184 
Letters , Announcements , fyc. 
As far as Hippolais elaica, Lindermayer, is concerned, Mr. 
Blanford is wrong in considering it identical with the Indian 
species known as H. rama, which is identical with H. call - 
gat a, Licht. 
I have the eggs of both; and they are widely different. The 
habits, notes, and nest of H. elaica are all described as dif¬ 
ferent from those of the Indian bird. There are many birds 
apparently much alike which are quite distinct. I believe that 
the bird usually now received as H. rama is not that species, 
but that Jerdonia agricolensis, Hume, = Sylvia rama , Sykes. 
Mr. Blyth says, “Mr. Jerdon has sent me two very closely 
allied races which he thinks have been confounded under Phyl- 
lopneuste rama. The one he regards as true rama , which is of 
a more rufescent brown colour; the other has a more greyish 
shade. I can hardly, however, bring myself to admit their dis¬ 
tinctness. The latter variety occurs abundantly in Lower 
Bengal, upon the sandy soil above the tideway of the Hoogly, 
haunting babool topes and scattered trees near villages, as well 
as hedges and low bush-jungle; and I have recently observed 
it in the jungles north and west of Midnapore.”— Journal 
of the Asiatic Society , 1847, p. 439. 
Again he says, “ Those of S. India have a slight ferruginous 
tint throughout; but we can detect no further difference.”— 
J. A. S. xiii. p. 483. 
Col. Sykes's original description is as follows:— 
“ Sylvia rama. Sylv.pallide brunnea, subtus albescens; caudd 
obsolete fasciata. Longitudo corporis 4 T 7 ^-, caudce 1^-.”-— 
P. Z. S. 1832, p. 89. 
The more rufous bird is the smaller one, which Mr. Hume 
described as Jerdonia agricolensis, from a large series of each 
which I had prepared. The original description of Sylvia rama, 
on account of the small size of the bird, will not apply to the 
larger and paler bird usually received as H. rama. This will 
stand as H. caligata, Lichtenstein; and the smaller, or Jerdonia 
agricolensis, Hume, should, I think, be received in future as 
the true H. rama, Sykes. 
The geographical distribution of the two birds also favours 
this conclusion. 
