PEINIA SOCIALIS. 
621 ' 
tail, besides being very long (2-7), bas the siibterminal spots very narrow, as in Deccan skins. The determination 
of this bird appears to be correct, for it is much closer to the true P. sodalis than to P. stewarti. The Ceylonese 
race might stand as P. hrevicauda, if proved to be distinct. 
Distribution .— little bird is widely distributed both in the low country and the hills up to 5500 feet, 
but is nowhere very numerous. In the western and southern parts of the island it is found chiefly in paddy-fields 
and plots of Guinea-grass in the vicinity of native houses, as well as in other suitable spots in the interior. In 
the north I have met with it usually either in scrubby jungle interspersed with long grass, or in the dry 
grassy beds of large tanks, such as Hurulle, Topare, or on the borders of Mincry Lake and other large sheets 
of water. In the Central Province it is a common bird on the maana-grass patnas ; and in Uva, where the 
large hilly wastes are suited to its habits, it is very frequently met Avith, and ranges up theNuwara-Elliya road 
to within a short distance of Hakgala. I have seen it on the Elephant Plains, between Udu Pusselawa and 
the Sanatarium, and likewise in Lindula at an almost similar elevation, namely 5500 feet. 
Jerdon writes of its range in India that it is only found in the south, and docs not extend north of the 
Godaveri j of late years, lioweA^er, it has been found to inhabit the north-western portions of the empire. At 
Khandala it is very common, as also in the Deccan, ranging southwards to the Nilghiris and other mountain- 
ranges, on which it is found, Avhere their sides are grassy, up to 6000 feet. In the Carnatic it is met with 
among reeds and long grass by the sides of the rivers and tanks, and on the west coast it is, says Jerdon, 
found in similar situations. Captain Butler remarks that it is common on Mount Aboo j but the race which 
inhabits the adjoining plains appears to be a variety of P. stewarti. 
Habits . — In the low country this species exhibits a tendency to wander about in search of localities 
favourable to its habits. It appears in fields of “ Guinea-” and “ Mauritius-grass ” when they have grown up, 
rears its brood, and then departs on the field being cut ; it finds a permanent home, however, in low grassy 
jungle, the sedge-covered borders of reservoirs and marshy places, and in the overgroAvn beds of large tanks. 
In the south of Ceylon it is a common bird about sugarcane-fields j in fact it is the characteristic Warbler of 
these localities, and may bo seen clinging actively to the tall Avavy stalks, energetically jerking its tail about 
and uttering its twittering little warble until disturbed by the approach of some one, when it drops suddenly 
into the brake and disappears. Its special delight is in the fields of tall Guinea-grass cultivated near towns 
and villages on the west coast ; and it flits about in the dense cover which they afford, until some fine day its 
habitation is cut from under its feet and its retreat ruthlessly laid bare ! It tben vanishes, and takes up its 
quarters in the nearest favourable locality. I found great numbers of these birds in the long grass covering 
the dricd-Aip tank of Ilurulle, their companions in this thick A'egetation being the Common Grass- Warbler and 
the White-browed Warbler. It is to be found permanently living in the maana-grass of the hill-patnas and on the 
bushy sides of the hills in the Eort-Macdonald district. Its food consists of insects ; hut occasionally I have 
found small seeds in its stomach. Its flight is weak and of short duration, for the tiny rounded Avings with 
which nature has endoAved it are not such as to afford it great powers of locomotion ; it is very active in 
threading its Avay through long grass or reeds, and clings adroitly to upright stalks in its progress onwards. 
Sykes calls its flight a straggling one, as if it had a difihculty in making its way. 
Nidification . — ^This Warbler breeds, both in the low country and in the hills, during the months of May, 
June, and July, constructing, as a rule, a very different nest from what is ascribed by some Avriters to its 
handicraft in india. There it is said to huild generally a fabric resembling that of the Tailor-bird, using, 
however, more grass in its construction, and not seAving together the leaves with the same neatness as that 
species. I have found several nests in Avidely different parts of the island, and watched the birds building them, 
but in no case was there a single leaf of any kind present. For a description of one of the most remaikable, 
1 quote the words of my note to Mr. Hume, published in ‘ Nests and Eggs,^ Rough Draft, part ii. p. 337 . 
“ In May 1870, a pair resorted to a Guinea-grass field attached to my house at Colombo, for the pm’pose of 
breeding. I soon found the nest, which was the most peculiarly constructed one I have ever seen. It was an 
almost shapeless ball of Guinea-grass roots, thrown, as it were, between the upright stalks of the plant about 
2 feet from the ground. I say ‘ throAvn,’ because it was scarcely attached to the supporting-stalks at all. It 
