200 I?EV. ROBERT GODFREY 



of a typical nest are 125 mm. liigli, 75 mm. broad and 70 

 mm. from front to hack at the thickest part; the 

 circular opening is 80 mm. in diameter. 



Four eggs are laid; typical eggs are green with a zonal 

 band of brown at the larger end and blotches of a less 

 distinct line scattered over the rest of the shell, but there 

 is much variation. They measure 16 to IS mm. by 13 mm. 



[Prinia' maculosa ( Bodd.) — The Cape Wren -warbler — 

 has not been actually obtained within our limits. It 

 occurs at Peddie, where I met with it in September, 

 1912 : at the same place and time I handled a specimen 

 obtained for me by Rev. 1). B. Davies.] 



AcroccpJiaJiis hacticatiis (Vieil].) — The African Reed- 

 warbler — is the only ^\'ater-loving species commonly met 

 with in the Buffalo Basin. It loves the long vegetation 

 growing in marshy ground and by the sides of the rivers, 

 and it keeps so closely to the shelter of the thick reed- 

 beds and other dense vegetation near the water that it 

 would remain practically undetected did it not itself 

 claim attention b}' its bold, commanding song Directed 

 b^^ its notes, we can easily trace its whereabouts and even 

 obtain frequent momentary glimpses of the prodticer, but 

 seldom can Ave have the opportiuvity of watching it for 

 any length of time. 



This reed-warbler occurs not only by the marshes and 

 rivers, but also in gardens and fences away from the 

 water. I believe tliat it is this same species which I have 

 heard at Birie in thick fences bordering the mealie-lands, 

 and at the mouth of the Buffalo amongst dense under- 

 growth as well as higli up on the slope of the river bank. 



Tlie skulking disjiosition of this species renders it a 

 diflicult matter for us to determine Avhether it is migra- 

 tory or resident: so far as our ol)sei'vations go, -the bird 

 is only known to occur during the summer, from Septem- 

 ber 14 to ^larch 7, that is, dui'ing the period when it be- 

 trays its ])resence by its song. 



On 29 October, 11)08. before 1 had as yet handled (his 

 biid, I examined on the Mnxesha i-iver a nest which I 



