190 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



note, which it incessantly utters on being approached, and it 

 usually endeavours to hide itself, creeping to the further side of 

 the tree. I have obtained the nest and eggs of this species on one 

 occasion only, at Jaulnah in the Deccan ; the nest was cup-shaped, 

 made of roots, and grass, and contained four pure white eggs. 



Gen. Phylloscopus, Boie. 



Char. — Bill very slender, small, straight, shallow, barely deflected 

 at the tip, entire ; a few small but distinct rictal bristles ; wings 

 as in the last, but the first primary more developed, and the 

 wing somewhat shorter ; tail moderate, even or slightly emarginate 

 in some ; tarsus and feet moderate ; claws slender. 



This genus, formed for the Motacilla trocliUus of Europe, and 

 allied species, comprises a considerable number of birds found in 

 various parts of India during the cold season only. The plumage 

 is generally green above, inclining to brown in a few, whitish green 

 or yellow beneath, and, in general, without any paler markings on 

 the occiput, or bars on the wings. 



554. Phylloscopus tristis, Blyth. 



J. A. S., XII., 966— Blyth, Cat. 1104— Hoasr.. Cat. 525— 

 Sylvia trochilus apud Jerdon, Cat. 125. 



The Brown Tree-Warbler. 



Descr. — Above uniform dull brown, below albescent, with a 

 faint tinge of ruddy on the pale supercilia, sides of neck, breast 

 and flanks ; axillaries, and fore part of the wing underneath, pure 

 light-yellow. 



Bill blackish, yellow beneath and at gape ; legs brownish black ; 

 irides brown. Length 5 inches ; extent 7 ; wing 2^ ; tail 2 ; tarsus 

 | ; bill at front nearly 9 mill. 



This species appears generally spread through India, during the 

 cold weather. Blyth says that it is abundant in Lower Bengal in 

 swampy places with bushes, or occasionally in groves of trees. 

 I have seen it perched among some reeds on the banks of a stream, 

 now and then alighting on a stone in the water, and making short 

 sallies after insects in the air, or seizing one in the sand of the 

 rivulet. 



