by Mr. Claude Grunt iii South Africa. 309 



vpgetatioii the tail is held up, which gives the bird a perky 

 and jiraceful appearance. 



The soft parts are : — Irides light hazel ; bill black ; 

 legs and toes palish brown.] 



269. Prima mystacea. 



N. Illovo, Nov. (1) ; Jususie Valley, Dec. (3) ; Tv. 

 Klein Letaba, Aug.^ Sept. (2) ; P. Bcira, Jan., Nov. (2) ; 

 Tete, Sept. (1). 

 ' I" Nceti " of Zulus. " Stiui " of Ntebis. 



This Wren-Warbler was noted commonly from Natal and 

 Zululand, the Eastern and North-Eastcrn Transvaal, and 

 the Beira, Gorongoza, and Tete districts of Portuguese East 

 Africa. 



Observed in pairs or small family-parties, it frequents the 

 long grass and vegetation in vleis and swamps at the edge 

 of woods and in old native clearings. It is an active and 

 graceful little bird as it creeps and flits about in search of 

 insect food, and often feeds on the ground; but when disturbed 

 it always perches on the tops of the vegetation, uttering a 

 sharp call and jerking the tail up and down. In this respect 

 and other actions it closely resembles P. maculosa of the 

 Cape Colony. 



The soft parts are : — -Irides pale brown ; bill black ; 

 legs and toes pale brown. 



270. PkINIA FLAVICANS. 



Tv. Pietersburg, Feb., Mch. (3); TurHoop, Mch. (1). 



[I only observed this bird on the flats around Pietersburg, 

 where it was not uncommon and frequented the long grass 

 in the valleys. Usually found in pairs, it is very active and 

 lively in habits and much resembles P. mystacea in call and 

 actions. 



The soft parts are : — Irides raw sienna ; bill black ; legs 

 and toes brow^nish flesh-coloured. J 



271. Spiloptila ocularia. 



CC. Klipfontein, Apl., July (3). 



[" Tentenki" and "■ Klop-kloppie " of Colonists. 



Naraaqualand is the only locality where I have seen this 



