Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 101 
CisticoLa cHINIANA (Smith). Larger Grey-backed Fan- 
tail. 
This is also an uncommon bird about Rustenburg; the 
specimen sent was one of two which I met with amongst 
scattered scrub. 
337. CISTICOLA ABERRANS (Smith). Aberrant Fantail. 
Sex uncertain, Rustenburg, 29th July. Inides hazel; bill 
dusky brown, paler on the under mandible; tarsi and feet 
pale. 
I obtained this specimen amongst some tall grass in a 
ravine of the mountains ; I saw one other, but did not succeed 
in getting it. 
[In ‘ The Ibis’ for 1868, p. 155, I mentioned that a note 
by Mr. Ayres on the habits of a Drymeca which was referred 
to the present species in ‘The Ibis’ for 1863, p. 324, really 
appled to D. affinis; Mr. Sharpe has overlooked this cor- 
rection, and has quoted Mr. Ayres’s note as referring to Cis- 
ticola aberrans at p. 272 of his edition of Mr. Layard’s work. 
I cannot agree with Mr. Sharpe’s view, expressed in the 
same article, that C. smitht is merely the female of C. ader- 
rans; C. smitht seems to me to be a distinct species, smaller, 
with the tail proportionally shorter, and usually more free 
from striation on the back, which (so far as I have observed) 
is always present, though not very distinct, in C. aberrans. 
I have noted the following measurements of the two spe- 
cles :— 
Wing. Bill, Tarsus, 
C. aberrans. 
Presumed ¢, Rustenburg.......... DR 2:7 ‘08 
Grr Marecoudistricthaeyvaais aici 2°3 2°6 08 
C. smitht. 
Ge Ovanpo- andere Meise stee aol 271 1:9 07 
GUEbvustenburaw chi. wl ctaeee nr 21 16 07 
oe Dos Aheloy male corrals 2:2 ez “U6 
3; DOF eee rele cotsiey asus aisioioargitiels 2-1 ey 07 
Gr SD On ante bleiiev crores erainstau ae 21 16 0:7 
Gay Louchelstroominrrn titra rie 21 18 0-7 
9, I DOYS ie eee ert ai ue Ni oil 18 0-7 
OF pEinetownyr Nataliya. pad-act shel a 2:0 ed 0-38 
