Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
251 
Cisticola semitorques (Heugl.).* 
The name of D. cinerascens was also applied by Heuglin to this species 
in 1867. D. concolor, described by the same author in 1869, appears to 
represent the winter plumage of this species ; it is figured in the Ibis, 1869, 
Pl. 2, fig. 1. The type of D. semitorques came from Bogos in North-East 
Africa, and it has a wide range, having been recorded as far south as 
Hlabisa in Zululand ; in the west its place seems to be taken by C. rufo- 
pileata, Reichenow. Specimens from Chirinda Forest, Southern Rhodesia, 
have been identified with this species, and the following description is 
taken from an old male in breeding plumage from that place : — 
Top of head cinnamon, merging on the nape and hind-neck into the 
olive grey colour of the back ; rump and upper tail-coverts paler than the 
back ; the whole upper surface not streaked ; tail for the greater part 
like the rump with a broad black band, sub terminally, across both webs 
of each feather, and white tips to all but the two middle ones ; lores and 
cheeks yellowish white, the ear-coverts similar, but becoming rufous on 
the hinder tips next to the nape ; chin, throat and middle of abdomen 
white, darker on the sides and breast and tinged with fulvous ; thighs 
pale rufous, under tail-coverts white tinged with fulvous ; under wing- 
coverts isabelline rufous, inner margins at the base of the primaries and 
secondaries isabelline ; upper aspect of primaries brown with broad rufous 
external margins for the basal two-thirds, and pale wood-brown margins 
for the terminal third ; greater wing coverts and inner secondaries also 
margined externally with rufous ; primarv-coverts and bastard-wing less 
conspicuously margined with rufous and showing up dark against the 
lighter coloured primaries ; remaining wing-coverts like the back ; edge 
of wing white. Bill entirely black ; legs and feet flesh colour. Length 
in the flesh 135 mm. ; wing 54, tail 47, tarsus 22, culmen 12 -5 mm. 
The female is described by Heuglin as having the “ frontal region 
only tinged with ferruginous.” 
Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton ( vide Ibis, 1908, p. 77) has given a full account 
of the habits of this species as observed at Chirinda ; these habits seem to 
be much the same as those of C. lais ; the nests described by the same 
writer (vide Journ. S.A.O.U., Yol. 7, p. 14) seem also to resemble those 
of lais , and the eggs measure 17-18-5 X 12-12 -5 mm., varying in colour 
like those of all the Cisticolinae. 
Group IX — Cisticola natalensis. 
(1) Tail in summer about 70-80 % length of wing, in winter about 
100 % ; (2) first primary 55-65 % length of second ; (3) tail broad, stiff 
and shorter in summer, longer and not so stiff in winter ; (4) beak conical 
and very stout in slightly less so in 2, in length shorter than middle toe 
without claw ; (5) inner toe distinctly longer than outer, its claw reaching 
beyond the base of middle claw; legs and feet very stout; (6) middle 
claw long and sharp, half the length of toe ; (7) seasonal changes very 
marked both in plumage and length of tail. Inhabits open marsh country 
amongst scattered trees in tropical parts of the Ethiopian region ; voice 
harsh and unmusical. 
Journ. f. Orn., 1862, p. 40. 
