498 Mr. L. M. Setli-Smitli on 



87. Phylloscopiis trochilus. Common fi-om November to 

 March. I have one specimen dated March 31 (testes large). 

 This seems to be a very late date. Is it possible that a few 

 pairs remain to breed in these parts ? The testes or ova 

 are nsually so small as to make it very difficult to tell 

 the sexes. 



88. Phyllosccpus silDilatrix. Not often noticed. 



89. Sylvia simplex. Not at all common. 



90. StizorMna vulpina. Not uncommon in forest. 



91. Cossypha melanonota. An extraordinary songster and 

 mimic. On one occasion I thought I heard a Guinea-fowl 

 [Numida j)tUorhi/ncha) , and was moving in its direction Avheu 

 it changed its note to that of Cuculus solitariiis and then to that 

 of Cuculns clamos7is and then to its own song, and I recognized 

 this Coi^ai/jj/ia. 1 found a nest on May 23 in a thick bush 

 about three feet from the ground. It was lined with 

 rootlets^ and contained three dark olive eggs. A bird just 

 out of the nestj believed to be this species, was brought to 

 mc on June 4. 



92. Cossypha natalensis. A nest found on May 1 in a 

 crevice in the trunk of a tree about three feet from the ground 

 was, I believe, that of this species; but, unfortunately, the 

 bird was not obtained, though it was seen at close quarters. 

 The three olive eggs were hatched, but later disappeared, 

 being probably taken by squirrels or some other small 

 mammal. 



93. Cossypha polioptera. This rare bird has only been 

 obtained on a few occasions. It is a very shy forest-bird, 

 and tlie only one obtained in this district Avas a female shot 

 in June. 



91. Cossypha somereni. 



Cossypha somereni Ilartert, Bull. B. O. C. xxxi. 1912, p. 3. 



Dr. Hartert has kindly compared a bird I obtained witli 

 liis type and so named it. I find it difficult to distinguish 

 however, between C. poUoptc7-a and C. somereni. Both my 



