measures as follows; Total length 4*8 indies, culmen 0 5o3 wing 2 Oo,
tail 2*3, tarsus 0*85.
241. D rymceca substr iata. White-breasted G-rass-Warbler.
After much consideration we have come to the conclusion that
this species is distinct, both from D. maculosa, and D. flavicans.
I t resembles the latter in wanting the sub-terminal black spot to the
tail-feathers, but it differs from it in being white below with rufous
flanks; the breast is very narrowly streaked with black. Sir
Andrew Smith met with but few of these birds, and those only on
the banks of the Oliphant River, about one hundred miles north of
Cape Town. They were usually found in thickets composed of high
brushwood or dwarf trees, in which they were seen rapidly flitting
from branch to branch, apparently in quest of insects, which constitute
their food.
Mr. Atmore procured this species, with its nest and eggs, at
Traka; the latter are white, with the faintest tinge of green, marked
with large blotches of dark and light-brown : axis 8 ; diam. 5 t ;
We have also received it from Mr. Ortlepp at Colesberg.
The following is a description of the typical specimen in the
British Museum. Above light rufescent brown, more dusky on the
forehead; least and median wing-coverts washed with grey; rest
of the coverts and secondaries externally of the same rufous brown
as the back, the primaries dull brown with narrow margins of paler
brown; tail uniform brown; lores dull white,; round the eye a
distinct ring of white feathers; ear-coverts washed with light
brown; sides of neck greyish; cheeks, throat, and under parts dull
white, the sides of the body washed with fulvous, the lower flanks,
thighs, and under tail-coverts tawny buff; the breast narrowly
streaked with dark brown down the centre of each feather; under
w i n g - c o v e r t s dull white, as also the edge of the wing; quills ashy
brown below, buffy whitish along the edge of the inner web; bill
dark horn colour; legs, toes, and claws pale buff-orange, the latter
brown at the point. Total length 5*5 inches, culmen 0 5, wing 2 15,
tail 3*1, tarsus 0*85.
Fig. Smith, Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 72, fig. 1.
242. D rymceca ocularia. Rufous-eared Grass-Warbler.
This is one of the most distinct species of Drymceca, and it may
be distinguished by its rufous-brown back, broadly streaked with
black, and by its bright chestnut eyebrow and ear-coverts. Sir
Andrew Smith writes :—et This bird has a rather extensive range in
South Africa, being found, though sparingly, among the brushwood
in the northern districts of the Cape Colony, and between those and
the Tropic of Capricorn. It feeds upon insects; and, in quest of
them, it is to be seen flitting from branch to branch in the most arid
and barren situations.” Yictorin procured it in the Karroo in January
and February, and we have ourselves found it in one particular
locality near Mr. Jackson’s residence at Nel’s Poort, Beaufort. Mr.
Ortlepp says that it is plentiful on all the flats near Colesberg. We
have received several specimens from Kuruman, and we observed it
ourselves on the road between Grahams Town and Table Farm. Mr.
T. C. Atmore has sent us specimens from Hope Town, and the
following note is taken from Mr. Ayres’ paper on the birds of
the Transvaal:—“ There is very little difference in plumage between
the sexes; but the rufous patch on the cheeks is much lighter in the
female than in the male. I first met with this species amongst the
low bushes on the banks of the Vaal river, and between that and
the Hartz, where they were pretty plentiful, hopping briskly about
amongst the thickets, with the active habits common to most birds of
this genus.”—The Editor possesses a pair of specimens obtained by the
late Mr. Andersson on the Hountop River in Great Namaqua Land,
and the same gentleman writes :—“ This species is very sparingly
found in Damara Land, but is more common in some parts of Great
Namaqua Land. I t is generally met with singly or in pairs; and it
is usual to find it amongst the most arid scenes, hopping slowly
about amongst the branches of low bushes in search of insects.”
In its method of flight and in its search after food it exactly
resembles the common species D. maculosa. Its nest is also similar,
and the eggs are pale blue unspotted: axis, 6'" ; diam., 5” '.
The following description is that of the type-specimen in the
British Museum.
Adult Male.—Above sandy brown, very distinctly striped with
black on the back, less plainly so on the head, which is rather darker
brown; wing-coverts dark brown margined with dull sandy, the
quills also dark brown narrowly margined, in the same manner as the
coverts; rump and upper tail-coverts exactly the same as the back,
the mesial streaks rather broader on the latter; tail deep brown,
s