Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
241 
the back washed with that colour and the tail longer. The colour of 
juvenile specimens is similar to that of the adults in winter plumage. 
The distribution of this species apparently extends from Grahamstown 
to Wakkerstroom, including the whole extent of the Drakensberg and its 
spurs ; and it probably ranges still further north until met by another 
closely allied species, which is found in the hilly country of the Central 
and Northern Transvaal. 
C. lais is very common in the hilly country below the Drakensberg, 
its range extending as far down as the coast. It frequents long “ tambooti ” 
grass, weeds, and scrub on the borders of forests, and also the coarse shrubs 
growing amongst rocks on the tops of the hills away from the forests. 
During the winter months these birds while in search of insects are to be 
found in parties scattered about amongst the long grass, and when alarmed 
thev sidle up the taller grass-stems to watch the actions of the intruder. 
During the summer months the male takes up a conspicuous post on the 
top of a bush or tall grass-stem, warning his mate by a loud and melancholy 
note, sounding something like “ to-wee-yek.” Both sexes also utter a 
number of other notes, which are not easily expressed in writing. Eggs 
are laid between the middle of November and the end of January, and 
number three or four to the clutch ; they vary in colour quite as much 
as those of other species; they measure 16-6-17-9 x 12-2-12-9 mm. 
The nests are easily distinguished from those of other species found in the 
same localities ; they are usually placed in the centre of a tuft of green, 
broad-bladed grass, the tops of most of the blades being curled over and 
fixed with silky fibres to the nest thus concealed ; the rest of the blades 
are left projecting upwards so as to conceal those which are curled down- 
wards ; inside the nest is composed of dry curled blades of grass, and is 
warmly lined with silky, usually white, fibres of weeds and grass tops. 
Specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection 
No. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Sex. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tars. 
Culm. 
5234 
Grahamstown 
2 
* (<?)■ 
63 
56 
21 
12 
5252 
?? •»-••• 
26/10/08 
65 
57 
23 
13 
2879 

8/1/07 
cT 
60 
63 
22 
13 
4275 
J? 
-/2/92 
\ (juv.) 
53 
52 
19 
2 
1981 
53 
-74/93 
c? 
61 
62 ' 
22 
13 
1980 
33 
-/B/97 
6 
63 
64 
22 
2 
8987 
Port St. Johns 
15/11/10 
? 
53 
48 
19 
11 
5250 
Umtamvuma River 
31 /5 /08 
<? 
62 
67 
21 
12 -5 
5251 
21/5/08 
<5 
64 
63 
22 
12 
9510 
Matatiele, E. G. . . . 
7 12 / 12 
3 
65 
2 
21 
11 
9508 
35 • • • 
7/2/12 
3 (juv.) 
59 
56 
2 
11 *5 
9509 
33 * * # 
7/2/12 
3 (juv.) 
60 
56 
20 
11-5 
9511 
55 * • • 
7/2/12 
Q 
T 
53 
48 
17 -5 
11 
9512 
55 ... 
7/2/12 
? (juv.) 
53 
49 
18 
11 
8980 
Dargie District. « . . 
9/9/09 
? 
55 
52 
19-5 
11 
8982 
55 .... 
9/9/09 
<? (?) 
53 
51 
18 
11 
8983 
55 .... 
30/8/09 
o 
m 
56 
54 
19 
11 
8981 
35 .... 
1 /9 709 
c? 
64 
65 
21 -5 
13 
8984 
33 .... 
6/9/09 
(7- 
64 
66 
22 
13 
