TIMALINJ3. 73 



two of the species of which latter have been considered to belong 

 to Megalurus. 



From these Reed and Grass-babblers there is an evident transi- 

 tion to the Reed-warblers, such as Ijocustella, Acrocephalus, and 

 Arundinax, in all of which, however, the characters of this family- 

 are lost, or nearly so. But it will, perhaps, be advisable to class 

 here two small Grass or Reed birds, which, by their strongly 

 compressed bill, apparently belong to this group, leading to 

 the Warblers. They belong to two distinct forms, and both are 

 rare, and but little known. Mr. Blyth also places them in this 

 family, between Ch(Stornis and Dumetia. 



Gen. Sch^enicola, Blyth. 

 Char. — Bill moderate, rather deep, much compressed, slightly 

 curved on the culmen; a few strong rictal bristles, but less 

 developed than in Clicetornis ; wings moderate, slightly rounded, 

 4th quill longest, 3rd equal to 5th ; tail moderate, very broad, soft ; 

 tarsus long ; toes grasping ; plumage somewhat lax. 



442. Schaenicola platyura, Jerdon. 



Timalia, apud Jerdon, Suppl. Cat. 96 bis. 



The Broad-tailed Reed-bird. 



Descr. — Above dark olive-brown ; the feathers of the tail 

 obsoletely barred ; beneath ochrey yellowish. 



Bill horny yellow ; legs fleshy yellow ; irides yellowish brown. 

 Length 5^ inches ; wing 2^; tail 2^; bill at front T ^, tarsus T 9 n . 



I only once observed this curious bird among some reeds in 

 swampy ground close to Goodaloor in the Wynaad, at the foot of 

 the Neilgherries. It took short flights, and endeavoured to conceal 

 itself among the thick herbage. Its food had consisted wholly of 

 small insects. I only procured one specimen, which is now lost, 

 but Mr. Blyth had previously seen it, and recognising its peculi- 

 arities, had given it the above generic appellation. 



Gen. Eurycercus, Blyth. 

 Syn. Laticilla olim, Blyth — Sphenaacus, Strickland. 

 Char. — Bill of moderate length, compressed, slender, nearly 

 straight; culmen gently curved, barely hooked at the tip; a few distant 



K 



