THE BIRDS OF LIBERIA 721 
Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus (Linné). Willow Warbler 
Motacilla trochilus Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 188, 1758: England. 
A small olive-green warbler varying to olive brown above with a touch of yellowish green 
on the rump; stripe from nostril over and behind the eye yellowish; lores black; chin, throat, 
breast and belly whitish more or less streaked with lemon yellow; under tail-coverts pale yellow. 
Like the preceding, a European species, wintering in Africa, this warbler 
seems to be uncommon in Liberia, perhaps avoiding the forested areas. The 
only record is of a specimen taken at Monrovia by Stampfli (Biittikofer, 1886, 
p. 252). Kemp (1905) has recorded it from the interior of Sierra Leone at Bo, 
in February. 
Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Linné). Reed Warbler 
Turdus arundinaceus Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 170, 1758: Sweden. 
Size of a song sparrow, 7.5 inches; above grayish brown washed with rusty yellow, lores dark, 
eyebrow stripe white or buffy; below white, belly and under tail-coverts washed with rusty yellow; 
wings and tail dark brown edged with pale brownish. 
Breeding in middle and southern Europe, and wintering in Africa south to 
Natal, this is apparently a rare species in the forested country of western Africa. 
The only record is that of Biittikofer (1885, p. 172) who mentions a bird that 
wintered at Robertport, near Cape Mount. It was first seen November 26, and 
daily sang from among some long reeds in stony ground. Its sprightly song and 
its attachment for this one locality so impressed this naturalist that he could 
not bring himself to kill the bird. Finally, however, a few days before New 
Year’s, he decided to collect it, but found the bird had left. No others were seen. 
Prinia mistacea melanorhyncha (Jardine and Fraser). Grass Warbler 
Drymoeca melanorhynchus Jardine and Fraser, Contrib. Orn., 1852, p. 60: Abomey, Dahomey. 
Like a small Cisticola (4.5 inches long), but tail more graduated, the outermost feather about 
the tarsus-length shorter than the longest; above olive brown, a short yellowish or whitish eyebrow 
stripe; chin white, belly, flanks, and tibiae washed with ochraceous buff; bill black, iris yellow- 
brown. Africa south to Orange River. 
Clearing and cultivation with the destruction of forest and the succeeding 
growth of shrubs and thickets have no doubt been favorable for the increase and 
spread of this little warbler in Liberia. It is especially characteristic of the weedy 
tangles along the borders of rice-fields or in abandoned clearings and even the 
backyards of the larger towns. Its simple song, consisting of a repetition of three 
to five loud quits, is frequently given, especially in the early hours of the day. 
On the Du River, where heavy forest had lately been cleared and bushy growth 
was springing up on the edge of the Firestone rubber plantation, these little 
birds had already moved in. Biittikofer mentions finding nests at Robertport, 
October 26, fastened to leaves by sewing. 
