1839.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



269 



112. — C.garrula, Selby. — 5. sylvrilla^Veim. — Lesser white-throat. 



I have less hesitation in referring this bird to the European species, 

 as it is included in Colonel Sykes* Catalogue. It is more common than 

 either of the last, frequents the same places and has similar habits, 

 feeding on insects and flower buds, arid incessantly moving about the 

 upper and extreme branches of the trees it frequents. Irides light 

 brownish yellow ; bill blackish, pale beneath ; legs dark slaty Length 

 rather more than 5 inches. 



Genus AGROBATES, Sw, 



113. — A. brunnescens. — New species ? 



Description. — Above light olive brown, darkest on wings and tail, and 

 lightest on the rump j beneath, and eyebrow, whitish, with a tinge of 

 olive yellow; wings and tail beneath cinereous ; plumage soft and silky ; 

 hill dark brown, flesh coloured at base of lower mandible ; legs horny, 

 Irides dull greenish yellow ochre. This curious bird I have placed for 

 the present as a species of Swainson's genus Agrobates, with which it 

 agrees in its large thrush like bill, strong feet and legs, and slender 

 claws ; differing however in the tip of the bill being distinctly though 

 slightly notched, and in having a few bristles at the gape. It is an un- 

 common bird. I have seen it in the Carnatic, near Trichinopoly ; also 

 near Jaulnah, and in other parts of the table land. In its manners this 

 bird somewhat approaches the Orthotomi and Prinice. I have found it 

 in high grain fields, to the stalks of which it was seen clinging, and on 

 being observed concealed itself among them. At Jaulnah I have late- 

 ly seen it in my garden, hunting about various low shrubs, peas and 

 beans, &c. among which, on being observed, it immediately withdrew, 

 most carefully hiding itself, and being with difficulty driven from its 

 place of refuge. I occasionally heard it utter a harsh clucking note. I 

 found its food in two instances to consist of small grasshoppers and 

 ants. Length 7 to 8 inches, of one 8 inches long the wing is 3| ; tail 

 about 3; tarsus 1 yVths; bill above nearly T 7 ^ths, to gape above one 

 inch. 



(To be continued.) 



