559 



ACROCEPHALTJS AGEICOLUS. 



(PADDY-FIELD WARBLER.) 



Sylvia (Acrocephalus) agricola, Jerdon, Madr. Journ. xiii. pt. 2, p. 131 (1844). 

 Calamoherpe agricola (Jerd.), Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. xiv. p. 595 (1845). 

 Acrocephalus agricolus (Jerd.), Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. Soc. Beng. p. 182 (1849). 

 Calamodyta agricola (Jerd.), G. R. Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 172 (1849). 

 Salicaria capistrata, Severtzoff, Turk. Jevotnie, p. 127 (1873). 



Figura nulla. 



Ad. supra rufescenti-brunneus, capite saturatiore, uropygio clariore : alis et cauda fuscis, plumis vix Mvido 

 marginatis : capitis lateribus sordide brunneis sed stria superciliari alba : corpore subtus albo, abdomine 

 imo et hypochondriis cervino lavatis : rostro fusco, mandibula pallidiore : iride flavo-fusca, : pedibus 

 brunneis. 



Adult in summer (Ekaterinburg, 12th July) . Upper parts warm pale rufous brown, brightest on the rump ; 

 head darker and less rufous ; wings and tail brown, with light fulvous-brown edges ; sides of the head 

 dull brown ; but a light, almost white, streak passes over the eye ; underparts white, tinged with warm 

 buff on the flanks and lower abdomen ; bill brown, paler beneath ; iris yellowish brown ; legs brown. 

 Total length about 5 inches, culmen 0"45, wing 2'25, tail 2'2, tarsus 083 ; wing short and rounded, the 

 secondaries only - 45 shorter than the longest primary, first primary narrow and short, about - 15 

 longer than the wing-coverts, second between the sixth and the seventh in length, third and fourth the 

 longest, being nearly equal ; tail much rounded. 



Adult in spring (Etawah, India, 24th March). Resembles the specimen above described ; but the plumage is 

 fresher and brighter in tinge, and the underparts below the throat are tinged with ochreous buff. 



Neaelt three years ago I received a small collection of birds made on the Ural, in European 

 Russia, by Mr. Leonida Sabanaeff; and on examining and comparing the specimens I was pleased 

 to find that it contained two examples which, though labelled Iduna salicaria, are undoubtedly 

 referable to the present species, which until then had only been known as an Indian bird. I 

 have since then tried to obtain information respecting its range in Russia, but have been unable 

 to glean any thing reliable, as it has been confused with a perfectly distinct species, Hypolais 

 caligata. The only two European examples I have examined were obtained near Ekaterinburg 

 and at Sinara, the one on the 10th and the other on the 12th July; so that it doubtless breeds 

 within the limits of the Western Palsearctic Region. It is found in Turkestan and on the eastern 

 shores of the Caspian ; for Dr. Severtzoff informs me that the species described by him (I. c.) under 

 the name of Salicaria capistrata is undoubtedly identical with Acrocephalus agricolus. It was 

 not met with in Persia by Mr. Blanford and Major St. John ; but Mr. A. O. Hume records it 

 from Sindh, where, however, he only observed a few examples. Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, 

 ii. p. 156) that he " fiist found this species in growing paddy-fields in Nellore in the cold weather, 



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