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Birds of Southern Kamerun. 
2016. Calamocichla poensis. [Oto’o-Bisong.] 
Sharpe, Ibis, 1908, p. 318. 
The Buhi name of this bird and the scientific name of 
the genus mean almost the same, “Otok” being the name 
of some of the common Bulbuls, and cf bisong ” meaning 
“canes 5 '’ of the big cane-like grass Panicum maximum. Both 
names are appropriate, for the bird seems never to be seen 
or heard outside the thickets of this big grass, which grows 
ten feet high, with the stalks close together. In such 
places it may be heard, but seldom seen, until it flits about 
among the grass-stems to within a few feet of you, when, 
if you shoot it, it is of no use as a specimen. Its notes 
are peculiar, being uttered in a sort of ventriloquial voice, 
and sound like human conversation in an undertone ; 
sometimes they are sweet, reminding one a little of those 
of the Angokon [Cossypha ). 
2050. Prinia bairdi. 
Burnesia bairdi Sharpe, Ibis, 1908, p. 326. 
This is a lively little bird of the bushes and gardens 
about villages—lively in its movements, though generally 
silent. It is not always silent, however, for I have seen 
and heard it uttering a long succession of rapid notes 
without pause like Cisticola erythrops, as described above 
(see p. 67). When perched on a twig, this little Prinia 
lias a way of jerking up its long tail till it points forward, 
making an acute angle with its back. 
No. 1398 was shot in its nest, and No. 2538 was caught 
alive in its nest. Both the nests were brought to me torn 
from their setting, but I do not think that they were placed 
in a sack of leaves in the manner of Cisticola erythrops , 
but rather set in a great tangle of dried herbaceous vines. 
Both were made of dry strips of grass-leaves, with a lining 
of grass-tops—no down. They were deep, with one side so 
raised as to be partly roofed over, and were very large for 
the size of the bird. The eggs found in each nest numbered 
three. Those of one clutch all measured 17x12*5 mm.; 
those of the other, from 15 to 16 mm. long by 12*5 mm. broad. 
