Mashonaland Birds . 
231 
33. Eremomela flaviventris. (Yellow-bellied Bush- 
Warbler.) 
Fairly common in the open forests, where it searches the 
trees for small insects, in company with the Tits and White- 
eyes, which it closely resembles in habits. 
34. Eremomela scotops. (Dusky-faced Bush-Warbler.) 
Common ; they occur in flocks of five to twenty individuals, 
and every now and then they commence a terrible hubbub, 
the whole flock apparently fighting and chasing one another 
round and round the trees with a harsh chattering note; in 
a few minutes the noise subsides, as they gradually settle 
down again to the business of insect-hunting, only to recom¬ 
mence quarrelling shortly afterwards. 
35. Prinia mystacea. (Tawny-flanked Grass-Warbler.) 
Fairly common, occurring occasionally among trees in thin 
bush as well as in the open grassy flats. The following is 
the description of the nest and eggs by Mr. Swynnerton :—- 
“ A neat domed nest, slung between the stems of two or 
three weeds at the water’s edge, after the fashion of the 
English Reed-Warbler, and built almost entirely of a fine 
downy water-weed and a few thin grass-blades. The cup, 
which is very deep, was lined with very fine grasses, and con¬ 
tained four eggs, two measuring 17x12 and tw r o 18x12 mm, 
The ground-colour of the eggs is pale salmon-buff’, marbled 
and clouded with a deeper shade of the same colour, with 
blotches and curious pencillings (chiefly in circles round the 
egg) of different shades of reddish brown, nearly reaching 
black in intensity in places. 
36. Cisticola ciNERAscENs. (Grey Fantail.) 
This species does not seem to be so plentiful as the other 
Fantails, and, as a rule, occurs only in the bush. 
37. Cisticola aberrans. (Smith's Fantail.) 
Obtained on the Umfuli river by the Jameson expedition. 
38. Cisticola terrestris. (Ground-Fantail.) 
Common in open grassy flats. In proportion to its size 
this bird has a decidedly stronger flight than any of its 
congeners; it will sometimes rise to a considerable altitude 
