29 [Vol. xxxvii, 



brown ; tail greyish black, outer pair of rectrices white on 

 the terminal half, as is also the entire outer web ; second 

 pair broadly, and third pair slightly, tipped with white. 

 Chin and throat white ; the rest of the underparts white, 

 washed on the breast and flanks with pinkish brown. Under 

 wing-coverts white, washed with pink. Tarsi and toes 

 yellowish brown ; eyelid orange-red. 



Juvenile. Ochreous brown above ; nnderparts white, 

 washed on the breast and flanks with buif. 



Female. Unknown. 



Measurements of type. Wing 55 mm. ; tail 52 ; tarsus 20; 

 bill 9. 



Five adult males examined, including the type. 



In the formation of the wing this species comes nearest to 

 Sylvia m. melanocephala, the second primary being inter- 

 mediate between tlie seventh and eighth. It differs markedly 

 in coloration from all forms of S. melanocephala, being 

 brown on the back instead of slate-grey. 



The eggs are greenish white, spotted all over with pale 

 olive-brown and with underlying blotches of pale lilac. 

 Measurements, 17 X 13 mm. 



Habitat. As far as is at present known, this species is only 

 found on a small islet on the north side of Lake Birket 

 Karun in the Fayoum, Middle Egypt. It is resident there 

 and nests in the tamarisk bushes. In March 1912 I heard 

 as many as ten males singing on this islet and found a nest 

 containing four eggs. It was equally abundant there in 

 November 1909 and in 1913, 



I propose the above name for this new bird, after my wife. 



Type in the British Museum : ad. (J . " 28rd March, 

 1912, north side of Lake Karun, Fayoum," No 2227, 

 Coll. M. J. Nicoll. 



Prinia gracilis natronensis, subsp. nov. 



Upper parts grey-brown, paler on forehead and rump, 

 crown and mantle streaked with dark brown. Wings brown 

 with paler edges to the flight-feathers. Tail brown barred 

 subterminally with blackish brown and tipped with white, 



