




























































Mr. H. E. Dresser’s Notes on , 

86 

153. SALICARIA SPHENURA, Severtzoff, pp. 66, 128. 
Horizontal range. Breeds in district ILI. 
Vertical range. Is rare in summer in district I, and breeds 
in districts 2 and 8. 
At page 128 Severtzoff writes respecting this bird as fol- 
lows :—“ The tail is not only rounded, but even quite sharp, 
although the central rectrices are only 3” longer than the 
outer ones ; for all the feathers are sharpened towards the tip 
in fresh plumage. The bill is very broad, like that of a Fly- 
catcher. 38rd quill longest, 2=6, Ist shorter than the coverts, 
or 5>2>6. Colour as in No. 147; but the breast is ight 
yellow, not yellowish brown, and it has no superciliary stripe. __ 
Total length 6-6" 4!"", extent 8’—-8" 4!"", wing 2" 6”, tail 2" 24!" 
tarsus 9", middle toe 5!, culmen 44", breadth of bill at nos- 
tril 14!"-2!"", height 1. It imhabits woods along the Syr 
Darja, but is commoner in the bush and grass-covered banks 
of its tributaries to the altitude of 1000-4000 feet.” 
In concluding his remarks on the above birds (Nos. 147- 
158 inclusive), Dr. Severtzoff states that he believes them all 
to be forms of Acrocephalus streperus, and only deserving of 
subspecific rank, but that he deems it best to describe each 
form under a separate name. In this I quite agree, except 
that I think that at least Acrocephalus palustris and A. du- 
metorum should be looked on as distinct species. The same 
view may be taken of the following species, included under 
Nos. 154-160 inclusive, which appear to be all forms of Hy- 
polais caligata and H. rama; and Severtzoff also informs me 
that this is the case; but still I have deemed it advisable to 
give his description of each form. In a note, Dr. Severtzoff 
says that in all probability Nos. 154, 155, 156, and 157 
are all identical with Hypolais rama, Nos. 158, 159, and 
160 being referable to H. caligata, but that, before he can 
positively state this to be the case, it will be necessary to make 
a critical comparison of his types. 






















: 2 154, SALICARIA GRACILIS, Severtzoff, pp. 66, 130. 
Horizontal range. Breeds in district III. 
Vertical range. Breeds in district 1. 
