542 ACEOCEPHALUS STENTOEIUS. 



This Warbler and A. orientalis, which inhabits China, Japan, and some of the Malay islands (Lornbok, Morty, Batchian, 

 and perhaps others), are very closely allied Asiatic representatives of the large Seed- Warbler of Europe, 

 A. arundinaceus, from which they differ in their smaller size and the proportion of the quills to one another. 

 The European bird has a more pointed wing than its Asiatic relatives and is larger. The following is a diagnosis 

 of the characters of the three races : — 



A. arundinaceus. Larger: wing (5 examples measured) 3-7 to 3'9 inches ; 1st lomj primary longer than the 3rd. 

 A. orientalis. Smaller : wing (19 examples measured) 3 - 05 to 3'5 inches; 2nd lomj primary slightly shorter than, 



or equal to, the 3rd. 

 A. stentorius. Intermediate in size in its average measurements : wing (6 Ceylonese and 6 Indian examples 



measured) 3*1 to 3 - 55 inches : 2nd long primary shorter than the 4th. 



A Labuan specimen is intermediate between the two latter ; it has the 2nd long primary equal to the 4th ; wing 

 3'4 inches, bill to gape 0-98. 



Mr. Seebohm recognizes the Acrocephalus longirostris of Gould and the Sylvia syrinx of Kittlitz as subspecies of 

 A. ati ntorius, depending for their rank chiefly on their peculiar distribution and smaller size. The first-named 

 bird, which u inters in Lornbok and breeds in Western Australia, has a proportionately longer bill than A. stentorius, 

 and measures in the wing 2'8 to 3-1 inches ; the 2nd primary is intermediate in length between the 5th and the 

 6th. The second. Acrocephalus &yrinsc,ia confined to the island of Ponape in the Caroline group. It has a 

 proportionately shorter tail than the preceding species, and measures in the wing 2-9 inches ; the 2nd primary 

 i* intermediate between the 6th and the 8th. 



The whole of these Austral-Asiatic Beed- Warblers appear to be merely local races of our European species. 



Distribution. — It is only of late years that this fine Warbler has been known to inhabit Ceylon. It was 

 first discovered by myself in the Jaffna-Fort ditch, where there is a bed of reeds suitable as a refuge for such a 

 lurking species as it is. It is also an inhabitant of the adjacent lotus-ponds, and occurs in similar spots 

 throughout the island. I found it breeding in July in the Tamara-Kulam near Trincomalie, which, in the dry 

 season, is a vast bed of gigantic rushes ; at the celebrated Pollanarua tank it was abundant during the same 

 month, and in the extreme south I procured it near Hambantota likewise in the hot season. Mr. Parker 

 met with it near Puttalam, and afterwards, in the month of July, came on " dozens in a small tank full of 

 reeds at Ambanpola on the Anaradjapura road a few miles beyond Bulalli." There is therefore abundant 

 proof that it is a tolerably plentiful resident in the island, a circumstance somewhat remarkable when it is 

 considered that the bird is a visitor to the plains of India. On strict search being made for it, it will doubtless 

 befound in many places, similar to those mentioned, in the wild dry districts of the country. From the damp 

 portion comprised of the Western Province and south-western district it appears to be absent; for I examined 

 the Lofty reed-beds (a most likely place) which line the old Dutch canal and its branches which intersect the 

 Mutturajawella swamp between Colombo and Negombo, and found no trace whatever of it, which, I think, 

 is strong testimony that it docs not inhabit any part of the south-west. 



Dr. Jerdon writes that it is found in most parts of India during the cold weather, being only a winter 

 visitant. Mr. Hume likewise, in 'Lahore to Yarkand/ expresses the same opinion; but I observe that 

 Mr. Adam found it at the Sambhur Lake in the middle of May; and though the eggs in the ovary were very 

 minute, yet it was close to its breeding-time, Mr. Brooks having found its young in Kashmir on the 10th of 

 June ; it is therefore probable that some examples may remain behind to breed. On the other hand, Captain 

 Butler gives the date of its departure from the district with which he deals as the 8th of April. Dr. Fairbank 

 merely remarks, with regard to the Dcccan, that it is found among rushes, giving no details of its arrival or 

 departure; but Dr. Jerdon specifies the Carnatic as a region to which it is a visitant; therefore we may 

 conclude that this writer's statement, backed as it is by the experience of Mr. Hume, will be found to hold 

 good for the entire peninsula, and that this Warbler, while migratory from Northern India to the Southern 

 parts of the empire, is a resident in Ceylon ! I believe, however, that further investigation is still necessary, 

 as, owing to its habits, it may have been overlooked ; and I commend the matter as one of great interest to 

 my Indian readers. 



Mr. Blanford records it from Persia, and savs that it was rather scarce at Bampur in Beluchistan in April, 

 but abounded iu June near the lake of Shiraz ; in these localities he considers that it probably breeds, leaving 



