348 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species of Birds 



221. Nectarinia verreauxii, Smith. Verreaux*s Sun-bird. 

 Male. Iris dark ; bill black ; tarsi and feet dusky. Their food 



consists of nectar and small insects. I have only seen these 

 Sun-birds in the coast bush, and not so plentifully as most other 

 species of Nectarinia. From what I could see, I think their 

 habits resemble those of Nectarinia afra. 



222. Drymceca substriata, Smith. Speckle-breasted Dry- 

 moeca. 



Male. Iris light reddish brown ; bill black ; tarsi and feet 

 dusky pale. The female is similar in size and plumage to the 

 male. 



I found a family of this Drymceca in July (midwinter here) 

 about forty miles inland, amongst some scrubby bush ; also a 

 solitary individual some time after, in some high sedgy grass. 

 These birds seem much to resemble Drymceca subflava in habits 

 and appearance. Their food consists of small insects. 



223. Calamoherpe gracilirostris, Hartl. Slender-billed 

 Reed -Warbler. 



Male. Iris reddish hazel ; bill, upper mandible dusky, under 

 mandible pale ; tarsi and feet very dark ash or ashy black. These 

 birds are less plentiful than most of the Warblers, but are gene- 

 rally dispersed throughout the colony. They are always found 

 amongst the reeds and rushes which border the streams, rivers, 

 and lagoons. Their notes are loud, clear, and pleasant. They fly 

 with greater ease and swiftness than most of the Drymoecas. 

 Their food consists of small insects. 



[Dr. Hartlaub considers this species of Reed- Warbler to be new 

 to science, and has furnished me with the following description 

 of it :— 



" Calamoherpe gracilirostris, sp. nov. 

 *' Supra pallide brunnescens, pileo subcinerascente ; uropygio et 

 supracaudalibus raagis rufescentibus ; cauda brunnea ; re- 

 migibus nigricanti-fuscis ; fasciola supraciliari et corpore 

 inferiore albidis; abdomine imo, cruribus et subcaudalibus 

 pallide fulvescentibus ; subalaribus rufescenti-albidis ; pe- 

 dibus nigris ; rostro fusco, mandibula versus basin pallidi- 

 ore : long, tota 6*5, alse 3"0, caudse 3*0, rostr. a fronte 06, 

 poll. Angl. et dec."— J. H. G.] 



