602 Asiatic Society. [No. 126. 



frequently brought for sale in the medley of species purchased as " Ortolans" by 

 Europeans. I have long waited for uninjured specimens, and now exhibit two males 

 and a female that at least have one side perfect. Size of the Cirl Bunting, and allied to 

 this species in form. Length six inches, by nearly ten inches across ; wing two inches and 

 seven-eighths, and middle tail-feathers two inches and a half, the external rather more ; 

 bill to forehead (through the feathers) above half an inch, and the same to gape ; tarse 

 seven-eighths of an inch: head, with the back and sides of the neck, dark grey, having a 

 black medial streak to each feather, most developed on those of the crown ; ear-coverts 

 forming a conspicuous deep rufous spot; shoulders of the wings, scapularies, and rump, 

 the same but not so dark, also a band crossing the lower part of the breast, more or less 

 developed; inter-scapularies or dorsal feathers resembling those of a male common 

 House Sparrow ; throat, fore-neck, and breast, to the rufous band, whitish or slightly 

 yellowish-white, with a narrow black streak commencing at each corner of the lower 

 mandible, widening or spreading as it descends, and then branching to form a gorget with 

 its opposite, being more or less developed indifferent specimens; the sides of the breast, 

 below this gorget are purer white, and the belly, below the rufous band, is tinged 

 with fulvous ; a light streak over the eye ; wings dusky within, the feathers edged 

 externally with rufous and fulvous, and the outermost tail-feather obliquely marked 

 with white, the next but slightly so. Irides dark. Bill (at this season) dusky above, 

 lighter on parts of the lower mandible ; and feet pale brown with a slight livid cast* 

 The female merely differs in being rather smaller with the colours less bright. 



The only other Indian species we possess of this genus appears to have been several 

 times described, firstly by Mr. Vigors, (P. Z. S. 1831, 183J as E. cristata, then 

 by Messrs. Jardine and Selby, (III. Orn. pi. CXXXII,) as E. erythropterus, and 

 lastly by Mr. Hodgson, (As. Res. XIX, 157 J as E. Nipalensis : at least our speci- 

 mens agree alike with all the descriptions here cited ; and I even incline to doubt 

 whether the E. subcristata of Col. Sykes, (P. Z. S. 1832, 93,) be aught else than the 

 female, which opinion he indeed combats, albeit there would appear to be certain 

 differences, to judge from his description.* 



I have also obtained two curious small marsh birds in the bazaar, which are not 

 easy to classify; being referriable, indeed, to an extensive group allied to the Salicarice, 

 to the Prinice, and to that African subdivision formerly included in Malurus, and 

 which group has not been, that I am aware of, duly studied in all its diversified 

 ramifications. The first, however, I shall provisionally arrange as 



Dasyornis ? locustelloides, from the near resemblance which it bears in plumage to 

 the Locustelle, or Grasshopper-bird, (Locustella Rail,) of the British Islands. f In 

 form it appears to be closely allied to the D. Australis of Messrs. Jardine and Selby, 

 figured in the " Illustrations of Ornithology," pi. LXXIII; but, on actual comparison, 

 will probably prove separable as a minimum subdivision. Length seven inches, by 

 nine inches in extent of wing, the latter from bend two inches and seven-eighths, and 

 medial tail-feathers eight inches; bill to forehead (through the feathers) five-eighths of an 

 inch, and nearly seven-eighths of an inch to gape; tarse an inch and one-six- 

 teenth : the bill is strong, three-sixteenths of an inch deep, and compressed laterally, 



* The Society has since received E. cilreola from Mr. Hodgson. 



t It is, I now find, the Megalurus ? striatus of Mr. Jerdon's Supplement, a single specimen 

 having been procured by that naturalist on the Neilghierries. 



