208 REV. ROBERT GODFREY 



C. suhitificapiUa (A. 8niith) in lacking freckles on the 

 breast. It is an abnndant and widespread species in 

 our area, ranging from the shore scrub to the gxassy 

 uplands above the forest. It frequents chiefly the long 

 reeds by water-courses and the rough vegetation beside 

 vleis and marshes, but it loves also the borders of the 

 forests and of the cultivated lands, and even seeks its 

 food among the weeds in mealie-fields. On the ground 

 it hops, but it is generally seen on the long grass-stems 

 and bushes; by the riversides it usually settles on the 

 reeds and ascends or descends a reed-stalk indifferently. 

 It is a very noisy species, with a very characteristic tril- 

 ling cry. This trill^ ti-ri-ree, is followed by a single note, 

 which may be repeated, and is especially in evidence from 

 September to March. Besides the trill, the birds utter, 

 when toying in the air and at other times, a clicking 

 sound q. corres])onding to one uttered by both C. iulv'ca- 

 pilla and C. aherrans. During the breeding-season this 

 species has also a very different song, the period of which 

 I have not succeeded in determining. 



Nesting begins in October and continues till February. 

 T have seen fair-sized, though unfeathered, young in the 

 nest on October 21), and have received the eggs up to 

 February 6. The nest containing young was built in the 

 centre of a bush, and was domed like those of its con- 

 geners. As it contained young birds, 1 did not examine 

 it in detail. I was quite amused by the action of the 

 young birds ; instead of putting up their heads for food, 

 they hissed on account of my intrusion. Both parents 

 were in attendance, uttering first their trill, then in- 

 dulging in an excited harsh note, and repeatedly flying 

 over my head and settling alternately on each side of 

 me. 



At least twenty-six nests have been brought to me by 

 the boys, but they are generally knocked out of shape, 

 as if they required to be wrenched from their attach- 

 ments. The nest is an oval ball, whose outer structure is 

 formed of the flat blades of grasses and other plants. A 



