CISTICOLA CURSITANS. 69 



Subfamily CISTICOL^E. 



51. Cisticola cursitans (Frankland). The Fantail or Grass- 

 Warbler. 



Moorish. Bou-fesaha (Father of eloquence). Spanish. Cierra- 

 puiio, Tin-Tin, Biutrecillo, Trepatorres, Buitron. 



" Is the most common of the aquatic Warblers around Tangier, 

 and seen migrating in lots of from ten to twelve during March 

 and April, returning in October, November, and December. 

 Many remain to breed, nesting twice in the season." Favier. 



This diminutive Grass- Warbler is resident near Gibraltar, and 

 exceedingly plentiful in the winter, frequenting marshy ground 

 wherever there is any herbage, such as grass, sedges, or short 

 rushes. In the spring they go to the corn-fields as well, never, 

 however, being found away from water. I do not recollect ever 

 seeing them perch on a bush or tree, but always on some plant. 

 Their note and jerky flight somewhat remind one of the Meadow- 

 Pipit ; during the nesting-season in particular they will fly 

 darting about high overhead for several minutes, continually 

 uttering their squeaky single note (whence the name of Tin-Tin), 

 all the time evidently trying to decoy the intruder from their 

 nest. They undoubtedly breed twice a year according to the 

 Spaniards, three times. I have found the young well able to fly, 

 and a nest with eggs ready to hatch, on the same day, the 19th 

 of April ; an unfinished nest on the 8th of May, and a nest with 

 eggs very hard sat-on on the 10th of that month. 



The nest much resembles the caterpillars' webs which are 

 common on pine-trees in some parts of Andalucia ; any one would 

 take them for the web of an insect ; but they are very troublesome 

 to find, and made of the cotton of plants and thistle-down, 

 with small bits of grass beautifully sewn and interwoven with 

 the corn or grass in which the nest is built ; the entrance is at 



