SYLYIA.	257
The eggs vary from 0-53 to 0*68 in length and from O46 to
0-51 in breadth; but the average of a very large number is 0-61 by
0-49.
402. Sylvia affinis (Blyth).    The Indian Lesser White-throated
Warbler.
Sylvia curruca (6?w,), apud Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 209.
Sterparola curruca (Lath.*), Hume, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 583.
Of the nidification of the Lesser Whitethroat within our limits,
I only know that it was found in May, breeding abundantly in
Cashmere in the lower hills, by Mr. Brooks. He did not notice it
comparatively high up; for instance at Qoolmerg, which, though
not above 9000 feet high, is at the base of a snowy range, he did
not see it at all.
It builds a loose, rather shallow, cup-shaped nest, composed chiefly
of grass, coarser on the exterior and finer interiorly, which it places
in low bushes and thickets at no great elevation from the ground.
The nest is more or less lined with fine grass and roots.
It lays four or sometimes five eggs.
Mr. Brooks writes:—" I found this Whitethroat tolerably
numerous in Cashmere, where it appears generally distributed,
occurring at from 5500 to 6500 feet elevation or thereabouts,
It frequents places where there is abundance of brushwood or
underwood, especially along the banks of rivers or near them.
" I found several nests, and they were all placed in small bushes,
and from 4 to 6 feet above the ground. One was in a bush on a
small island in the Kangan Eiver, which runs into the Sind River ;
and this nest I well remember was just so high that I could not
look into it as I stood. The nests precisely resembled in size and
structure those of G. garrula which I have seen, at home, being
formed of grasses, roots, and fine fibres, and I think scantily lined
with a few black horsehairs ; but I forget this now. They were
slight, thinly formed nests, very neat but strong, and had bits of
spider's web stuck about the outside here and there. This appears
to be the decoration this bird and G. garrula are partial to. They
were not added, I think, for the purpose of rendering the nest
inconspicuous, for there were just enough to give the nest a spotted
appearance. .
" The song of this species strongly resembles that of its con-
gener, and is full, loud, and sweet. I found the nests by the song
of the male, for he generally sings near the nest. The eggs don't
differ from those of G. c/arntla in my collection."
Major Wardlaw Ramsay says, writing of Afghanistan :—" This
Warbler was very common and was breeding by the 27th
May. All the nests found were shallow cups, composed entirely
of dried grass, and situated in. small bushes, frequently juniper,
about 2g feet from the ground. The eggs vary much both in size
and colour—some being long ovals, nearly pure white, spotted with
pale brown towards the larger end, and others of a much rounder
vol. i.	17