,252 Mr. S. A. Neave on the Birds of 



This extraordinary little bird inhabits a peculiar type of 

 marsh common in the neighbourhood of Lake Bangweolo 

 and well described by Livingstone as "sponges." These 

 areas are covered with fine wiry matted grasses to the depth 

 of some two feet. It is in this matted grass that P. locustella 

 lives in small flocks. Its flight is weak, seldom extending 

 more than a few yards, and reminded me of that of a locust. 



333. Amauresthes fringilloides. 



Amauresthes fringilloides (Lafr.) ; Neave, loc. cit. p. 92. 

 No. 178. S • Lualaba R., 3000 ft., May 10, 1907. 

 Bill black, lower mandible blue-grey tipped dusky ; feet 

 dusky grey; iris dark brown. 



334. Lagonosticta niyeiguttata. 



Lagonosticta niveiguttata (Peters) ; Neave, loc. cit. p. 92. 



No. 345. S • Bunkeya R-, 3000 ft., Aug. 31, 1907. 



Bill black, base of lower mandible blue-grey ; feet grey- 

 brown ; iris brown ; orbit blue. 



This is not a High Plateau species, but frequents the low- 

 lying river-valleys in both the Congo and Zambezi basins. 

 It is usually to be found among the thickets on the edge of 

 forest, and is rather shy. 



335. Laoonosticta brunneiceps. 



Lagonosticta brunneiceps Sharpc ; Neave, loc. cit. p. 93. 



No. 459. S ad. Petauke, Luangwa Valley, 2400 ft., 

 Jan. 8, 1908. 



Bill pink, culmen dusky ; feet pale brownish flesh- 

 coloured ; iris brown ; orbit pale yellow. 



I only met with this species in the Luangwa Valley. It 

 seems to be replaced in the High Plateau by tlie larger 

 L. hamatocephala. 



336. Lagonosticta harterti. 



Lagonosticta harterti Shelley ; Sharpe, IIand-1. Birds, 

 v. p. 430. 



Lagonosticta nitidula II art 1. ; Reich, loc. cit. iii. p. 195. 

 No. 198. S ■ Upper Lualaba R., 3500 ft., May 20, 1907. 



