sylvia

[Mod. Lat., from Lat. sylva = a wood.] 1. Astron.: [ASTEROID, 87.] 2. Ornith .: The typical genus of Sylviince (q. v.), with eight species, from the Pale arctic region to India and Ceylon, and Northeast Africa. Bill rather stout, short; upper mandible decurved from the middle toward the point, which is slightly emarginate; nostrils basal, lateral, oval, and exposed; gape beset with hairs; wings moderate, first primary very short; tail with twelve feathers, generally somewhat rounded, but in some species nearly even; tarsus scaled in front and short, toes and claws short.