Catalogue of the Birds 



118 — P.inornata, Sykes. — Common Wren Warhler, 



This is a very common bird in all parts of the peninsula, frequenting 

 low bushes on the open plains, hedges, low trees, grain-fields, &c. It is 

 found generally in pairs, or sometimes in small flocks, feeds on ants, 

 larvas and various insects, and endeavours to conceal itself in the thick 

 bushes or hedges, and on being driven away flies off to the nearest bush 

 or tree with the low jerking flight common to others of the genus. I 

 once procured the nest of this species, it was open at the top, neatly 

 enough made with grass, well interwoven, without any lining, and fix- 

 ed in a low bush, very near the ground : it contained four blue eggs. 

 Irides, brownish yellow ; bill, brown above, yellowish below. Length 

 about 5 inches ; wing l-ySg-ths ; tail 2f'-5-ths ; tarsus about yV^^^. 



119. — P. Macroura, Frankl. C^t.—^Zong tailed Wren Warbler. 



This is a very closely allied species to the last, though perfectly dis- 

 tinct, differing in the more reddish or fawn tint of the brown, and the 

 more rufous tint of the white. It is much more rare than the last, and 

 prefers more jungly and wooded places. Length of one specimen 6 

 inches ; of tail, rather more than 3 ; wing hardly ly^ths; tarsus -j-^ths. 

 Irides, brownish orange; bill brown, pale yellow at the base of the 

 lower mandible. 



120. — P. sylvatica,— New si^ecies?— Jungle Wren Warbler. 



Descr.— Above olive brown ; below and superciliary mark white, 

 tinged with yellowish; tail obsoletely barred, with a larger bar at the 

 tip, and terminated by white, except in the centre feathers; bill strono-, 

 black; legs flesh coloured. Lides orange buflp. Length 6 inches; 

 wing 2-4^ths ; tail 2-7-ths ; tarsus nearly one inch. 



I have only seen this species hitherto in open forest jungle in the Se- 

 goor pass of the Neilgherries. 



121. — P. ru/ifro7is.—'New si^ecies?— Red-fronted Wren Warbler. 



Descr. — Forehead and head rufous; above greenish ash coloured; 

 beneath white; tail brown, and except in the centre feathers, broadly 

 terminated by white, especially the outer feathers. Bill brown, pale be- 

 low; legs flesh coloured. Irides pale orange buff. Length 5 inches . 

 wing rather more than ; tail 2^eths; tarsus ,B^ths. I have only 



