Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
245* 
to be found in small family parties searching actively for insects in the 
grass and sometimes hopping on the ground ; but as soon as the alarm 
is given the whole party takes to the nearest patch of tangled thorn bushes. 
Males while singing are very difficult to approach, for when they find them- 
selves watched, they at once leave their conspicuous perches and take to 
the neighbouring thorn scrub where they are not easily discovered. I 
have always found this species to be very shy, and for that reason have 
succeeded in finding very few nests, which were always deserted after 
the owners had seen me inspect them. A single egg, taken on 13th Decem- 
ber last, was left in the nest for two days, but the birds did not return to 
it, although every precaution was taken not to alarm them. The nest is 
usually placed amongst mixed dry and green grass in the shelter of some 
thorn bush, or fallen branch of a tree, and is composed of the same materials 
as those of other species. The egg is bluish white, much spotted with 
slate and pinkish brown at the obtuse end, and measures 18 X 12 mm. 
Specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection : — 
No. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Sex. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tors. 
Culm. 
5243 
N.-W. Rhodesia . . 
6/9/07 
¥ 
62 
61 
22 
13 
5246 
Bulawayo 
27 /5 /08 
<? 
67 
66 
63 
13 
5247 
55 
28/6/08 
3 
71 
67 
23 
13 
5247 
Donje Erok (Ger- 
man East Africa) 
22/8/03 
3 
65 
63 
22 
13 
5249 
27 11 /03 
? (?) 
57 
50 
20 -5 
11 -5 
6755 
Goud River, T’vaal 
28/7/10 
3 
67 
65 
22 
15 
6754 
Pongola Riv., T’vl 
13 /I /10 
? 
58 
62 
20 
13 
6758 
Rooiberg, T’vaal. . 
9/7/10 
58 
59 
21 
13 
6756 
Rietspruit, T’vaal. . 
8/7/10 
?(<?) 
69 
66 
22 
14 
6757 
Zoutpan, Wbg.,Tvl. 
4/7 / 10 
?■(<?) 
70 
66 
22 
14 
6764 
Matlabas, T’vaal. . . 
1/7/10 
¥ (juv.) 
66 
66 
22 
14 
6763 
,, ... 
1/7/10 
66 
22 
61 
14 
4277 
Pretoria District. . . 
6/9 /07 
3 
69 
71 
22 
14 
4278 
• 
14/10/07 
¥(<?) 
70 
65 
23 
13 -5 
8953 
55 . . • 
13/3/11 
¥(<?) 
67 
2 
22 
13 
5245 
55 • • • 
18 /12 /08 
3 
68 
62 
23 
13 ? 
8954 
55 • • • 
5 /6 /II 
¥ 
57 
57 
20 
13 
6773 
Nvlstroom 
5/8/09 
3 
71 
72 
22 
14 -5 
6775 
5 /8 /09 
3 
72 
70 
23 
13 
6776 
5? ........ 
5/8 /09 
3 
65 
66 
22 
13-5 
6772 
5; .... . . . . 
5/8/09 
3 
67 
67 
23 
14 
6774 
55 
5/8/09 
¥ 
56 
55 
20 
13 
6777 
5/8/09 
¥ 
59 
55 
20 
13 
6762 
9? 
27/7 /09 
3 
70 
68 
22 
13-5 
6759 
5? • * 
26/7/09 
* (3) 
68 
62 
22 
2 
6761 
........ 
28/7/09 
¥ 
59 
54 
21 
12 -5 
1617 
Marabastad 
24/11/02 
¥ 
64 
62 
22 
13 -5 
1618 
Klein Letaba 
5/10/02 
2 
65 
64 
22 
2 
6768 
Koedoes Riv., Tvl. 
23/9/10 
$ 
56 
56 
20 
12 
6752 
Hector Spruit, Tvl. 
10/5/10 
3 
64 
64 
22 
13 -5 
8939 
jj 55 
3/6/11 
3 
66 
61 
23 
13 
