figured. Wings rounded, and when folded reach nearly to the commencement
of the second third of the tail, the third, fourth, and fifth quill feathers
equal and longest, the second and sixth a little shorter, the first about half
the length of the longest. Tarsi rather robust, scutellated anteriorly, entire
posteriorly ; toes rather long and slender ; claws rather delicate, slightly
curved and pointed, the claw of hinder toe the strongest.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the tarsus............
the tip of the t a i l ......... 5 4 of the outer toe . . . .
of the bill to the angle of the of the middle toe . . . ----- 0 41
mouth.......................... 0 of the inner toe. . . . . ----- 0 3
of the wings when folded . j 2. • 0 of the hinder toe. . . . . . . . 0 3 '
of the. tail . . . . . .............. 2 3
M ale.—Not known.
This bird occurs in various districts of the Cape Colony, and is either found upon brushwood
or among rushes or reeds. It feeds upon insects, and, like others of the genus, flits generally
from branch to branch or from reed to reed in quest of its food.