Annals op the Transvaal Museum. 
227 
A REVISION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIES OF CISTICOLA 
(GRASS WARBLERS). 
By A. Iy. Haagner, E.Z.S., Assistant, Transvaal Museum. 
In attempting to determine the specimens of Gisticola in the Transvaal 
Museum, I was soon confronted with the difficulties attending the proper 
identification of the members of this none too easy group. As the series 
of many of the South African species are very long, 1 endeavoured to 
work the group out as best I could, and to try and reduce the existing 
chaos to something like order. When I had completed the separation of 
the species I forwarded the whole collection with my notes to Dr. 
Reichenow, requesting him to be good enough to compare our series with 
his own, and to revise and check my conclusions. With very few excep- 
tions, Dr. Reichenow has agreed with me, and I wish to take this oppor- 
tunity of expressing my great indebtedness to him for his ever-ready help 
and sympathetic interest. 
The close relationship of many of the species of Gisticola renders a 
large series necessary for the correct identification of several of the 
species. As much confusion has hitherto existed amongst these said 
species, we think a full list of specimens with localities and dates will he 
useful. 
A key of the South African species follows : — 
1. Upper surface plainly, though sometimes obscurely, streaked. 2. 
Upper surface plain (unstreaked). 10. 
2. Under surface pale brown-grey ; back grey ; tarsus under 21 mm. 
C. subruficapilla. 
Under surface washed with rusty yellow, yellowish or dusky- 
grey. 3. 
3. Tarsus 25 mm. or over. 4. 
Tarsus under 25 mm. 5. 
4. Entire upper surface yellow or tawny brown, thickly streaked 
with dark brown . . . . . . . . C. natalensis. 
Entire upper surface grey-brown, thickly streaked with dark 
brown . . . . . . . . . . . . G. strangei. 
5. Rump yellowish or rusty-rufous ; head not more rufous than 
hack. 6. 
Rump not yellowish or rufous ; head rufous. 7. 
Rump not more yellowish or rufous than hack, head not, or only 
slightly more rufous than hack. 9. 
6. Back broadly streaked with dark brown ; sides of breast streaked 
C. terrestris. 
Back paler, streaked with dark brown ; sides of breast unstreaked 
G. lavendulae. 
Back paler, streaked with dark brown ; sides of breast unstreaked, 
rump rusty yellow . . . . . . . . G.c. uropygialis. 
7. Tarsus under 20 mm. 8. 
Tarsus over 21. Eeathers of back black, edged with grey 
C. lugubris. 
8. Back tawny-brown, streaked with dark brown ; head unstreaked 
or only slightly streaked . . . • • • G. mulleri. 
Back black, feathers edged with grey, head plainly and broadly 
streaked . . . . • . • • • • G. Bnniens, 
