314 Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
283. ClSTICOLA NATALENSIS. 
Summer dress—Z. Sibudeni, Nov. 1 (1) ; Jususie Valley, 
Dec. 1 & 6 (2) ; Ngoye Hills, Oct. 13 (1) ; P. Beira, 
Dec. 17, Jan. 27 (6). 
Winter dress— Z. Umfolosi Station, June 25, Sept. 7 
(10); P. Masambeti, Nov. 17 (1). 
This series shews very well the great difference in appear¬ 
ance in this species in winter and summer—in fact, no one 
would imagine the birds were the same species, so distinct 
are they. I suspect that the bird alluded to by Haagner 
(Ann. Transvaal Mus. i. p. 229) as C. strangei is nothing but 
the summer dress of C. natalensis ; indeed, I very much 
doubt if the true C. strangei of West Africa can be distin¬ 
guished from C. natalensis , except as a subspecies. 
The series also shews the great difference in size in the 
two sexes, a very characteristic feature. The wings of eight 
males average 70 mm., varying from 68 to 73, and of eight 
females average 58, varying from 55 to 61. 
[ u Nqojane ” of Zulus. 
I have only seen this large Grass-Warbler in Zululand 
and the Beira district of the Portuguese country. It is 
a conspicuous species, and cannot be easily overlooked. 
It frequents open marshy valleys and plains, and is par¬ 
ticularly plentiful in the low-lying country near Beira. It 
is usually seen perched on the top of some twig or bush, and 
utters a loud call, especially in the early morning and late 
afternoon. On being disturbed it flies round the intruder, 
uttering a single note, but at other times I have seen it soar 
to some height, usually from the top of a bush, to which it 
again returns. It feeds on insects and, to a certain extent, 
on grass-seeds. I have not taken the nest. 
The soft parts are :— 
Winter. Irides pale brown ; bill pale horn-coloured, round 
nostrils and along culmen darker; legs and toes amber- 
brown. 
Summer. Bill practically black, white-horn-coloured on 
hinder side of lower mandible; legs and toes darker than in 
winter.] 
