386 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on 



CiSTICOLA SUBRUFICAPILLA (Smith). 



Cisticola subruficajn/la Stark, ii. p. 151; W. L. Sclater, 

 Ibis, 1911, p. 313. 



a-ff. ^ ? . Mababe Flats, 3000 ft., 24tli July-9th Aug. 

 (N0S.-68, 76, 77, 78, 79, 84, 85, B. B. TV.) 



Iris hazel ; bill light brown, under mandible darker ; 

 feet light brown. 



Specimens of the Western Grey-backed Grass-Warbler 

 killed in July and August present, on the whole, a very 

 uniform appearance, the black stripes on the feathers of tlie 

 upper parts being narrower than in examples of the more 

 eastern C. chiniana Smith ; the under parts of the body also 

 are distinctly greyer and less buff, especially on the sides 

 and flanks. 



This Cist'icoJa is a lover of bushes and rough ground 

 in the neighbourhood of water, but in my experience it 

 never frequents the reed-beds, and I have often found it at 

 considerable distances from water. It is a very fearless 

 little bird and its general habits much reseuible those of the 

 Common Hedge-Sparrow ; the only note I have heard it utter 

 is a low scolding one like that of the Marsh-Titmouse. 



Sylviella rufescens elecki Reich. 



Sylviella rufescens Stark, ii. p. 115 [part.]. 



Sj/ldettajiecki Reicli. iii. p. 62G, pi. xxiii. fig.^4. 



a-c. S ■ Molopo River, 3000 ft., 19th April. (Nos. IG, 

 17, \^,R.B. W.) 



d,e. ? . Lake Nganii, 2700 ft., 28th June & 3rd July. 

 (Nos. 49, /?. B. IV., & 539, G. L.) 



Iris hazel ; bill dark horn-coloured ; feet reddish-brown. 



All the specimens in the present collection are referable to 

 the rather paler western form of this Crombec, which has 

 the upper parts greyer and the under parts usually of a paler 

 buff; though in the latter respect some individuals from 

 Uamaraland are not distinguishable from some of the paler- 

 breasted examples of typical S. rufescens (Vieill.) from the 

 Transvaal. 



This Crombec is rather a curious little bird, usually 

 frequenting low scrub, but I have occasionally seen it high 



