RTJTICILLIISLE. 153 



white, but there is never the pure silky-white pectoral spot 

 of C. Wu/ji of Southern Europe. The females have commonly 

 the throat and fore-neck dull white, encircled with dusky spots, 

 which are more developed in old females, and these have sometimes 

 a tolerably broad dusky gorget, mingled with a little blue. 



The Indian Blue-throat is found over all India in suitable 

 localities. It is migratory, leaving for the North at the end of the 

 cold weather, March and April. This species appears to visit the 

 North of Europe and Northern and Western Asia in summer, and 

 is described as being a pleasing songster, breeding in moss on 

 the ground, and laying four or five eggs of a greenish color. It 

 is found in India, in open country, in hedge-rows, gardens, 

 fields of pulse and Cucurbitacece, corn fields, and reeds or long 

 grass, especially near water. In gardens it haunts the pea-rows, 

 beans, and any thick cover ; and it feeds on the ground, running 

 along and picking up various insects. It makes its way very 

 adroitly through thick reeds, and when observed it tries to conceal 

 itself. When feeding it occasionally displays its rufous tail, and 

 sometimes jerks it up, but does not quiver it like the Redstarts. 

 I have seen it feeding close to houses in various parts of Central 

 India. 



The allied species are, besides C. Wolji, already referred to, C. 

 cyane, Eversman, of Eastern Siberia, which ought to occur in China ; 

 C. dichro sterna, Cabanis, from Arabia; and C. major from Abyssinia. 



Besides the well known European Robin, one or two species 

 from Japan have been classed under Erythaca, but it appears 

 doubtful if they really belong to this group of birds. ' Mr. Blyth 

 would class the Nightingale here, but it appears to me to associate 

 more naturally with the birds of the next sub-family. 



Sub-fam. Calamoherpin.^, Grass-warblers. 



The following birds comprise a series of plain plumaged species, 

 of mostly small size, frequenting reeds, long grass, and other thick 

 coverts near the ground. They may be said to grade from the last 

 group by Cyanecula, which has the habits of the Reed-warblers. 

 They nestle on the ground, or among reeds, and feed entirely on 

 insects. They are most developed in the temperate and warmer 



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