from Deelfuntein, Cape Colony. 335 



l,m. j ad. Declfonteiu, Sept. 22, 1902. 



n. 2 ad. ,, Sept. 24, 1902. 



o. 6 ad.;/?. ? juv. Deelfouteiu, Nov. 19, 1902. 



The breeding-season commences in November, full-grown 

 young birds having been obtained on the 19th of that month, 

 and others at the end of February, which were doubtless a 

 second brood. Some young have nearly completed their 

 moult by the 8th and 12th of February. 



Males and females are alike in plumage, and the only 

 difference between the summer and winter dress consists in 

 the somewhat brighter tints of the latter, the upper parts 

 being more ashy and the rufous edges to the qudls broader : 

 these edgings become worn off in the breeding-season. 



[Very common, frequenting rubbish-heaps, where it was 

 always to be found feeding on insects. The actions resemble 

 those of our English Robin.] 



78. ACROCEPHALUS BjETICATUS. 



Acrocephalus haticatus Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 290 (1876) ; 

 Seebohm, Cat. B. v. p. 108 (1881) ; Stark, Faun. S. Mr, 

 Birds, ii. p. 91 (1901) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B.iv. p. 189 (1903). 



a-d. 6 2 ad. Deelfonteiu, Feb. 1.2, 1902. 



e. 2 ad. „ March 3, 1902. Feet olive- 



green ; iris greyish hazel. 



/. cf . „ Oct. 24, 1902. 



The birds are moulting in February, but there is very 

 little difference between the spring and autumn plumage, 

 excepting that the latter is a little more rufescent. 



[The Reed-Warbler generally arrived in January, and was 

 found along the hedge-rows in the majority of the farms; 

 it was fairly common.] 



79. ClSTICOLA SUBRUFICAPILLA. 



Cisticola subrufi cap ilia Sharpe, ed. Layard, pp. 206, 823 

 (1875-84) ; id. Cat. B. vii. p. 283 (1883) ; Stark, Faun. 

 S. Afr., Birds, ii. p. 151 (1901) ; Sharpe, IIahd-1. B. iv. 

 p. 199 (1903). 



a, b. 6 2 ad. Deelfontein, March 14-25, 1902. Iris 

 raw sienna; lower mandible heliotrope; feet brownish pink. 



