174 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Gen. CiSTicoLA, Lesson. 



Char. — Bill rather short, slender, gently curving from the middle, 

 entire at tip; wings short, ample ; 1st quill small, 3rd, 4th, and 5th 

 equal and longest, 2nd equal to 7th, shorter than the 6th ; tail of 

 twelve feathers, somewhat rounded, short; tarsus long; feet rather 

 large with the lateral toes nearly equal and the hind toe long, 

 the claws lengthened, especially the hind one, only slightly 

 curved. 



This genus differs from Prinia by its shorter, deeper bill, shorter 

 tail, and less curved claws. It is a small group, of very nearly 

 allied species, from the south of Europe, Asia, and Africa, extend- 

 ing to Australia. They are tiny birds, with a streaked plumage, 

 and frequent chiefly grass and reeds. 



539. Cisticola schaenicola, Bonaparte. 



Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 113 — Prinia cursitans, Franklin, 

 P. Z. S , 1831--BLYTH, Cat. 821— HoRSF., Cat. 503--Jerdon, 

 Cat. 122 — and Jerdon, 111. Ind. Orn., pi. 6~C. sub-himalayana, 

 Hodgson — Ghas ka^phiitki, or Ghas ka-pit-pitti, Hind., i e., Grass 

 Prinia — Yedru-jitta, Tel. — Kher-cjlmsa H. at Bhagulpore — Tiin- 

 tunia at Monghyr. 



The Rufous Grass-Warbler. 



Descr. — Above rufous brown, all the feathers broadly centred 

 dark brown ; rump plain rufous ; quills dusky, narrowly edged 

 with brown ; tail with the two central feathers pale brown, darker 

 in the middle, and pale tipped ; the others all dark brown, deeper 

 towards the end, and with a broad whitish tip ; plumage beneath 

 rufescent white, nearly pure white on the chin and throat, and 

 more rufescent on the flanks ; tail beneath cinereous at the base, 

 then pale rufous with a black bar, and a broad white tip, in 

 some uniform dusky cinereous. 



Bill dusky brown above, fleshy beneath ; irides pale olive- 

 brown; legs fleshy. Length 4^ inches ; wing 2^ ; tail If to nearly 

 2 ; bill at front not quite 9 mill. ; tarsus f . 



