158 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



5th sub-equal; tarsus moderate, stout; toes and claws long, not 

 much curved ; plumage puffy and full. 



This genus is not separated from Acroccphalus by Bonaparte 

 and Gray, but differs by its spotted breast and more cincline 

 bill. 



519. Dumeticola affinis, Hodgson. 



Salicarin, apud Hodgson, Gray, Zool. Misc., and Cat. Nep. 

 Birds — Gray, Genera of Birds, pi. 49, f. 2. — D. thoracica, Blyth, 

 J. A. S., XIV. 584— Blyth, Cat. 1087— IIorsf., Cat. 520. 



The Spotted Reed-warbler. 



Ihscr. — Above dark olive-brown, with a faint ruddy tinge on 

 the lower part of the back ; throat, and above the lores, white, pas- 

 sing into ashy on the breast, which, with the fore-neck, is marked 

 with largish round dusky spots ; lower parts, and sides of breast, 

 plain brownish ashy ; the middle portion of the belly white ; the 

 Hanks fulvescent brown, and the under tail-coverts dark olive 

 brown, with whitish tips. 



Bill dusky ; legs pale. Length 5 inches ; wing 2^ ; tail 2 ; bill 

 at front § ; tarsus f . 



This bird has only been procured in Nepal, and no notice of its 

 habits or haunts is on record. 



Besides the European species casually alluded to above, there are 

 a few others of this group found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 

 Acrocejihalns mordanus from Java, several of the same genus from 

 Japan, and others from China, North Africa, and Australia ; Calam- 

 odyta and Lusciniopsis comprise several species of Southern Europe 

 and North Africa ; Luscinia, containing the Nightingale of Europe, 

 and a nearly affined species from Eastern Europe and Persia, 

 L. Major, Bonap., is placed among the Robins by many authors ; 

 but its coloration and general habits appear to me to entitle it to a 

 place in this group. Aedon, comprising Sylvia galactodes of 

 Europe, and others, is placed by Gray next the Nightingale, but 

 some of the species appear to me to belong to the Timalina?, or at 

 all events to the short-winged Warblers ; and some of the species of 

 Erylhro]>y<jia, A. Smith, of Southern Africa (placed as a synonym 



