81 
Expedition to the Zambesi River. 
in the great slabs of rock. Neither bird uttered any note, 
while flight was seldom resorted to, the wings now and again 
being simply opened with a jerky movement while running, 
but sufficiently to show the remarkable white spots on the 
inner webs of the primaries. The favourite haunt of this 
species appears to be rocky places overgrown with bush, close 
to running water. The next day we were unable to continue 
our search after the male bird, as the expedition moved on, 
greatly to our disappointment. 
Adult ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 9*9 inches, 
wing 4'43. Iris hazel. Contents of stomach, beetles and 
small portions of lizards and grasshoppers. 
92. Lusciniola gracilirostris (Hartl.). 
This species is the only resident Reed-Warbler in the 
Zambesi region. From the mouth of the Shire river (where 
the bird is also a resident) and onward along the Zambesi 
it may be found on the islands overgrown with fish-cane, and 
in extensive reed-beds, but it cannot be called common. 
On July 25, near Senna, we discovered a nest, ready for 
eggs, built between three stems of fish-cane and about six feet 
from the ground. It was a compact structure of a cup-shaped 
form, composed of fine dried reed-blades and lined with grass- 
stalks. 
The song of this Reed-Warbler is identical with that of 
Calamocichla brevipennis (Ibis, 1898, p. 83), but the alarm- 
note, a harsh churr/’ is somewhat louder. 
The song is generally to be heard towards evening, and 
especially after rain has fallen, when the favourite localities 
in the reed-beds become filled with their melodious notes. 
Immature ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 5’56 inches, 
wing 2*28. Iris brown ; upper mandible brown, lower light 
horn-colour; legs and feet lead-colour. 
Adult S • Total length (measured in flesh) 6 inches, wing 
2*63. Iris hazel; upper mandible brown, lower horn-colour, 
brownish at tip ; legs and feet brownish black ; throat orange. 
Adult $ . Wing 2’4 inches : upper mandible brown, lower 
yellowish horn-colour. 
SER. VIT.— VOL. VI. 
G 
