254 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
lined with fine, soft tendrils; they were built in thorn-bushes, and 
placed from twelve to eighteen inches above the ground,” 
In a letter received from Mr. Ortlepp, that gentleman observes, 
“These birds have the habit of cocking up their tails for a second or 
two after settling on a branch, uttering a short lively note and danc- 
ing about very much like our common A. coryphea, which they 
resemble in general habits.” . 
Head brown; neck rusty-grey; anterior half of back ruddy- 
brown; hinder part of back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and the basal 
two-thirds of tail, clear reddish-orange ; last third of tail-feathers, 
liver-brown, edges rusty, four outer ones of each side broadly tipped 
with white; chin and throat dull white: breast, belly, and vent, pale 
cream-yellow. Length, 6”; wing, 2” 9"; tail, 2” 9”. 
Fig. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 50. 
a. with ten tail-feathers (Drymeca). 
240. Dryma@ca FLAVICANS. Black-chested Grass-Warbler. 
Plate VIII. 
Drymoica pectoralis and D. pallida, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 86. 
The principal character which distinguishes this long-tailed 
Grass-Warbler is the yellow coloration of the under surface which 
exists at all ages: the tail-feathers also never have a subterminal 
blackish spot, which prevents the species being mistaken for D. 
afinis, or D. maculosa. The plate represents three of the plumages 
of this bird, but it has not yet been satisfactorily proved whether the 
black chest-band is a sign of age or is merely a seasonal plumage ; it 
seems certain, however, that the young birds never have it, and 
therefore it is probably peculiar to the adults, but by the gradual 
way in which it seems to be assumed, we conjecture that it is worn 
only during a certain season of the year. 
Sir Andrew Smith discovered the first specimens of this species 
near Latakoo. We have received it from Mr. T. C. Atmore from 
the neighbourhood of Hopetown, but as yet we have not seen a 
specimen from Natal, though Mr. Gurney recorded it as occurring in 
Mr. Ayres’ early collections. In the Transvaal, however, it is mnch 
more numerous, and our excellent friend, Dr. Exton, has just 
forwarded us several specimens procured in the vicinity of Potchef- 
stroom. Mr. Ayres writes: “This delicate little bird is common 
