98 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



ing a stridulous cry of cur-cur-crak-crak. I sought in vain for its nest 

 in the months of November, December, and January. 



I identify this bird with " L'Isabelle " of La Vaillant. Its habits 

 accord well with those described by him as belonging to that bird. 



177. Calamodyta Gracilirostris, Harti, ibis 



1864, p. 348. 



Above, pale-brown ; crown greyish ; rump and upper tail- 

 covers rufescent ; tail brown ; eyebrow and lower part of 

 body white ; vent pale-yellowish. Length, 6" 5'" ; wing, 3" ; 

 tail, 3". 



My son procured several specimens of this shy and retiring bird in 

 rushes on the banks of the " Diep Rivier," near the Observatory, 

 Cape Town. He informs me he was attracted to them by their 

 babbling, which he at once detected as new to him. Their stomachs 

 contained the remains of minute coleoptera and other insects. Mr. 

 Ayres has observed it in STatal. 



178. Calamodyta Arundinacea, Linn ; Syl- 

 via Turdoides, Meyer, Tern., Man., 1, 191 ; Turdus 



Arundinaceus, L., P]., Enl, 513; Agrobates Brun- 

 nescens, Jard., Gould's B. of Eur, PI. 106. 



Above, pale olive-brown ; rump paler ; throat white, shaded 

 with grey ; chest, belly, and vent pale fulvescent ; tail and 

 wing brown, the feathers margined with paler colour. 

 Length, 7" 4'" ; wing, 5" 9'" ; tail, 3" 2'". 



South Africa : Hartlaub, Orn., W. Af., p. 61. Mr. Andersson 

 brought specimens from Damaraland, apparently identical with a 

 European bird in the South African Museum. 



179. Calamodyta Natalensis. Camaroptera 



Natalensis, Hartl, Ibis Vol. 1863, p. 326. 

 Above, reddish- ash ; below, pale ash-coloured ; under side of 

 wings and tail whitish ; top of head rufous. Length, 3" 6'" ; 

 wing, r 9'" ; tail, 1" 6'". 



" These birds are plentiful, frequenting rough weeds and grass ; their 

 flight is tolerably strong ; their food consists of minute insects, eggs of 

 moths, &c." — Ayres, Ibis, loc. cit. 



180. Calamodyta OlLvacea ; Camaroptera ou- 



vacea, Sunde., Ofver. Kongl. Vet. Forhald., p. 103. 



Dull olive-green ; below dirty white; thighs fulvous-yellow; 

 sides of head and forehead cinereous. 

 Inhabits Natal : Ayres. 



