Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 287 



female given by Mr. Ayres in ^The Ibis' for 1871^ p. 153. — 

 J. H. G.] 



288. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.). British Willow- 

 Warbler. 



Two specimens sent : one shot 26th December, the other 

 28th March. 



[I am indebted to my friend Mr. Henry Seebohm for per- 

 mission to publish the following remarks with which he has 

 favoured me respecting these two specimens : — 



" The skin dated 26th December is, for the most part, in 

 abraded plumage, but still shows the yellow underparts, which 

 this species assumes in its autumnal moult before leaving its 

 summer's quarters. Some of the primaries and tail-feathers 

 have evidently been just renewed ; but most of them are 

 ragged and torn, especially at the ends. 



" The other skin, dated 28th March, is in perfect plumage, 

 with the pale tips to the primaries unabraded, and with the 

 underparts of the pale yellow colour (almost white on the 

 belly) which this bird shows when it reaches us in spring. 



" These two skins seem to prove, what has been denied by 

 many English ornithologists, that the Willow-Warblers moult 

 in their winter quarters as well as before their departure 

 from our shores." 



The 28th of March seems to me to be a singularly late 

 date for this species to be found still lingering so far south as 

 Transvaal.— J. H. G.] 



289. Sylvia salicaria (Linn.). Garden-Warbler. 

 Male, shot on the rocky ranges near Potchefstroom on 27th 



December, 1876, and two females, shot 10th January, 1877, 

 also near Potchefstroom. 



One of the females contained in the stomach portions and 

 seeds of figs. 



290. AcROCEPHALUs scH(ENOB^Nus (Linn.). British Sedge - 

 Warbler. 



Two specimens sent : one shot on the 10th, the other on 

 the 18th of April; the stomach of the former contained 

 delicate insects. 



