by Mi\ Claude Grant in South Africa. 313 



281. CiSTICOLA SUBRUnCAPlLLA. 



CC. KlipfoiiteiUj Apl., June (3). 



These skins appear to me to represent tlie true C. suhriifi- 

 cnpiUa ; I have compared them with the type of the species 

 in the Britisli Museum, and they agree with it very well. 



The distinguishing characters are : — 



1. The ashy-grey under parts become nearly wliite in the 

 centre of the abdomen^ but with no fulvous or rufous tinge. 



2. The slaty-grey back has narrow and, as a rule, not 

 strongly marked black centres. 



3. Tlie head is washed with rufous and gradually fades 

 into the grey of the back, and is never iu strong contrast 

 to it ; like the back it is streaked, but faintly and not 

 conspicuously. 



In the British Museum there are skins, in every way con- 

 forming to this type, from Cape Town (Nov.), Deelfontein 

 (March, May, and August), Port Nolloth (July), and Piquet- 

 berg (Aug.). 



It appears, therefore, to be confined to the western portion 

 of Cape Colony, while its place is taken further east and 

 north by the following. 



281 a. CiSTICOLA CHINIANA. 



CC. Plettenherg Bay, Feb. (2) : Z. Sibudeni, Oct., Nov., 

 Dec. Jan. (4) ; Umfolosi, June, July, Aug., Sept. (8) ; 

 Tv. Zuurbron, May (4) ; Woodbush, Nov. (2) ; Klein 

 Letaba, Aug. (1) ; P. Coguno, June, Aug., Sept. (6). 



This species varies a good deal in size. Two of the birds 

 from Coguno, both males, and both taken the same month, 

 measure as follows : — 



(c) Length 135 mm.; wing 67 ; tail 61 ; tarsus 22 ; cnl- 

 men 13. 



(6) Length 118 mm. ; wing 53 ; tail 50; tarsus 21 : cul- 

 men 12*5. 



Two males marked " Umfolosi," also both taken in June, 

 are nearly as divergent in measurement- The birds killed 

 in winter have the heads almost plain, while those killed 

 iu summer (November to January) have the heads strongly 

 streaked. 



