540 SYLVIA AFEINIS. 



Nidification. — This species breeds in Cashmere in May, building a nest, according to Mr. Brooks, 

 similar in size and structure to the European Lesser Whitethroat, " formed of grasses, roots, and fine fibres, 

 and scantily lined with a few black horsehairs." The nests are " slight and thinly formed, very neat but 

 strong," and are decorated on the outside with bits of spiders' webs. At the time this was written, Mr. Hume 

 did not accept the Indian birds as distinct from the European ; but having since altered his opinion, based on 

 the characteristic wing- formula of the two species, I shall be correct in giving his description of the eggs as 

 applying to the Indian bird, though perhaps not to the larger race with which I am principally dealing. He 

 fharacterizes them as somewhat broad ovals typically, a good deal pointed towards the lesser end ; the ground- 

 colour is white, marked with small spots, blotches, and specks of pale yellowish brown, more or less intermingled 

 with spots of dull inky purple ; in some the markings are confined to a zone, in others scattered over the 

 surface of the egg. The avei'age dimensions of sixteen eggs are 0'66 by 0'5 inch. 



Genus ACROCEPHALUS. 

 Bill lengthened, straight ; culrnen acute, the tip slightly bent down and plainly notched. 

 V -nils basal and oval ; rictal bristles well developed. Wings pointed; the 1st quill minute, 

 the 3rd and 4th the longest; the 2nd variable, but never much less than the 3rd. Tail moderate 

 and rounded at the tip. Legs and feet strong ; the tarsus protected by broad scutes in front, 

 and longer than the middle toe; lateral toes short; hind toe and claw very long. 



