DRYMOICINif:. 175 



This bird is now considered identical with the European one, 

 and is also spread over the greater part of Africa. It is found 

 in every part of India, frequenting long grass, corn, and rice 

 fields. It makes its way adroitly through the grass or corn, and 

 often descends to the ground to pick up insects ; but I do not 

 think that it habitually runs along, as the name given by Franklin 

 would imply, but it rather makes its way through the grass, or 

 reeds, partly hopping and partly flying.. When put up, it takes 

 a short jerking flight for a few yards and then drops down into 

 the grass again. It feeds on ants, larva; of grasshoppers, and 

 various other small insects. As BIyth remarks, " it may commonly 

 be observed to rise a little way into the air, as is the habit of so 

 many birds that inhabit similar situations, repeating at intervals a 

 single note, jik, jik. During the breeding season the male bird 

 may be seen seated on a tall blade of grass pouring forth a feeble 

 little song. The nest is made of delicate vegetable down, woven 

 into the stems of a thick clump of grass, and forming a compact 

 and very beautiful fabric, with a small entrance near the top ; and 

 the eggs are four or five in number, translucent white, with 

 reddish spots. It has been noticed that whilst the hen is layin"-, 

 the male bird builds the nest higher. 



540. Cisticola erythrocephala, Jekdon. 



Blyth, J. A. S., XX., 523— Bltth, Cat. 1935. 



The Red-headed Grass-Warbler. 



Descr. — General hue rufous or ferruginous, deepest on the 

 crown, darker on the rump, and brightest on all the lower parts ; 

 back olive-brown with black medial streaks to the feathers and 

 wings and tail dusky brown, the former margined with olive-brown, 

 and the latter very slightly tipped or margined round the extre- 

 mity of the feathers with pale brown. 



Bill dusky, fleshy beneath ; legs fleshy yello-w ; irides pale brown. 

 Length 4 inches ; wing 2 ; tail If ; tarsus -f-^; bill at front 9 mill. 



This species differs from the last in its shorter and less graduated 

 tail. 



I have only procured this interesting species of Cisticola in one 

 locality, viz., in some open grassy ground, interspersed with 



