The PINC-PINC (_Cisticola schœnicla_) is very recognisable by its short,
delicate, and slightly curved beak, long tarsi, large toes, short tail,
and rounded wing, in which the fourth quill exceeds the rest in length.
The plumage of the adult is yellowish brown, the head being spotted
with three blackish and two light yellow streaks. The nape and rump are
brownish and unspotted; the throat and belly are pure white; the breast,
side, and lower tail-covers reddish yellow; the quills are greyish black,
edged on the outer web with reddish yellow. The centre tail-feathers
are reddish brown, the rest greyish brown, bordered with white at the
end, and decorated with a heart-shaped black spot. The eye is brownish
grey, the beak horn colour, and the foot reddish. The young are only
distinguishable from the adults by the lighter colour of the under side.
This species is four inches and a quarter long, and two and a quarter
broad; the wing measures one inch and three-quarters, and the tail an
inch and a half. The female is a quarter of an inch shorter and half
an inch narrower than her mate. The Pinc-Pinc, as it is called by the
Algerines, from a supposed resemblance of those syllables to its note,
is numerously met with in Central and Southern Spain, Southern Italy,
Greece, Sardinia, Algiers, and India.
"This bird," says Jerdon, "is now considered identical with the European
one, and is also spread over the greater part of Africa. It is found in
every part of India, frequenting long grass, corn and rice fields. It
makes its way adroitly through the grass or corn, and often descends to
the ground to pick up insects; but I do not think that it habitually runs
along, as the name given by Franklin would imply, but it rather makes
its way through the grass or reeds, partly hopping and partly flying.
When put up it takes a short jerking flight for a few yards, and then
drops down into the grass again. It feeds on ants, larvæ of grasshoppers,
and various other small insects. As Blyth remarks, 'It may commonly be
observed to rise a little way into the air, as is the habit of so many
birds that inhabit similar situations, repeating at intervals a single
note, "Jik! jik!"' During the breeding season the male bird may be seen
seated on a tall blade of grass, pouring forth a feeble little song. The
nest is made of delicate vegetable down, woven into the stems of a thick
clump of grass, and forming a compact and very beautiful fabric, with a
small entrance near the top, and the eggs are four or five in number,
translucent white, with reddish spots. It has been noticed that whilst
the hen is laying the male bird builds the nest higher."
According to Hausmann it is quite stationary in its habits, and our own
observations corroborate this statement. In Spain it occupies low-lying
places, and in Sardinia, we learn from the above-mentioned authority
that it frequents such flat parts of the sea-coast as are marshy and
overgrown with grass, but also frequently breeds and lives in fields of
corn. In North-western Africa it seeks meadows and pasture-land, and
in India dwells on any spot covered with either long grass, corn, or
rice. During the breeding season the male is extremely active, and may
be constantly seen flying restlessly about, uttering its loud note, and
fluttering boldly round and about any intruder on its privacy; at other
times it is somewhat timid. All kinds of caterpillars, dipterous insects,
and small snails constitute the principal food of the Pinc-Pinc; these
it gathers from the leaves or seeks upon the ground, casting forth the
harder portions after the softer parts are digested. The nest, which we
have repeatedly found among long grass, reeds, and rushes, about half
a foot from the ground, is thus described by Le Vaillant:--"It is,"
he says, "usually placed among prickly bushes, but sometimes on the
extreme branches of trees. It is commonly very large, some apparently
larger than others, but this difference of size is only external; in the
interior they are all of nearly the same dimensions, namely, between
three and four inches in diameter, while the circumference is often more
than a foot. As the nest is composed of the down of plants, it is of
snowy whiteness or of a brownish hue, according to the quality of the
down produced by the surrounding shrubs. On the outside it appears to
be constructed in an irregular and clumsy manner, in conformity with
the curvatures of the branches on which it is so firmly attached (part
of them passing through its texture), that it is impossible to move it
without leaving one-half behind. If, however, externally, the nest has
the appearance of being badly constructed, we shall be all the more
surprised to find that so small a bird, without other instrument than
its bill, wings, and tail, should have felted vegetable down in such
a manner as to render it a fabric as united and firm as cloth of good
quality. The nest itself is of a rounded shape, with a narrow neck at
its upper part, through which the bird glides into the interior. At the
base of this tubular neck there is a niche, or shelf-like appendage, like
a small nest resting against the large one, which serves as a momentary
resting-place, by means of which the Pinc-Pinc may pass more easily into
the nest, a feat which, without such a contrivance, it might have some
difficulty in accomplishing, as it could not move through so small an
entrance on the wing, and the walls of the tube are so slightly formed,
that the bird would injure them were it constantly to rest upon them.
This little appendage is as firmly felted as the interior. Sometimes
there are two or three of these perches. It has until lately been
supposed that the female alone undertook the whole labour of building
this strange and beautiful structure, but we learn from Tristam, whose
statement is confirmed by Jerdon, that the male does considerably more
than half of the work. "I had the good luck," says Tristam, "to find a
nest that was just commenced, and was able daily to observe the whole
process. The first egg was laid before the outer wall was more than an
inch high, the male continuing to labour without intermission, until by
the time the nestlings were hatched the fabric was quite firm, and full
three inches in height. The eggs vary considerably in appearance; those
we found in Spain were of a uniform light blue, others again are bluish
green, sparsely marked with small or large brown, reddish, or black
spots, or pure white spotted with bright red. The young are tended by
both parents with much affection; the male especially appears entirely to
lay aside his usual timidity, and will frequently follow an intruder for
some distance, uttering low cries, as if to scare him from the spot."
The proceedings of a family of young birds are most entertaining to
behold, as they climb and flutter about the grass or corn, while the
busy father and mother seek food for their hungry progeny. No sooner has
one of the parents succeeded in capturing an insect than the whole flock
hurry with tails upraised to receive it, each scrambling with earnest
endeavour to be first, and obtain the coveted morsel. Should danger be at
hand, the mother disappears with her young to some safe retreat, while
the father rises into the air, and flies about in his usual manner. Savi
tells us that the Pinc-Pinc breeds thrice in the year--in April, June,
and August. We ourselves have found nests in May, June, or July.
* * * * *
The TAILOR BIRDS (_Orthotomus_) constitute a remarkable group of Bush
Warblers, and are at once recognisable by their elongated body, much
rounded wing, in which the fifth and sixth quills are the longest;
their short abruptly rounded or graduated tail, composed of very narrow
feathers; and by their powerful feet with high tarsi and short toes; the
beak is long, straight, broad at the base, and pointed at the tip, and
in every respect admirably adapted for the sewing operations it has to
perform; the base of the bill is surrounded by a few delicate bristles;
the plumage is smooth and brightly coloured, usually green on the back
and rust-red on the head.