MALURINiE. 
quill spurious, and the fourth to the eighth equal and longest. Tail more or less long, nuich 
graduated, and composed of narrow feathers. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, and covered by a singl° 
scale in front. Toes moderate, with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at its base, 
and the hind toe nearly as long as the middle toe, and armed with a long strong claw. 
The species of this genus are inhabitants of the continent of India and its archipelago. They are familiar bn^’ 
frequenting in pairs or in small flocks the cultivated ground ; and are generally seen actively hopping from branch 0 
branch of low trees and shrubs, in search of small insects and their larvte, that are found on the bark and foliage 
they may sometimes also be seen examining the ground for the same kind of food. While seeking their food or hopP in => 
about, they jerk up their tails over their backs, which gives them a singular appearance. Their song consists only 0 
single note often repeated. Their flight from tree to tree is performed in an undulating manner, and rather rapidty' 
The nest of one of the species is constructed of leaves of mango trees sewed together with cotton thread and fibres 
interior space being lined with cotton, on which the female deposits three or four eggs. 
• the 
1. O. sepium Horsf. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 166., PI. col. 599- f. 1., 
Mag. de Zool. 1836. t. 51. 
2. O. edela Temm. PI. col. 599- f- 2. — Edela ruficeps Less. ? 
3. O. longicaudus (Gmel.) Cent. Zool. t. 71., Mag. de Zool. 
1 836. t. 52, 53. — Sylvia guzurata Lath. ; Orthotomus Bennettii 
et O. lingoo Sykes; Motacilla sutoria Gmel.; Orth, sphenurus 
Swains. ; Sylvia ruficapilla Hutt. 
4. ? O. longirostris Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart. P- 
5. O. atrogularis Temm. P1. col. (with t. .0 <j 9 ■ ) - 
6. O. cuculatus Temm. PI, col. 599- f. 3. 
7. O, sericeus Temm. PI. col. (with t. 599*)* 
Prinia Horsf . * 
Bill shorter than the head, straight, and rather broad at the base, with the sides compressed, and * 
culmen arched at the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the nostrils basal, placed in a short, ^ 
membranous groove, with the opening longitudinal. Wings rather short, and rounded ; with the ^ 
quill abruptly, the second and third gradually, shorter than the fourth, fifth, and sixth, which are ^ 
and longest. Tail lengthened and graduated. Tarsi lengthened, slender, and covered with scales- 
long; with the outer toe shorter than the inner, and united at the base; the hind toe long, and ai llie 
with a long curved claw. 
siiir 
ilM 
It is on the continent of India and its archipelago that the species are found. Their habits and manners alC 
to those of the last genus. The nests of some species are placed in a low bush near the ground, and are coufl 
grass, wherein the female deposits four eggs. 
1. P. familiaris Horsf. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. J 65., Zool. Res. 
Birds pi. ., Swains. Zool. Illustr. n. s. pi. 97- — Orthotomus 
prinia Temm. PI. col. 
2. P . flamventris (Deless.) Bl. Souv. ii. p. 30. 
3. P. olivaceus (Raffl.) Bl. Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 313. 
4. P. socialis Sykes, Proc. Z. S. 1832. p. 89 . 
5. P. Stewartii Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1847. p.45.5. 
6. P. gracilis Frankl. Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 119- 
7- P. Hodgsoni Blyth. — Prinia gracilis Jerd. Mad 1- ^ 
& Sci. 
8. P. rufescens Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1847- P- 
9- P. . — Prinia olivacea Strickl. Ann. ^ at " 
Lit- 
p. 126 . 
10. P. icterica Strickl. Ann. Nat. Hist. xv. p. Infi- 
ll. P .pileata Blyth, Journ. A. S. B. 1842. P-20 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 
* Established by Dr. Horsfield in 1820 ( Linn . Trans, xiii. p. 1 65.). 
