CISTICOLA. 289 



Gen. CistlCOla Kan p. 



Bill shorter and slightly more slender than that of Phyllcrgates and Prinia ; 

 rictal bristles two on each side and well developed ; wings short ; 1st quill 

 short, 2nd generally equal to 7th and shorter than the 6th; tail of 12 feathers, 

 shorter than in Prinia, broader than in both Prinia and Phyllergates and 

 somewhat rounded ; tarsus long j feet proportionally large, with the lateral 

 toes 'nearly equal and the claws not so much curved as in Prinia. 



The genus Cisticola forms a small group pf small birds averaging in totaJ 

 length 3 to 4*5 inches, nearly all possessing a streaked plurnage, and frequent- 

 ing chiefly grass and reeds. In respect to the changes of plumage of this 

 group, after examining all the available material in different Museums and in 

 the collections of Naturalists, Mr, Sharpe gives his conclusions in Voj. VII. 

 of the Cat. B. Br. Mus. p. 235. He says : " (0. The male and female are 

 more or less different in the breeding plumage, the tenderly being in the 

 male to have a uniform coloured head, while the female's is striped. (2). 

 The female's winter plvunag.e resembles her summer dress, but is. rather more 

 mealy and the tail is longer. (3),. In the autumn moult the male passes into, 

 a winter plumage, when he resembles the female. (4). The first winter 

 plumage of the young bird resembles that of the old female, and that they 

 have longer tails. (5). The male is always larger than the female." "There 

 are," he adds, "probably some exceptions among the plain backed species." 

 The range is given as the whole of Africa and Madagascar, South Europe and 

 countries bordering the Mediterranean, eastwards to India, Ceylon, the Burmese 

 countries and China, as well as Japan, the Malayan Peninsula, and throughout 

 the whole of the Indo-Malayan sub-region. 



351. Cisticola buchanani, (Blyth}, Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. vii. 



p. 246. Drymoeca buchanani, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiii. p. 376. Franklinia 

 buchanani, (BlytK) Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 1 86, No. 551; Blyth, Ibis., 1867, 

 p. 24; HiAne, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 359; id., Sir. F. 1873, p. 195"; 

 Adam, t. c. p. 382; Butler, Str. F. 1878, p. 183; Hume, Sir. F. 1879, 

 p. 1 02 ; Doig. t. c. p. 371 ; Murray, Handbk. ZooL, fyc., Sind, p. 159; id. 4 

 Vert. ZooL, Sind, p. 155. The RUFOUS-FRONTED WREN -\VARBLER. 



Forehead and crown pale rufous ; back, scapulars, wings, rump and upper 

 tail coverts greenish ashy ; tail brown, all the feathers, except the two central 

 ones, broadly tipped with white ; chin, throat, breast, belly, vent and under 

 tail coverts white ; bill brown ; lower mandible yellowish ; legs, di^sky ; iridcs 

 orange. 



Length. $ to 5-25 inches ; wing 2 to 2'2,5 ; tail 2 to 3-25. 



ff a b m Western India, Sind, Punjab, N. W. Provinces, Oudh, Central and 

 South India, Deccan, Kutch, Kattiawar, Jeypore, Jodhpore, and North Guzcrat. 

 Breeds from May to August. 



