CISTICOLA CURSITAN'S. 
535 
likewise just as plentifully diffused over all tlie patnas and grass-lands of the Central Province, being quite as 
numerous at Nuwara Elliya and on the Horton Plains as it is several thousand feet lower down. It is a very 
well-knowm bird in the neighbourhood of Colombo, frequenting in large numbers the ‘‘Water"" grass-fields in the 
cinnamon-gardens, and those in Borella, Malagaha kauda, and other suburbs of the capital. It is equally 
' common near Galle, Trincomalie, and J affna. 
It is found in suitable localities throughout the whole of India, e.vtcnding into Burmah, where Mr. Oates 
says it is “ very common in all paddy -lands during the rains."’ Further south, in Tenasserim, it does not 
seem to be so generally distributed as there. The same writer remarks, “ I have only oceasionally met Avith 
this species in the Thatone plains and at Tavoy in grassy lands or rice-fields. It was by no means numerous, 
and always seen singly or in pairs."" In the Malayan archipelago it may be said to exist in the form of a 
species Avhich cannot well be separated, and specimens of which I have seen sent from Macassar and Ilores. 
Turning northward Ave find it, according to Swinhoe, an inhabitant of China, Hainan, and Formosa; and 
Pore David Avrites that it occurs throughout the east of China, from Hainan to Tientsin, and that he met 
with it frequently at Shanghai. In Europe it inhabits the countries bordering the Mediterranean, being much 
more common in some localities than in others. In Corsica Mr. Bygrave Wharton says it is numerous at 
Biguglia, but observed nowhere else. Dr. Giglioli reports it as common in the neighbourhood of Pisa, 
frequenting grass- and corn-fields in the spring. It is likewise found in SAvitzcrland. Near Gibraltar it is, 
according to Col. Irby, resident and very plentiful in winter, and in Southern Spain it is said by Mr. Saunder.s 
to be common as far north as lat. 40°. It has been stated to be plentiful in Portugal; but I observe that the 
Rev. A. C. Smith, in writing to ‘The Ibis" of 1868, states that he did not meet with it in that country, 
though he searched diligently for it in likely places. Crossing OA^er to Africa, avc find it noted as the most 
common of aquatic (?) warblers in Tangier by Mons. Favier ; and Captain Shelley, in his excellent book on 
the Birds of Egypt, says that it is one of the most abundant birds in that country and Nubia ; further testi- 
mony as to its distribution in this part of the world is afforded by Dr. von Heuglin, in his exhaustive monograph 
of the Malurime of North-eastern Africa (Ibis, 1869, p. 132), Avho says that it inhabits Arabia, besides being 
a permanent resident in Egypt and Nubia, and goes southwards to Abyssinia and probably to Senaar. In 
Western Africa it is common in various localities, having been procured on the River Volta, at Cape Coast, 
Acra, &c. ; on the opposite side of the continent Dr. Kirk records it from Zanzibar. In South Africa it is 
some reeds in swampy ground close to Goodaloor, in the Wynaad, at the foot of the Nilghiris. Mr. Bourdillou s Krd, 
however, Avas met with under very different circumstances, from which 1 infer (should it in reality be the same as Jerdon s) 
that the Broad-tailed Reed-bird is not entirely a denizen of reeds. “ It was obtained,” says Mr. Hume, “ in open grass- 
land at Colathoorpolay patnas, at an elevation of 3800 feet, in the Assamboo hills, the southernmost section of t le 
Western Ghiits, about three degrees due south of Goodalore, where the lost type and hitherto unique specimen vas 
obtained.” Nothing is said of its habits ; but Jerdon informs us that his bird “ took short flights, and eiideaA oured to 
conceal itself among the thick herbage.” Its food consisted entirely of small insects. 
The accompanying woodcuts represent the bill, tail, and Aving of the Ceylonese bird. 
