» AND IN PARTS OF -WYNAAD AND SOUTHERN MYSORE. 391 
all through the Wynaad and the Mysore country. It avoids 
very dry and stony localities, frequenting the better wooded 
portions of the country. It is such a well known and familiar 
bird, and has so often been written about, that it would be 
superfluous for. me to say anything more of it now. 
534.—Prinia socialis, Sykes. The Ashy Wren Warb- 
ler. 
I have only met with this species on the Nilghiris, where it 
is not uncommon in the vicinity of Ootacamund, Coonoor, &c. 
It does not descend the slopes that I am aware of—at least 
I have, I think, never met with it below about 6,000 feet. It 
goes about in pairs, or singly, usually the latter, never in flocks 
or parties. It keeps among the scrub, and is very fond of 
working its way up to some conspicuous post, to the top of one 
of the long flower stalks of Lobelia excelsa, for instance, where 
it will halt for a minute or two, and then after making a feeble 
attempt ata song will dive suddenly into the brashwood and 
disappear. 
Jerdon says (B. of I, Vol. IL, p. 171): “ The eggs are 
usually reddish white with numerous darker red dots, &c.......” 
Ihave taken a great number of the nests of this bird in my 
time, over 50) perhaps, but I never obtained one in which the Pr- 
nias’ egos were not a uniform red throughout, lighter or darker 
in different nests, but always red throughout, and not 
as Jerdon would make out, only sumetimes brick red throughout. 
The following are the dimensions, &c., of two fine males :— 
_ Length, 5: 55 expanse, 6°6; tail, 2°3 "to 2°33 ; wing, 2°0 to 
2:05; farsue, 0°85 to 0:9 ; bill from gape, 0°62 ; weight, 0°35 OZ8. 
Bill black : legs and feet yellowish fleshy ; irides litharge red. 
536.—Prinia gracilis, Frankl, Franklin’s Wren 
Warbler. 
This species, whether gracilis or hodgsoni, does not ascend the 
hills to any great height; the highest elevation at which I have 
ever obtained it has been about 3,500 feet. It spreads through 
the Wynaad, but I have never found it common. It is always 
in small parties of ‘from four to a dozen or more. An adult male 
that I shot at Charambady in the Wynaad on the 2nd of April 
has the pectoral band very distinct. 
539.—Cisticola cursitans, frank. the Fantail 
Warbler. — 
I met with this species a few times in the Wynaad, near 
Manantoddy in rice cultivation, and in long grass bordering 
