5 
resembles C. volitans, but has the crown pale rufescent ochreous, and the rump rather darker, 
both unmarked. The type (in Lord Tweeddale’s collection) measures—culmen 0-45, wing 1:8, 
tail 1:4, tarsus 0°8. 
Dr. Cabanis gives (J. f. O. 1866, p. 10), without description, as a new species, Cisticola 
semirufa, from Luzon and Jagor, and he writes (J. f. O. 1872, p. 316) that it “seems to replace 
the Australian C. ruficeps, Gould, which it much resembles, but is less in size, and more rufous 
in coloration on the underparts.” 
In Lord Tweeddale’s collection there is a specimen from the island of Bouru, obtained by 
Mr. A. R. Wallace, and labelled Cisticola rustica, Wallace. This bird is more rufous in colora- 
tion than C. cursitans, especially on the underparts; but otherwise it does not differ from it, and 
. it is, on the whole, rather a doubtful species. ‘The specimen in question measures—culmen 0-45, 
wing 1-7, tail 1:62, tarsus 0°77. 
Cisticola fuscicapilla, Wallace, from the island of Flores, differs from C. cursitans in being 
much greyer, and in having the upper parts less marked, the crown and rump being entirely 
unmarked, the former being dull brownish. Three examples in Lord Tweeddale’s collection 
measure—culmen 0°48, wing 1:9-1-95-2:0, tail 1-68-1:8-1°85, tarsus 0:78—0°8. 
Cisticola exilis (Lath.), from Australia, is very closely allied to Cisticola cwrsitans; and, 
judging from the specimens I have examined, it differs in having the sides of the head and the 
hind neck rufous, being otherwise like our European bird. One specimen in Lord Tweeddale’s 
collection so closely resembles European examples that I am doubtful as to whether the Australian 
bird should not be united with the Indian and European species. This specimen measures— 
culmen 0°45, wing 1°70, tail 2-0, tarsus 0°77. According to Mr. Gould (Handb. B. Austral. i. 
p-. 390) Cisticola exilis inhabits New South Wales and South Australia, where it is abundant. 
Besides Cisticola exilis, Gould discriminates three allied forms of Cisticola which inhabit 
Australia, viz.:—C. lineocapilla, which inhabits the neighbourhood of Port Essington, in North 
Australia, and which, he says, is a much smaller and more delicately formed species than 
C. exilis, and may be distinguished by the lineated form of the markings of the head; Cisticola 
ruficeps, which has the crown, hind neck, rump, chest, flanks, and thighs delicate fawn-colour, 
being deeper and redder on the crown and rump, and which has a wide range in Australia; and 
Cisticola isura, which he includes with doubt as being distinct from: C. ruficeps, from which it is 
distinguished by a shorter tail. He obtained it from the same localities as C. ruficeps. 
I have not deemed it necessary to enter into details respecting the various allied species of 
Cisticole inhabiting Africa, as Von Heuglin and Messrs. Layard and Sharpe have entered so 
fully into details respecting these; I may, however, mention that Cisticola madagascariensis, 
from Madagascar, appears to me to be fairly distinct. I have examined specimens, and find 
them larger and much greyer on the upper. parts than Cisticola cursitans, and they have but little 
trace of rufous in the plumage. 
The present species inhabits not only marshy localities but grass-covered plains, fields, and 
places covered with tangled herbage. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informs me that when disturbed 
it rises angrily into the air, going straight up with a jerky flight, and uttering its note loudly. 
Von Heuglin, speaking of its habits, writes (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 268) that it is usually found in 
pairs in the clover- and wheat-fields, in Arwndo-hedges, on pastures, in acacia and date-bushes, 
