172 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Prinia familiaris, Horsfield, the type of the genus, belongs to 

 this section. 



With twelve tail-feathers. 



536. Prinia gracilis, Franklin. 



P. Z. S., 1831— Blyth, Cat. 809— Orthot, lingoo, Stkes, 

 according to Blyth. 



Franklin's "Wren- Warbler. 



Descr. — Slightly rufescent olive above, tinged greyer on the 

 head and neek ; the wing feathers dusky, edged externally with 

 rufous brown ; under parts silky white, tinged with yellowish 

 fulvous on the flanks, and faintly on the sides of the neck ; tail 

 brown, albescent greyish beneath, with a subterminal dark band, 

 and whitish tips, most conspicuous on the under surface. 



Bill black ; legs fleshy yellow ; irides deep amber ; orbits fleshy 

 red. Length 44 inches; extent 5| ; wing l£; tail 2; bill at 

 front T ^j ; tarsus •]•§. 



This little Warbler is found in Central and Northern India. It, 

 was first procured and described by Franklin ; and 1 found it 

 abundant on the Vindhian Mountains near Mhow, and in jungles 

 close to Saugor. It frequents tree forest, and has the usual habits of 

 the genus. It often has its forehead colored yellow by the pollen of 

 flowers which it has been searching for minute insects. I found 

 its nest, at Saugor, very like that of the Tailor-bird, but smaller, 

 made of cotton, wool, and various soft vegetable fibres, and occa- 

 sionally bits of cloth, and I invariably found it sewn to one leaf 

 of the Kydia, so common in the jungles there. The eggs were 

 pale blue with some brown or reddish spots, often barely visible. 

 This is perhaps the Tailor-bird described by Lieut. Gifford, J. A. S., 

 II., 648 "light brown above, dirty white below, 4 inches long, 

 called Phutki." Hodgson's blue Tailor-bird's eggs may have been 

 of this species, or the next one. 



537. Prinia cinereo-capilla, Hodgson. 



Moore, P. Z. S., 1854, 



Hodgson's Wren- Warbler. 



Descr.— Crown of head grey, the shaft and margins of the 

 feathers being darker, nareal and frontal plumes, a streak over and 



