ACEOCEPHALTO. — TBIBUEA. 229 



are pure white, very thinly speckled with reddish and yellowish 

 brown, the markings being most numerous towards the large end, 

 and even there somewhat sparse and very minute. They measure 

 respectively 0-65 by 0-52, 0-65 by 0-51, and 0-62 by 0-51. 



367. Acrocephalus agricola (Jerd.). The Paddy-field Beed- 

 Warbler. 



Acrocephalus agricolus (Jerd.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 156. 

 Calamcdyta agricola (Jerd.), Mime, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 517. 



The Paddy-field Reed-Warbler nests apparently occasionally in 

 May and June in the valleys of the Himalayas, the great majority 

 probably going further north-west to breed. 



Very little is known about the matter. I have shot the birds 

 in the interior of the hills in May, but I have never seen a 

 nest. 



Mr. Brooks, however, says: — "Near Shupyion (Cashmere) I 

 found a finished empty nest of this truly aquatic warbler in a. 

 rose-bush which was intergrown with rank nettles. This was in 

 the roadside where there was a shallow stream of beautifully clear 

 water. On either side of the road were vast tracts of paddy 

 swamp, in which the natives were busily engaged planting the 

 young rice-plants. The nest strongly resembled that of Curruca 

 cjarrula. The male with his throat puffed out was singing on the 

 bush a loud vigorous pretty song like a Lesser Whitethroaf s, but 

 more varied. I shot the strange songster, on which the female 

 flew from the nest. This was the only pair of these interesting 

 birds that I met with. I think, therefore, that their breeding in 

 Cashmere is not a common occurrence." 



This nest, now in my collection, was found on the 13th June, 

 at an elevation of about 5500 feet, in the Valley of Cashmere. It 

 is a deep, almost purse-like cup, very loosely and carelessly put 

 together, of moderately fine grass, in amongst which a quantity 

 of wool has been intermingled. 



371. Tribura thoracica (Blyth). The Spotted Bush- Warbler. 



Dumeticola affinis (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 158. 

 Dumeticola brunneipectus, Bl., Hume, Bough Draft N. fy E. 

 no. 519 bis. 



Mr. Hodgson gives a very careful figure of a female bird of this 

 species, together with its nest and egg, but he labels it underneath 

 affinis. As we know, he described" affinis as having spots on the 

 breast ; but he further notes that at the same place at which he 

 obtained the female, nest, and eggs, he also got a male bird with 

 spots on the breast ; in fact, in other words, he seems to have come 

 to the conclusion that Dumeticola affinis was the male and that 

 Dumeticola brunneipectus, which he did not separately name, though 

 he has beautifully figured it, was the female. I have specimens of 



