324 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species of Birds 
birds also the bill is pale ; and the irides vary somewhat in colour 
according to age, as in fact they do in all the Drymoecce. 
These birds frequent long grass in the more open country; 
their flight is comparatively strong; during the breeding-season 
they are fond of mounting high in the air, uttering at the same 
time a very loud and harsh chucking note; their food appears 
to consist of crickets and other good-sized insects. 
[Dr. Hartlaub, to whom I submitted the specimens here re¬ 
ferred to, remarks, “In spite of some difference in size and 
colour, I think that the two strong-billed Drymcecce are 6 and $ 
of the same species, very probably D. curvirostris of Sundevall; ” 
his description coincides (not too well) with the female speci¬ 
men.—J. H. G.] 
196. Drymceca natalensis, Smith. Natal Drymoeca. 
[Mr. Ayres sends a single specimen of this bird, but does not 
distinguish it as distinct from the succeeding species, from 
which, however, it, without doubt, specifically differs. Dr. 
Hartlaub remarks that the specimen sent is a “ very small one.” 
—J. H. G.] 
197. Drymceca leyaillantii, Smith. Le Vaillant's Dry¬ 
moeca. 
This species frequents long coarse grass in the valleys and on 
the hill-sides; its flight is tolerably strong, and it does not 
attempt to hide when disturbed, but at once takes wing. 
198. Drymceca aberrans, Smith. Aberrant Drymoeca. 
Male . Iris bright hazel; upper mandible of bill light brown; 
under mandible pale; nostrils large and oval; tarsi and feet 
pale. 
These Warblers are generally to be found amongst the high 
grass, which forms a dense cover on the edges of the woods. 
When disturbed, they flit and hop about the twigs and boughs 
of the adjacent bushes, uttering at the same time a weeping 
note, which much resembles the distant bleating of a goat; they 
seem to be particularly fond of the eggs of moths and small 
insects. Their flight is but weak. 
