210 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



543— Sykes, Cat. 76— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 125, f. 2— 

 Cheea in Sindli — Cldnna nulla kumpa jitta, Tel. 



The Lesser White-throat. 



Descr. — Plumage above pale reddish cinereous, chiefly ashy on 

 the head and nape ; lores and ears dusky ash ; a faint white line 

 from the base of the bill to the eye ; beneath white, tinged with 

 rufescent on the neck and breast ; tail as in the last. 



Bill blackish, palebeneath; legs dark slaty; irides brownish yellow. 

 Length 5^ inches ; wing 2§ ; tail 2 ; bill at front 9 mill. ; tarsus f . 



The Lesser White-throat is found over the greater part of 

 India during the cold weather, and it is much more common than 

 either of the two last species. It frequents similar localities, and has 

 the same habits and food, feeding both on insects and flower buds, 

 and incessantly moving about the upper and extreme branches of 

 trees. Mr. Blyth, who observed it in Bengal, noticed that it frequent- 

 ed Mimosa trees in small parties, and that it kept chiefly to trees. 



Other species of this sub-family are aS. cinerea, S. leucopogon, and 

 S. conspicillata, Europe. S. atricapilla, that well known Warbler, 

 the Blackcap, is placed under Curruea by Bonaparte, along with 

 aS. hortenis, and S. Ruppellii of N.-E. Africa and the Greek Archi- 

 pelago ; and there are two or three more belonging to the 

 African Fauna. 



Other Sylviadean forms not alluded to previously are Cettia and 

 MeUzopldlus, of Southern Europe, which appear to belong to the 

 short-winged Warblers, at all event*, the latter. 



The Warblers may be said to be represented in the New World 

 by the Mniodltince, but, from their colours and structure, these 

 birds appear more allied to the Titmice than to the true 

 Wai biers. In Australia and Oceanic;!, Gerygone appears to 

 take their place, but it is located by Bonaparte among his 

 Acantldzece. 



Sub-fam. MoTACiLLiNiE, Wagtails and Pipits. 

 Bill generally of moderate length, slender, straight, barely deflect- 

 ed at the tip, and indistinctly notched ; rictal vibrissas minute or 

 wanting ; wings typically long and pointed, and the tertiaries 

 lengthened ; tail long ; tarsus moderately long and slender; toes mo- 

 derate ; claws slightly curved ; the hind claw often long and straight. 



