sit Mr. W. L. Sclatcr on Birds colU'ded 



283. CiSTICOLA NATALENSIS. 



Summer dress — Z. Sihudeni, Nov. 1 (1) ; Jusnsie Valley, 

 Dec. 1 & 6 (2) ; Ngoye Hills, Oct. 13 (1) ; P. Beira, 

 Dec. 17, Jan. 27(6). 



Winter dress — Z. Umfolosi Station, June 25, Sept. 7 

 (10); P. Masambeti, Nov. 17 (1). 



This series shews very well the great difference in appear- 

 ance in this species in winter and summer — in fact, no one 

 would imagine the birds were tiie same species, so distinct 

 are they. I suspect that the bird alluded to by Haagner 

 (Ann. Transvaal Mus. i. p. 2'29) as C. stranffeih nothing but 

 the summer dress of C. natalensis ; indeed, I very much 

 doubt if the true C. strangei of West Africa can be distin- 

 guished fi'om C. natalensis, except as a subspecies. 



The series also shews the great difference in size in the 

 two sexes, a very characteristic feature. The wings of eight 

 males average 70 mm., varying from 08 to 73, and of eight 

 females average 58, varying from 55 to Gl. 



[" Nqojaue " of Zulus. 



I have only seen this large Grass-Warbler in Zuluiand 

 and the Beira district of the Portuguese country. It is 

 a conspicuous species, and cannot be easily overlooked. 

 It frequents open marshy valleys and plains, and is par- 

 ticularly plentiful in the low-lying country near Beira. It 

 is usually seen perched on the top of some twig or bush, and 

 utters a loud call, especially in the early morning and late 

 afternoon. On being disturbed it Hies round the intruder, 

 uttering a single note, but at other times I have seen it soar 

 to some height, usually from the top of a bush, to which it 

 again returns. It feeds on insects and, to a certain extent, 

 on grass-seeds. I have not taken the nest. 



The soft parts are : — 



Winter. 1 rides pale brown ; bill pale horn-coloured, round 

 nostrils and along eulmen darker; legs and toes amber- 

 brown. 



Snnwwr. Bill practically black, white-horn-coloured on 

 hinder side of lower mandibh^ ; legs and toes darker thuu in 

 winter.] 



