Mashonaland Birds. 231 



33. Eremomela FLAVivENTKiSo (Yellow-bcllied Bush- 

 Warbler.) 



Fairly common in the open forests, where it searches the 

 trees for small insects, in company with the Tits and White- 

 eyes, which it closely resembles in habits. 



34. Eremomela scotops. (Dusky-faced Bush- Warbler.) 

 Common ; they occur in flocks of five to twenty individuals, 



and every now and then they commence a terrible hubbub, 

 the whole flock apparently fighting and chasing one another 

 round and round the trees with a harsh chattering note ; in 

 a few minutes the noise subsides, as they gradually settle 

 down again to the business of insect-hunting, only to recom- 

 mence quarrelling shortly afterwards. 



35. Prima mystacea. (Tawny-flanked Grass-Warbler.) 

 Fairly common, occurring occasionally among trees in thin 



bush as well as in the open grassy flats. The following is 

 the description of the nest and eggs by Mr. Swynnerton : — 

 " A neat domed nest, slung between the stems of two or 

 three weeds at the water^s edge, after the fashion of the 

 English Reed-Warbler, and built almost entirely of a fine 

 downy water-weed and a few thin grass-blades. The cup, 

 which is very deep, was lined with very fine grasses, and con- 

 tained four eggs, two measuring 17x12 and two 18 x 12 mm. 

 The ground-colour of the eggs is pale salmon-buft', marbled 

 and clouded with a deeper shade of the same colour, with 

 blotches and curious pencillings (chiefly in circles round the 

 egg) of difterent shades of reddish brown, nearly reaching 

 black in intensity in places. 



36. CisTicoLA cinerascens. (Grey Fantail.) 



This species does not seem to be so plentiful as the other 

 Fantails, and, as a rule, occurs only in the bush. 



37. CisTicoLA aberrans. (Smith's Fantail.) 

 Obtained on the Umfuli river by the Jameson expedition. 



38. CisTicoLA terrestris. (Ground-Fantail.) 

 Common in open grassy flats. In proportion to its size 



this bird has a decidedly stronger flight than any of its 

 congeners : it will sometimes rise to a considerable altitude 



