323 
from the Colony of Natal. 
This species is common here all the year round, but I think 
not immediately on the coast. 
They are generally to be seen two or three together, searching 
for insects, about the bushy valleys, and occasionally, though not 
often, alighting to rest on some dead bough. 
Their food consists of minute beetles and other insects. 
193. Catriscus apicalis, Caban. Fan-tailed Catriscus. 
Male. Iris light hazel; upper mandible of bill very dark ashy 
brown; under mandible light ash-colour; nostrils large and 
oval; tarsi and feet palish brown. 
These Warblers, which are not so common as some other reed- 
birds, are found amongst the rank grass and rushes that grow 
in swampy places. 
When they have been once flushed, it is a difficult matter to 
put them up a second time, as they creep away with great swift¬ 
ness amongst the stems of grass. Their notes are rather loud 
and somewhat harsh; their flight is weak, being seldom sustained 
for more than fifty yards. 
Their food appears to consist entirely of small insects. 
194. Sphenceacus africanus (Gmel.). Flute-voiced Sphe- 
noeacus. 
Male. Iris dark hazel; the upper mandible of the bill blackish 
brown, except the margin, which, with the under mandible, is 
ash-coloured ; tarsi and feet light ash-colour; nostrils oval and 
slightly tumid. 
This is also not a very common Warbler; it frequents much 
the same cover as the preceding species, but has perhaps a rather 
greater partiality to bushy underwood on the edges of the dense 
bush ; its flight is very weak, and it is difficult to drive it from 
its hiding-places; its food consists of insects. 
195. Drymceca curyirostris (Sundev.) ? Curved-billed 
Drymosca. 
Male. Iris light brown, bill horny; nostrils linear; tarsi 
and feet pale. 
The female appears to be smaller than the male, and has the 
bill pale, the ridge only being dark brown. In the immature 
z 2 
