130 THE USEFUL BIRDS. 



GRASS-WARBLER 



(Corn-bird), 



Cisticola exilis, Tig. and Hors. 



Sis-tik'o-^d fik-si'lis. 

 Ctstus, a rock rose ; colere, to d\vell ; exilis, slender. 

 Cisticola exilis, Gould, " Birds of Australia," fol., vol. iii., pi. 42. 

 Geographical Distribution. — Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. 



Key to the Species. — General description sandy-buff, much strijied ; 

 tail strongly graduated or roiinded. Total length, 4 inches. 



Winter Plumage, — Male and female — Blackish, with streaked 

 head and back. 



Summer Plumage. — Male — Head rufous. Female — Head striped. 



The Grass-Warbler is seldom seen in settled districts until 

 the settlers' crops have reached about 2 feet in height. 

 Then, apparently when it considers that the hand of man has 

 prepared for it a suitable nesting-ground, it deigns to appear, 

 builds its delicate purse-like nest in the crop, rears its brood 

 of young, and again disappears from the haunts of the farmer, 

 probably leading a nomadic life in the heavily grassed 

 country interspersed through the south of Austrajia. 



In its native haunts it is in general particularly shy, hiding 

 itself among the tussocks of its chosen home, and creeping 

 about like a mouse in and out of the rank grass should danger 

 be near. 



Some years ago, during a visit to PliiUip Island with a 

 friend, I found the Grass-Warblers very plentiful, and, 

 contrary to their usual custom, not in the least shy. Rising 

 from the coarse grass, they fluttered slowly along the surface 

 for some time like large brown butterflies. Indeed, at first 

 sight it was often difficult to distinguish between the two as 

 thev started from a tussock at the same time, for in manner 



