by Mr. Claude Grant in Sovtli Africa. 315 



Heliolais kikbyi. 



Haagner, Aim. Transvaal Mus. i., Aug. 1909, p. 233. 



P. Tambarara, Mcli. (\S)' 



To this recently described species from Boror I refer 

 Mr. (i rant's Gorongoza example, identified by him as Ortlio- 

 toiniis erythrupterus (Bnll. E. O. C. xxi. 1908, p. 93), and 

 also j\Ir. Swynnerton's Kurumadzi examjde from the frontier 

 of Rliodesia and Mozambique (' Ibis/ 1908, p. 80),ideiitified 

 by liini as Heliola'is erytliroptera. 



This species ditiers from H. erytltroptera, the type of which 

 was taken on the Gold Coast, in the absence of the reddisli 

 shade of the upper parts and the much paler colour of the 

 nnder parts. It is also rather smaller, the wing measuring 

 50 mm. against 56 in H. erythroptera. 



[The Beira and Gorongoza districts of the Portuguese 

 country are the only localities where I have seen this bird. 

 It has much the habit and appearance of a Cisticola or 

 Priiiiu, and haunts the long grass and low bushes like those 

 birds ; but the call-note is much sharper and louder than that 

 of any of the Grass-birds found in these districts, and the red 

 wings are conspicuous, both in flight and when the bird is 

 sitting. It is not common, and often frequents such thick 

 situations that it cannot be seen. Its call first drew my 

 attention to it. 



The soft parts are : — Irides pale yellow ; bill horn- 

 coloured, yellowish at base and gape ; legs and toes amber- 

 brown.] 



290. SPHENffiACUS AFRICANUS. 



CC. Table Mt. slopes, Jan., Feb. (5) ; Durban Rd., Sept. 

 (1) ; Knysna, Apl. (1) ; Plettenberg Bay, Feb., Mch. (2). 



[" Vlei duiker " of Cape Colonists. 



I have only found this bird in the Cape Peninsula and 

 the Knysna district, in both of which localities it is common. 

 It frequents the long grass and bush, both on the flats 

 and the hill-sides, and is found either solitary or in pairs. 

 It seldom flies, and when alarmed dives into the depths of 

 the herbage, and is extremely difficult to flush. The fiight, 

 Avhen indulged in, is weak and of short duration. The call 



