1843.] Mr. Blytfis Report for December Meeting, 1842. 965 



and the anterior by those of the lesser coverts ; the tertiaries also are 

 edged externally with whitish, and the primaries and secondaries more 

 slightly bordered with the same, or, in some specimens, with olive- 

 green ; towards the posterior pale cross-band of the wing, however, is 

 generally (not always) a well defined dark patch, caused by the secon- 

 daries being there unbordered, and which represents the blackish 

 patch on the wing of Regulus auricapillus : the tail-feathers are not 

 internally edged with white as in the preceding species ; and the 

 under-parts are dingy greyish-white, a little tinged with lemon-yellow, 

 this colour appearing more conspicuously about the ear-coverts. The 

 affinity which this species bears to the last will help to indicate its 

 true systematic station, being strictly, as I may repeat, a Phylloscopus, 

 and not a Regulus. Its habits, too, are solitary, and not gregarious 

 as in the latter genus : and its song-note may be described as nearly 

 similar to that of Ph. sibilatrix, but considerably weaker.* 



Six other species of this genus occur in the vicinity of Calcutta. 

 One I have already described as Ph.fuscatus, (J. A. S. XI, 113), and 

 of this I have not hitherto obtained a second specimen. \ It is at once 

 distinguished by its comparatively large size, and prevalent brown 

 colour. Three others of which I have also obtained as yet but one 

 example of each, may be described as 



Ph. nitidus, Nobis. Resembles Ph. sibilatrix, but is smaller in all 

 its proportions, and has the entire under-parts, with the lower tail- 

 coverts, tinged with yellow. Bill carneous-dusky, the lower mandible 

 pale; and feet light brownish, tinged with yellow on the toes. This 



* March 7th. A nest of this species has been brought to me, with the pair of birds 

 attached to it. It is an elegant structure, pendent from a twig of guava, and was 

 placed at a considerable height from the ground : being of a domed form, with two 

 apertures, one in front above the middle, having a distinct overhanging canopy, the 

 other on one side behind, placed rather higher up ; the upper-part is attached through- 

 out its breadth to the twig. The body of the nest is constructed of a fine and soft 

 vegetable fibre, like fine tow, closely interlaced to the thickness of half an inch ; and 

 this forms the internal lining: the domed part is much less substantial, though suffi- 

 ciently strong behind, where the lower part is supported. Outside are affixed a 

 number of bits of bark, spider-cocoons, and a variety of other substances, recalling to 

 mind the external lining of the nest of the European Bottletit ( Mecistura caudata) ; 

 which latter nest is fully double the size, but its single orifice is scarcely so large. 

 There were no eggs in this nest, the outer lining of which is not completely finished. 

 Both birds have their plumage very much worn, especially the male, the mesial 

 coronal streak of which is only slightly indicated in part. — E. B. 



f 1 have recently procured others, both of this and of Ph. tristis. 



6 M 



