SYLVIA Arviisris. 
539 
by which the Indiau Whitethroat has hitherto been known. S. altlicea is characterized by its large size, the 
wings of five examples in Mr. Hume’s museum varying from 2-7 to 2-8 inches, and further by having the upper 
surface darkish grey, slightly tinged with brown on the back. The 2nd quill of one of these examples nearly 
equals the 8th, and in three others is intermediate between the 6th and 7th, as in the Ceylonese example. The 
ordinary form of Indian "Whitethroat, S. ajjinis, from which Mr. Hume separates the last named on account of 
the characters here noticed, has a smaller wing ; in 93 specimens it varies from 2-4 to 2-71 inches, and several 
that I have examined from Putteghur and Cawpore measin-e 2-5 to 2-6 inches. The 2nd primary , as a rule, 
equals the 6th. All these examples have, according to Mr. Hume (and so have others which I have examined), 
the crown brownish grey and the mantle earth-brown. An example in Mr. Seebohm’s collection, procured at 
Tenesaisk, is almost as “ earthy brown” as the Cawnpore birds above mentioned, and its wing measures 2-5mches. 
The third and smallest race, which appears to be confined to “ the extreme western portions of the contment, 
has the wing varying from 2-3 to 2-45 inches, and has the “ crown pale bluish grey, and the mantle pale sane y 
brown ” {Hume). _ i- r ii 
These Indian Whitethroats differ from their closely allied relative of Europe, S. curntea, in the proportion ot the 
primaries to one another. The 2nd quill in the latter is considerably longer than in the Indian birds, it being 
generally equal to the 5tli, or only very little shorter than it. The bill in the European bhd is usually shorter, and 
the ear-coverts are not so dark, while the upper surface is more cinereous or less brown than in /b. affinis. The 
coloration of the upper surface varies, however, scarcely any two specimens being jirecisely alike. A Heligoland 
specimen in IVIr. Seebohm’s collection is almost a counterpart of Mr. Holdsworth’s, being only slightly paler on 
the head. A specimen from Christiania is nearly as sandy-coloured as any Indian example of affinis. Two 
specimens from Asia Minor, which I have examined, are ashy on the back, being almost devoid of any earthy 
tint at all ; they belong to the European species, having the 2nd primary longer than Indian examples. 
Mr. Seebohm,in his notice of the Whitethroats he procured in Siberia, ‘ Ibis,’ 1879, p. 8, hesitates to allow the Lidian 
bird to be a good species, and instances one specimen from India which has the 2nd quill as long as an the 
European species. He will, however, lao doubt reinstate it in his forthcoming volume of the Catalogue, now that 
the results of Mr. Hume’s researches have been published. If the proportion of the primaries is allowed to hold 
good in the separation of certain PhyVMScoffi and Acroceffiiali, members of this famfiy, it must be a matter of equal 
iinporttiiice in th© present case. 
distribution .— Wliitethroat is evidently a very rare cool-season migrant to Ceylon. "Whether it m 
actually commoner than is supposed, and escapes observation owing to the habits of concealment which it 
no doubt affects in the non-breeding season, I am unable to say ; but certain it is that it has only, as j et, 
come under the notice of two observers. Layard, its first discoverer, writes as follows concerning ^ it 
“ I noticed a few of this species at Ambegamoa in the year 1848, but I never afterwards met with it. I e 
informs me, in epist., that, as far as he can recollect, the month of March was the time of his meeting with 
them. Eccently it was again observed by Mr. Holdsworth, who procured the example noticed in this article 
at Aripu in December 1868. The two localities in question arc far apart ; and the facts of the case prove that 
it wanders over the island when it does visit it, and there is no saying where it may not be met with in future. 
I always kept a look out for it in my wanderings in the north, but never once saw it that I am aware of. 
The larger race, to which I have attached Mr. Holdsworth’s specimen, has been found in the western parts 
of peninsular and continental India— Mr. Hume’s specimens being recorded from Ahmednuggur, Deesa, 
Jhansie, Bhawulpur, and Ramoo Cashmeer. J erdon, in speaking of the distribution of the Indian Whitethroat 
generally says he “ found it in the Carnatic at Jaulnah and other parts of the Deccan, and also at Mhow; 
and these observations may possibly refer to the larger race as well as the smaller, 8. affinis. The majority o 
Mr. Hume’s specimens of the latter appear to come from the central portion of continental India, between 
Sambhur and Cawnpore. 
Habits .— the European Whitethroat, this species frequents low bushes, grassy patches of land, 
gardens, and groves, and is very active in its movements. Hitting from place to place, an tireacing ns way 
among the thick masses of vegetation in which it takes up its abode. Jerdon remar s a ^i a i ion o 
being insectivorous in its diet, it feeds -much on flower-buds. Blyth writes of i s • « server 
many of them frequenting the Bauhul {Mimosa) trees, and, as in England, keeping chiefly to the tices and not 
Tlow bush-coverts, as is the habit of cinerea ” (the Greater Whitethroat). Mr Brooks writes that its song 
rLmbles that of the European species, being full, loud, and sweet, and that the male usually sings near 
the nest. 
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