1840.] 



^ of the Peninsula of India. 



3 



differs from the type of Orthotomus in its short tail. Principal food 

 black ants. Length S^e^ths ; tail 2-'^tli." 



Gen. PR in I a, Uoxsi,—Pit.-pitiee, U.— Wren Warbler. 



This genus, or sub-genus perhaps, though not admitted by Swain- 

 son, 1 am inclined to adopt in consequence of the well defined group 

 of Indian birds classed under it, which do not exacUy correspond with 

 any of SvA'ainson's, though they nearly approach to Drymoica (a sub- 

 genus of Malurus), and probably connect it to Orthotomus, with which 

 they are also strongly allied. All the species I have noticed, have simi- 

 lar manners and habits. In this respect they somewhat approach the 

 Thinialioe or Babblers, which they perhaps represent in this family, 

 as well in their long, indistinctly barred tail, long legs, short wings, 

 and other structural points, as in their occasionally associating in 

 small flocks, and their incessant calling. 



116 — P. socialis, Sykes. — Ash-coloured Wren Warbler. 



This species of Prinia is unequally distributed over the peninsula, 

 being tolerably common in some localities, and rarely met with in 

 others. In the Carnatic, I have met it among reeds and long grass, 

 by the side of rivers and tanks ; on the west coast in similar situations, 

 and much more common ; while I have hitherto seen it but rarely in 

 the table land. On the Neilgherries near Coonoor and Kotagherry, it 

 is very abundant in dry bushy ground. 

 Colonel Sykes says of this species " has the same ingenious nest, and 

 has the same habits and note, and feeds in the same manner as 0. Ben- 

 neltUr I have not verified this observation as to the nidification of this 

 bird, and have found the nest of another species to be very different. 

 Irides orange buff ; bill black ; legs flesh coloured yellow. Length 5y2_ths,- 

 wing rather m.ore than 2; tail 2y5_ths ; tarsus ^^\\\^. 



117.— P. gracilis, Franklin. — Small Wren Warbler. 



This species much resembles the last in colour, but is much smaller, 

 white below, instead of fawn colour, and I have only hitherto found it 

 in wooded places and jungly districts (frequenting trees as well as bushes) 

 in the west coast, and northern part of the table land. 



