

MALURIN/E. 



quill spurious, and the fourth to the eighth equal and longest. Tail more or less long, much 

 graduated, and composed of narrow feathers. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, and covered by a single 

 scale in front. Toes moderate, with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at its base ; 

 and the hind toe nearly as long as the middle toe, and armed with a long strong claw. 



The species of this genus are inhabitants of the continent of India and its archipelago. They are familiar birds, 

 frequenting in pairs or in small flocks the cultivated ground ; and are generally seen actively hopping from branch to 

 branch of low trees and shrubs, in search of small insects and their larvos, that are found on the bark and foliage ; but 

 they may sometimes also be seen examining the ground for the same kind of food. While seeking their food or hopping 

 about, they jerk up their tails over their backs, which gives them a singular appearance. Their song consists only of a 

 single note often repeated. Their flight from tree to tree is performed in an undulating manner, and rather rapidly. 

 The nest of one of the species is constructed of leaves of mango trees sewed together with cotton thread and fibres ; the 

 interior space being lined with cotton, on which the female deposits three or four eggs. 



1. O. sepium Horsf. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 166., PI. col. 599. f. 1., 

 Mag. de Zool. 1836. t. 51. 



2. O. edela Temm. PI. col. 599- f- 2. — Edela ruflceps Less. ? 



3. O. longicaudus (Gmel.) Cent. Zool. t. 71** Mag. de Zool. 

 1836. t. 52, 53. — Sylvia guzurata Lath. ; Orthotomus Bennettii 

 et O. lingoo Sykes ; Motacilla sutoria Gmel.; Orth. sphenurus 

 Swains. ; Sylvia ruflcapilla Hutt. 



4. ? O. longirostris Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart, p. 343. 



5. O. atrogularis Temm. PI. col. (with t. 5'JQ.). 



6. O. enculatus Temm. PL col. 599. f- 3. 



7. O, sericeus Temm. PI. col. (with t. 599.). 



Prinia Horsf.* 



Bill shorter than the head, straight, and rather broad at the base, with the sides compressed, and the 

 culmen arched at the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the nostrils basal, placed in a short, broad, 

 membranous groove, with the opening longitudinal. Wings rather short, and rounded ; with the first 

 quill abruptly, the second and third gradually, shorter than the fourth, fifth, and sixth, which are equal 

 and longest. Tail lengthened and graduated. Tarsi lengthened, slender, and covered with scales. Toes 

 long ; with the outer toe shorter than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe long, and armed 

 with a long curved claw. 



It is on the continent of India and its archipelago that the species are found. Their habits and manners are similar 

 to those of the last genus. The nests of some species are placed in a low bush near the ground, and are composed of 

 grass, wherein the female deposits four eggs. 



1. P. familiaris Horsf. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 165., Zool. Res. 

 Birds pi. ., Swains. Zool. Illustr. n. s. pi. 97. — Orthotomus 

 prinia Temm. PL col. 



2. V.flaviventris (Deless.) Bl. Souv. ii. p. 30. 



3. P. olivaceus (Raffl.) Bl. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 313. 



4. P. socialis Sykes, Proc. Z. S. 1832. p. 89- 



5. P. Stewartii Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1847- p. 455. 



6. P. gracilis Frankl. Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 11 9. 



7. P. Hodgsoni Blyth. — Prinia gracilis Jerd. Madr. Journ. Lit. 

 & Sci. 



8. P. rufescens Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1847. P- 456. 



9. P. ■ • — ■ Prinia olivacea Strickl. Ann. Nat. Hist. xv. 



p. 126. 



10. P. icterica Strickl. Ann. Nat. Hist. xv. p. 126'. 



11. P. pileata Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1842. p. 204. 



* Estahlished hy Dr. Horsfield in 1820 (Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 165.). 



