from the Colony of Natal. 333 



This species is common here all the year round, but I think 

 not immediately on the coast. 



They are generally to be seen two or three together, searching 

 for insects, about the bushy valleys, and occasionally, though not 

 often, alighting to rest on some dead bough. 



Their food consists of minute beetles and other insects. 



193. Catriscus apicalis, Caban. Fan-tailed Catriscus. 



Male. Iris light hazel ; upper mandible of bill very dark ashy 

 brown ; under mandible light ash-colour ; nostrils large and 

 oval ; tarsi and feet palish brown. 



These Warblers, which are not so common as some other reed- 

 birds, are found amongst the rank grass and rushes that grow 

 in swampy places. 



When they have been once flushed, it is a diflScult matter to 

 put them up a second time, as they creep away with great swift- 

 ness amongst the stems of grass. Their notes are rather loud 

 and somewhat harsh ; their flight is weak, being seldom sustained 

 for more than fifty yards. 



Their food appears to consist entirely of small insects. 



194. SpHENffiACUs AFRiCANUS (Gmel.). Flute-voiced Sphe- 

 noeacus. 



Male. Iris dark hazel ; the upper mandible of the bill blackish 

 brown, except the margin, which, with the under mandible, is 

 ash-coloured ; tarsi and feet light ash-colour ; nostrils oval and 

 slightly tumid. 



This is also not a very common Warbler ; it frequents much 

 the same cover as the preceding species, but has perhaps a rather 

 greater partiality to bushy underwood on the edges of the dense 

 bush ; its flight is very weak, and it is difficult to drive it from 

 its hiding-places; its food consists of insects. 



195. Drymgeca curvirostris (Sundev.) ? Curved-billed 

 Drymoeca. 



Male. Iris light brown ', bill horny ; nostrils linear ; tarsi 

 and feet pale. 



The female appears to be smaller than the male, and has the 

 bill pale, the ridge only being dark brown. In the immature 



z2 



