106 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
Subfamily DRYMOECUSF^. 
Genus MEGALURUS, Horsf, 
106. MEGALURUS PALUSTRIS. 
THE STRIATED MARSH-WARBLER. 
Megalurus palustris, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 159 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 70 ; 
Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 276 ; Bl. B. Bunn. p. 118 ; Wald. Tr. Z. S. ix. p. 189 ; 
Oates, S. F. v. p. 156 ; Tweedd. P. Z. 8. 1877^ p. 694 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 295 • 
Anders. Yunnan Exped. p. 639 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 97 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 209. 
Description. — Male and female. Upper plumage fulvous-brown^ the head 
rather rufous and each feather with a dark brown stripe down the shaft ; 
the feathers of the back and scapulars each with a broad black stripe down 
the centre ; wing- coverts blackish brown_, broadly edged with fulvous- 
brown j quills blackish brown^ the primaries narrowly, and the others 
broadly edged with rufous-brown ; tail fulvous-brown, the shafts and the 
portion of feather near them dusky ; a broad supercilium, becoming in- 
distinct near the nape, greyish white ; chin and throat white ; sides of the 
neck and all the lower plumage earthy brown, tinged with buff on the 
flanks, vent and under tail-coverts ; a few streaks of brown on the breast 
and under tail-coverts. 
The young bird is rich rufous-brown above, and the black streaks are 
not so well developed as in the adult. The lower plumage is rich yellowish 
buff tinged with chestnut on the flanks, vent and thighs. 
In another stage, which is probably the young after the autumn moult, 
the whole upper plumage is the same as in the adult ; the lower plumage 
is yellowish buff tinged with brown on the flanks and vent, and the streaks 
on the breast are very numerous and distinct. 
Iris pale brown ; eyelids plumbeous ; bill horny brown, dark on the 
upper mandible and rather pale on the lower ; mouth dark bluish brown ; 
legs pale pink ; claws pinkish horn- colour. 
Length 9 inches, tail 4*5, wing 3*2, tarsus 1*3, bill from gape "95 ; these 
are measurements of females from Pegu. The males are very much 
larger ; according to Mr. Davison they average — length 10'4 inches, tail 
4*9, wing 4, tarsus 1'4, bill from gape I. 
The Striated Marsh- Warbler is locally distributed over Pegu, being 
found only where there is abundance of thick, tall grass. In the plains 
extending on both sides the Pegu Canal it is extremely abundant, and a 
conspicuous feature in these silent and unfrequented districts. It is 
probably found elsewhere in suitable localities. I once observed it at 
Thayetmyo. Mr. Davison found it not uncommon in Tenasserim in the 
plains of the northern and central sections of the Division, 
