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



birds also the bill is pale ; and the irides vary somewhat in colour 

 according to age, as in fact they do in all the Drymceca. 



These birds frequent long grass in the more open country ; 

 their flight is comparatively strong ; during the breeding-season 

 they are fond of mounting high in the air, uttering at the same 

 time a very loud and harsh chucking note ; their food appears 

 to consist of crickets and other good-sized insects. 



[Dr. Hartlaub, to whom I submitted the specimens here re- 

 ferred to, remarks, " In spite of some difference in size and 

 colour, I think that the two strong-billed Drymoecce are d and $ 

 of the same species, very probably D. curvirostris of Sundevall ; '^ 

 his description coincides (not too well) with the female speci- 

 men.— J. H. G.] 



196. Drym{eca natalensis. Smith. Natal Drymoeca. 

 [Mr. Ayres sends a single specimen of this bird, but does not 



distinguish it as distinct from the succeeding species, from 

 which, however, it, without doubt, specifically differs. Dr. 

 Hartlaub remarks that the specimen sent is a " very small one." 

 —J. H. G.] 



197. Drymceca levaillantii, Smith. Le Vaillant's Dry- 

 moeca. 



This species frequents long coarse grass in the valleys and on 

 the hill-sides; its flight is tolerably strong, and it does not 

 attempt to hide when disturbed, but at once takes wing. 



198. Drymceca aberrans, Smith. Aberrant Drymoeca. 

 Male. Iris bright hazel ; upper mandible of bill light brown ; 



under mandible pale; nostrils large and oval; tarsi and feet 

 pale. 



These Warblers are generally to be found amongst the high 

 grass, which forms a dense cover on the edges of the woods. 

 When disturbed, they flit and hop about the twigs and boughs 

 of the adjacent bushes, uttering at the same time a weeping 

 note, which much resembles the distant bleating of a goat ; they 

 seem to be particularly fond of the eggs of moths and small 

 insects. Their flight is but weak. 



