Expedition to the Zambesi River. 81 



in the great slabs o£ rock. Neither bird uttered any note, 

 while flight was seldom resorted to, the wings now and again 

 being simply opened with a jerky movement while running, 

 but sufficiently to show the remarkable white spots on the 

 inner Avebs of the primaries. The favourite haunt of this 

 species appears to be rocky places overgrown with bush, close 

 to running water. The next day we were unable to continue 

 our search after the male bird, as the expedition moved on, 

 greatly to our disappointment. 



Adult ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 9*9 inches, 

 wing 4"43. Iris hazel. Contents of stomach, beetles and 

 small portions of lizards and grasshoppers. 



92. LusciNioLA GRACiLiROSTRis (Hartl.). 

 This species is the only resident Reed- Warbler in the 

 Zambesi region. From the mouth of the Shire river (where 

 the bird is also a resident) and onward along the Zambesi 

 it may be found on the islands overgrown withflsh-cane, and 

 in extensive reed-beds, but it cannot be called common. 



On July 25, near Senna, we discovered a nest, ready for 

 eggs, built between three stems of fish-cane and about six feet 

 from the ground. It was a compact structure of a cup-shaped 

 form, composed of fine dried reed-blades and lined with grass- 

 stalks. 



The song of this Reed-Warbler is identical Mitli that of 

 Calamocichia brevipennis (Ibis, 1898, p. 83), but the alarm- 

 note, a harsh ^'churr,^' is somewhat louder. 



The song is generally to be heard towards evening, and 

 especially after rain has fallen, when the favourite localities 

 in the reed-beds become filled with their melodious iiotes. 



Immature ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 5'56 inches, 

 wing 2*28. Iris brown ; upper mandible brown, lower light 

 horn-colour; legs and feet lead- colour. 



Adult (^ . Total length (measured in flesli) 6 inches, wing 



2"63. Iris hazel ; upper mandible brown, lower horn-colour, 



brownish at tip; legs and feet brownish black ; throat orange. 



Adult ? . Wing 2"4 inches : upper mandible brown, lower 



yellowish horn-colour. 



SEll. VII. — VOL, VI. G 



