250 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
The specimens from Durban described as C. fulvifrons are said to be 
identical with C. lugubris of Abyssinia (vide Sharpe, “ Birds of S.A.,” p. 823)- 
No account seems to have been given of the winter plumage of this species, 
and I suspect that specimens in that condition have been regarded as a 
distinct species. 
C. lugubris is widely distributed over the tropical parts of the 
Ethiopian region, apparently occurring in the same situations as C. 
natalensis. The following notes on the habits of this species by the late 
A. D. Millar are recorded in Stark and Sclater’s “ Fauna of S.A.” : “Is 
essentially a marsh-warbler, and builds in the vleis in the vicinity of Durban 
during the month of December. They nest in the coarse vlei grass or 
amongst the bracken growing in or about the marshes two or three feet 
from the ground. The nest is constructed outwardly of the dried blades 
of the coarse vlei grass, cobwebbed and lined interiorly with the heads of 
flowery grasses and other feathery weed-flowers. The clutch consists of 
three beautiful shining brick-red eggs, measuring 16 X 12 -5 mm. During 
the breeding season the habits of this bird much resemble those of C. 
natalensis , and in the early morning they may be seen flitting about the 
vleis guarding their nests and haunts against any intruder who chances 
to fly past and uttering a continued chirp.” 
Specimens in the Transvaal Museum collection : — 
No. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Sex. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tars. Culm. 
5275 
Beira 
11/1/06 
$ (aest.) 
57 
47 
23 
12 
3524 
N.-W. Rhodesia . . . 
6/9/07 
$ (hiem) 
61 
61 
23 
13 
3525 
55 • * • 8 
12/9/07 
2 (hiem) 
56 
57 
22 
13 
5273 
MachileRiv., N.-W. 
Rhodesia 
3/10/08 
cj (hiem) 
60 
59 
21-5 12 
5274 
5 5 5 5 
2/10/08 
5 (hiem) 
55 
58 
20 
12 
8946 
Kesii, B.E.A 
-/9/10 
? (c? 
aest.) 
60 
51 
22 -5 14 
8993 
5 5 * 
-/9/TO 
<? (juv.) 
55 
56 
22 
12-5 
Note. — The specimens in winter plumage are brighter rufous and streaked on the crown 
and the broad black centres of the feathers of the back are set off by the paler margins 
which are more conspicuous and buff in place of ashy brown ; the tail is also longer. The 
juvenile specimen is much yellower on the breast and throat, yellowish rufous on the upper 
surface of head and body, and the black of the feathers of the back not so broad and con- 
spicuous ; the whole appearance of this specimen insures its identity as to juvenility. 
Group VIII — Cisiicola semitorques. 
(1) Tail (in summer) 85 % length of wing ; (2) first primary 62 % 
length of second ; (3) tail feathers broad, stiff ; (4) beak slender, slightly 
longer than middle toe without claw ; (5) inner and outer toes equal, their 
claws extending beyond base of the middle claw ; (6) middle claw weak 
but sharp, nearly half the length of toe ; legs and feet not stout. Seasonal 
changes not known. Inhabits borders of, and glades in, forests of moun- 
tainous regions in the hotter parts of Eastern Ethiopia. 
Note. — These characters have been taken from a single specimen 
and require confirmation. 
