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545.  Drymoipus sylvaticus, Jerdon.

Prinia, apud Jerdon, Cat. 120 - Blyth, Cat. 799 - Horsf., Cat. 508 - Konda lotikun jitta, Tel.
The Jungle Wren-Warbler.

Descr. - Above olive-brown ; superciliary streak and beneath white, tinged throughout with yellowish : tail obsoletely barred, with a narrow subterminal dark band, tipped with white, except on the central tail-feathers.

Bill black ; legs dark fleshy yellow; irides orange buff Length 6 inches; wing 2 4/10; tall 2 7/10 to 3 ; bill at front 12 mill.; tarsus 1. The bill Is strong, as are the feet and legs.

This species is only found in Southern India, in low jungle in the Carnatic, in thin tree jungle on the Eastern Ghauts, and in the more open parts of the forest on the Malabar Coast, ranging up the slopes of the Neilgherries to 4,000 feet. It is generally in small flocks, has a loud reiterated note, and one is usually perched on the very top of a bush or low tree, apparently as a sentinel.

I found the nest in low jungle near Nellore, made chiefly of grass, with a few roots and fibres, globular, large, with a hole at one side near the top, and the eggs white, spotted very thickly with rusty red, especially at the thick end. Nearly allied species are D. validus, Blyth, from Ceylon, and D. polychrous, Temm., from Java (Suya Blylthii, Bonap.)

Length.-6.3 to 6.5 inches; wing 2.55 to 2.6; tail 2.83 to 3.3 in winter plumage; tarsus 09; culmen 0.55.

Hab.- The whole of India, south of the Himalayas, and Ceylon. Recorded from the N. W. Provinces, Bengal, Assam, Concan, Deccan, Central and Southern India, Malabar Coast, Travancore, Nepaul and Cashmere.

Drymoipus sylvaticus, Jerdon B. Ind ii, p. 181; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 545.
Drymoipus neglectus, Jerdon R. Ind. ii, p. 182; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 546.

Dr. Jerdon says: "I found the nest in low jungle near Nellore, made chiefly of grass, with a few roots and fibres, globular, large, with a hole at one side near the top, and the eggs white, spotted very thickly with rusty red, especially at the thick end."

Mr. Blewitt appears to have taken many eggs of this species in the Raipoor District, and he has sent me the following notes, together with numerous eggs. He says:

"The Jungle Wren-Warbler breeds in the Raipoor District from about the middle of June to the middle of August. Low thorn-bushes on rocky ground are chiefly selected for the nest, and both parent birds assist in building it and in hatching and rearing the young. A new nest is made each year, and four is the maximum number of eggs.

"On the 1st July this year I found a nest of this species in the centre of a low thorny bush, growing in rocky ground, about two miles north of Doongurgurh in the Raipoor District.

"The nest was about 4 feet from the ground, firmly attached to and supported by the branches. It was of a deep cup shape, 3·6 in diameter and 4·9 in height, composed of coarser and finer grasses firmly interwoven, and contained four fresh eggs. In the same locality we secured a second similarly situated nest, about 2½ feet from the ground, and it contained a single fresh egg. It was rather more neatly and massively made than the former. It was about 4 inches in diameter and 5 inches in height, and the egg-cavity was nearly 3 inches deep. The lining is of fine grass-stalks well interwoven. The exterior is composed of coarse grass mixed with a little greyish-white fibre.

"Subsequently several other similar and similarly situated nests were found."

Colonel E. A. Butler writes: "The Jungle Wren-Warbler breeds in the neighborhood of Deesa in the months of July, August, and September. The following are the dates upon which I found nests this year (1876):

"July 28. A nest containing 4 young birds.
" 29. " 5 fresh eggs.
Aug. 1. " 4 "
" 5. " 5 "
Aug. 13. " 5 "
" 16. " 4 young birds fledged.
" 17. " 5 "
" " " 3 "
" 19. " 4 "
" " " 5 "
" 30. " 5 "
Sept. 3. " 5 "

"In addition to the above, I found nests in the same neighborhood in 1875. One on the 14th August containing four young birds almost ready to leave the nest. It was placed in the middle of a tussock of coarse grass on the side of a nullah on a bank overgrown with grass and bushes, and my attention was attracted first of all to the spot by the incessant chattering and uneasiness of the two old birds, one of which had a large grasshopper in its mouth. After hiding behind a bush for a few minutes, I saw the hen bird fly to the nest, which led to its discovery. The nest was dome-shaped, with an entrance upon one side, composed exteriorly of blades of rather coarse dry grass (green, however, as a rule when the nest is first built), and interiorly of similar, but finer, material. It is an easy nest to find when once the locality in which the birds breed is discovered, as it is a conspicuous ball of grass, smeared over, often more or less, exteriorly with a silky white vegetable-down or cobweb, and many of the blades of the tussock in which it is placed are often drawn down and woven into the nest, which at once attracts attention. Then, again, the cock bird is almost always to be found on the top of some low tree near the nest, uttering his peculiar ventriloquist note tissip, tissip, tissip etc. All the above nests were exactly alike and in similar situations, viz. fixed in the centre of a tussock of coarse grass on the banks of some deep nullahs running through a large grass 'Beerh.' The eggs remind me more of the English Robin's eggs than those of any other species I know. The ground-colour is dull white, sometimes tinted with pale green, and the markings reddish fawn. In some cases the eggs are peppered all over with a conspicuous zone at the large end, sometimes a dense cap instead of a zone. In other cases the markings, though always present, are almost invisible, as also the zone or cap. They are about the size of the eggs of the Spotted Flycatcher. I found a few other nests besides those I have mentioned during July and August 1875."

Captain Cock informed me that this species is "common in the jungles around Seetapore. Nest is largish, dome-shaped, and placed low down in a thorny bush. The bird lays in August five eggs, the fac-simile of the eggs of Pratincola ferrea, perhaps of a more elongated type than the eggs of that bird."

Mr. H. Parker, writing on the birds of North-west Ceylon, refers to this bird under the titles D. jerdoni and D. valida, and informs us that it breeds from January to May.

The eggs of this species are somewhat elongated ovals. The ground-colour is a greenish or greyish stone-colour, and they are finely and often rather sparsely freckled all over with very faint reddish brown, or brownish pink in most eggs; these frecklings are gathered together into a more or less dense zone round the large end, forming a conspicuous ring there much darker-colored than the frecklings over the rest of the surface. The eggs have a faint gloss.

In length they vary from 0·68 to 0·75, and in breadth from 0·49 to 0·52, but the average appears to be 0·7 by 0·5.

Prinia sylvatica, Jerd. Madr. Journ. L. S. xi, p. 4 (1840); Sharpe, Oat. B. M. vii, p. 199, pls. vii, viii; Oates in Hume's N. & B. 2nd ed. i, p. 200. Prinia neglecta, Jerd. Madr. Journ. L. S. xiii, pt. 2, p. 130 (1844). Drymoica sylvatica (Jerd.) Blyth, Cat. p. 142; Horsf. & M. Cat. i, p. 327. Drymoica neglecta (Jerd.), Blyth, Cat. p. 142; Horsf. & M. Cat. i, p. 328. Drymoica robusta, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii, p. 812 (1840) ; id. Cat. p. 142. Drymoica valida, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 180 (1851); Horsf. & M. Cat. p. 328 ; Hume, S. F. vii, p. 395. Drymoipus sylvaticus (Jerd.), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 181 ; Hume N. & E. p. 351 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 220. Drymoipus neglectus (Jerd), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 182; Hume, N. & E. p. 352 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 220. Drymoipus jerdoni (Blyth), apud Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 240. Drymoepus rufescens, Hume, Ibis, 1872, p. 110. Drymoipus rufescens (Hume), Hume, N. & E. p. 351; id. S F. ii, p. 453,iii, p.408; Butler, S.F. iii, p. 484; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 2i 9. Drymoipus insignis, Hume, S. F. i, p. 10 (1873) ; id. N. & E. p. 351 ; Butler, S. F. iii, p. 484. Drymoica rufescens (Hume), Ball & Hume, S. F. vii, pp. 217, 218. Drymoeca rufescens (Hume), Hume, Cat. no. 544 bis. Drymoeca sylvatica (Jerd.), Hume, Cat. no. 545. Drymoeca insignis (Hume), Hume, Cat. no. 545 bis. Drymoeca valida (Blyth), Hume, Cat. no. 545 ter; Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 525, pl. 25; Barker, S. F. ix, p. 480. Drymoeca neglecta (Jerd.), Hume, Cat. no. 546. Drymoeca jerdoni (Blyth), Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 527; Barker, S. F. ix, p. 480.

The Aboo Jungle Wren-Warbler.

Drymaepus rufescens Hume, Ibis, 1872, p. 110 (3dt. Aboo). Prima sylvatica.   Blanf & Oates, i, p. 451 (part.).

Vernacular names. Tot-rungi (Hm.).

Description. In Summer more grey, less brown than P.s. sylvatica and much paler than P. s. valida.

Colours of soft parts as in the other races.

Measurements. Wing 63 to 64 (one 56) mm.; tail 60 to 75 mm.: tarsus about 22 mm.; culmen about 11 to 12 mm.

Distribution. Mt. Aboo.

Nidification. Unknown.

Habits. Those of the species. This pale grey form is apparently found in almost desert country and on rocky bare hills with a very scanty vegetation consisting of stunted grass and low bushes.

Prima sylvatica Jerdon, Madr. Jour L. S., xi, p. 4 (1840) (Seegor, Nilgiris); Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 451 (part.).

Vernacular names. Kenda-lotakun-jitta (Tel.); Tot-rungi (Hin. in Cen. India).

Description. -  Summer. Above dull earthy-brown, tinged with rufous, more especially on the rump ; wing-feathers dark brown, edged with pale dull rufous-brown ; tail brown, all but the central pair tipped white and with a blackish subterminal patch; the outermost pair almost wholly white on the inner web, intermediate pairs grading; all the feathers faintly cross-rayed ; lores, a short supercilium and round the eye pale fulvous; ear-coverts and cheeks grey and buff; whole lower plumage very pale buff ; axillaries, under wing-coverts and oblique patch on inner webs of quills pinkisk buff.

Colours of soft parts. Iris hazel; bill in Summer pure black, in Winter horny-brown, paler at the base ; legs and feet fleshy-brown to pale fleshy.

Measurements. Wing 55 to 66 mm.; tail 60 to 75 mm.; tarsus about 20 to 21 mm.; culmen about 12 mm.

In Winter the plumage is a warmer rufous-brown and the lower plumage more ochraceous ; the cheeks and ear-coverts more brown.

Distribution. The whole of India with the exception of Mount Aboo and an unknown extent of area surrounding it. To the North-west as far as the lower Simla Hills and thence to Cutch ; to the East to Assam, Manipur and Lushai Hills.

Nidification. The Jungle Wren-Warbler breeds from June to September, making a deep cup-shaped or domed nest of grasses. The grass used consists principally of green strips torn from the blades but this is mixed with cobwebs, seed-down and other materials. The favourite site is a low thick bush or a tussock of coarse grass in ravines running through grass-lands but they also build in scrub and grass round about villages and adjoining cultivation. The eggs number three to five and the ground-colour varies from almost white to dull pinkish or dull blue-green. The markings consist of minute freckles of reddish, generally sparse over two-thirds of the surface but often coalescing to form a ring or cap at the larger end. In shape they are long oval, obtuse at the smaller end. Fifty eggs average 17.8 x 12.9 mm.: maxima 18.3 x 14.0 mm.; minima 15.8 x 12.0 mm.

Habits. Generally, the habits of this Warbler are typical of the genus but it is, as its name implies, a bird of the uncultivated country rather than of gardens and villages. It does not appear to ascend the hills above 2,000 feet.

Drymoica valida Blyth, J. A, S. B., xx, p. 180 (1851) (Ceylon). Prima sylvatica.   Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 451 (part.).

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Differs from P. s. sylvatica in being very much darker above.

Colours of soft parts as in P. s. sylvatica.

Measurements. Wing 58 to 03 mm.; tail 58 to 72 mm.; tarsus 22 to 23 mm.; culmen 12 to 13 mm. ; both culmen and tarsus appear to be stouter and stronger, as veil as longer, than in the last bird.

Distribution. Ceylon only.

Nidification. Similar to that of P. s. sylvatica. The eggs measure about 18.1 x 12.9 mm.

Habits. Those of the Common Jungle Wren-Warbler.

THE JUNGLE WREN-WARBLER
Prinia sylvatica Jerdon


Description:-
Length 6 inches, female rather smaller. Sexes alike. Summer plumage : The whole upper parts greyish-brown, a pale buff line over the eye ; wings dark brown, the edges of the feathers washed with fulvous ; central tail-feathers greyish-brown, the others growing progressively paler and whiter until the outer pair is almost entirely white ; lower plumage pale whitish-buff.

Winter plumage : Upper plumage warm ruddy fulvous, a pale buff line over the eye ; wings dark brown, the edges of the feathers washed with ruddy fulvous; tail dark brown, all but the central pair of feathers with pale fulvous tips, preceded by dusky subterminal spots ; lower plumage white washed with ochraceous on the breast and flanks.

Iris and eye-rim orange ; bill black in summer, in winter horny-brown, lower mandible fleshy; mouth black in summer, brownish-pink in winter ; legs pale fleshy brown, claws darker.

Field Identification:-
A small brown Warbler with a fairly long graduated tail, in summer showing white in the outer feathers; it chiefly comes to notice from its habit of sitting on the top of a bush and persistently uttering a triple note.

Distribution:-
Throughout India from the Himalayas to Ceylon. It is divided into two races in India and a third in Ceylon.

The northern race, P. s. gangetica, is found across Northern India from Gurdaspur and Jodhpur to the Duars and Midnapur. In this race there are distinct summer and winter plumages as described above. The Ceylon race, P. s. valida, on the other hand, has the summer and winter plumage alike, a darker brown above and a more yellowish fulvous below without white on the lateral tail-feathers. This is correlated with a breeding season that lasts the year round in the island. The typical race (Hyderabad, Mysore, Madras Presidency) lies between the two both in coloration and in the degree of difference between the two plumages. All these races are strictly resident.

Habits, etc:-
This Wren-Warbler is more particularly a bird of broken boulder covered hills dotted with sparse and stunted vegetation of the cactus and thorn-bush type. It is also found in bush and scrub-jungle, in light forest interspersed with grass or in grass on the edge of heavier forest. In such terrain it comes to notice from its habit of perching on a large boulder, on a dead bough, or on the top of an isolated bush or tree and there uttering a soft melodious but ventriloquistic call for some minutes at a stretch, repeating it again after a pause of two or three seconds. This call is a warbling pretty or tissip, reminiscent of a Tailor-bird's call but louder and easily distinguished from it. Each pretty is preceded by a curious subdued ventriloquistic pity uttered in a different key so that the song is really formed by a succession of triple notes. As soon as the bird has finished its song it descends hurriedly into the cover below with a quick jerky flight. It also has a peculiar habit of rising into the air for a short distance and making a noise (with the wings or beak I am not certain which) like a diminutive cracker, returning afterwards often to the same perch, sometimes to a fresh one. This habit is shared by Prinia inornata and socialis. The alarm-note at the nest is a loud pit pit pit pit pit. This species is wary and difficult to approach and the nest is readily deserted.

The breeding season in India is from July to the end of August. The nest is comparatively large and is placed in the centre of a thorn bush, usually on rocky ground, or in the middle of a tussock of coarse grass. It is a dome-shaped ball of grass with the entrance on one side and is often fairly conspicuous, as the outside is smeared over with white vegetable-downs and fibres or with cobwebs.

The clutch consists of four or five eggs. They are somewhat elongated ovals, of hard and fine texture with a fair amount of gloss. The ground-colour is a greenish or greyish stone-colour finely and often rather sparsely freckled with faint reddish-brown. In some eggs these markings are almost invisible. They are, however, usually gathered into a conspicuous zone round the broad end.

The egg measures about 0.75 by 0.50 inches.