Transmission and electromodulated transmission spectra have been measured in the direct Wannier exciton region for TlCl and TlBr. The spectra were obtained at a sample temperature between 5 and 6 K for a range of applíed electric fields. The data have been reduced to obtain the electric-field-induced changes in the dielectric function and compared in detail to the calculations of Blossey. The experimental results support the trends predicted by the calculations.