous. From the nostril, and extending 

 over and a little beyond the eye, a bold pure white band. The 

 chin, throat, cheeks, breast, and belly, pure white. The under 

 wing coverts, under tail coverts, and thigh coverts and flanks, 

 fulvous. The rectrices, which in the specimens sent are com- 

 paratively short, are tipped with dirty white, which edges a dark 

 brown terminal spot, showing through to the upper surface. 

 The remaining under surface of the rectrices is pale brown, 

 similar in hue to the under surface of the quills, the inner edges 

 of these latter being pale ferruginous. The tail consists of ten 

 feathers, which are graduated ; the first primary is about two- 

 thirds the length of the second, which is considerably shorter 

 than the third ; the fourth is longer than the third, and but 

 slightly shorter than the fifth, which and the sixth are equal 

 and longest ; the seventh is equal to the fourth. 



"Wing, 1*65; tail, 1*75; bill, from forehead, 0-5; from 

 nostril, 031 ; tarsus, 0*75 ; hallux, 0'25 ; middle toe, 0-44." 



This species is nearest to gracilis, from which, if you cut off 

 the heads of the birds, its body, wings, and tail would be undis- 

 tinguishable ; but it differs in having a markedly longer and 

 stronger bill, in the cap being a decided grey brown, while in 

 gracilis it is unicolorous with the back ; and in having the loral 

 eye streak, which in gracilis is feebly defined, a much purer 

 white, and much more distinct and conspicuous. 



We recently measured five males obtained in Tenasserim in 

 the flesh. They varied as follows : — 



Length, 4-25 to 5-0; expanse, 5-25to5'75; tail, 1*45 to 2-25; 

 wing, 1*55 to 1'7 ; tarsus, 0" 75 to 0*95; bill from gaj)e, 055 

 to 0-62 ; weight, 0-25 oz. 



The legs and feet varied from pale to dark fleshy, and in one 

 were slightly brownish ; the claws were fleshy brown. Bill 

 varied from horny brown (December to February) to black 

 (end of April) ; the gape and base of lower mandible being 

 paler, in some fleshy, in some bluish. The irides varied, some 

 light red (end of April), some reddish or orange brown, some 

 light wood brown. 



Mr. Mandelli has recently sent me numerous specimens 

 obtained in Sikhim. 



539. — Cisticola schcenicola, Bonap. 



Specimens from Thayetmyo correspond entirely with many 

 others from all parts of India, from Ceylon to Sindh, and Sindh 



