278 Mr. E. P. Ramsay's Notes on Birds breeding 



singing in the lucerne-fields, I started with the gun in search 

 of them, and found one perched upon the fence, which I shot, 

 and afterwards followed another, which seemed to be about two 

 hundred yards oflF, among the lucerne, but, failing to put it up, 

 was somewhat perplexed at still hearing it singing, apparently 

 close to me ; at last, happening to look towards the sky, I ob- 

 served a minute speck high up in the air over my head, soaring 

 with outspread wings, floating something after the style of the 

 Mirafra horsfieldi, and singing all the time. I could hardly 

 believe it was a Cisticola at all, but was delighted to see it de- 

 scend, falling, with its wings spread, a few feet at a time, then 

 poising itself and chirping, letting itself down in this way until it 

 settled on a post in the lucerne a few yards from where I stood, 

 and then began to call in its usual note, an almost inde- 

 scribable sound, but easily imitated by drawing the air in 

 through your lips." 



I succeeded in calling another down in a similar manner, and 

 shot it also, and felt much delighted with my morning's work, 

 formerly believing the Cisticolce to be strictly reed- or grass-fre- 

 quenting birds, and of feeble flight. 



Some of their notes while flying high closely resemble, as I 

 have said, those of Mirafra horsfieldi. When they alight in a 

 bed of grass or rushes they make their way through them with 

 surprising quickness, procuring their food, which consists prin- 

 cipally of seeds, chiefly on the ground, but occasionally ascend- 

 ing to the tops of the reeds, more, however, to call, I believe, 

 than to obtain food. Several which settled in the lucerne had 

 made their way, without showing themselves once, for a very 

 considerable distance before I could force them to rise ; and I 

 was then obliged in most cases to fire at them when on the 

 wing. 



They are more easily procured when met with in the reeds, 

 as by imitating their notes the males will mount to the top of 

 the highest stems and show themselves at once. 



I am still in doubt as to the difierences of the sexes in 

 plumage : all I obtained were similar ; but those which I was 

 wont to consider females were unfortunately shot in the abdo- 

 men, which prevented my ascertaining the sex with certainty. 



