mandible pointed and towards the tip inclined obliquely upwards, its lower
edged slightly arched ; a few strong rigid bristles at the angle of the mouth.
Wings roundish, very short, and when folded reach but a very short way
beyond the base of the tail, the fourth, fifth, and sixth quill feathers longest
and nearly equal, the third and seventh equal and slightly shorter, the second
considerably shorter, and about the length of the secondaries, the first much
shorter than the second. Tail long and graduated, and the feathers somewhat
pointed. Tarsi short and moderately strong, anteriorly scutellated,
posteriorly entire. Toes rather slender and free, the outer slightly longer
than the inner one, and both considerably shorter than the middle one;
hinder toe short and strong. Claws of anterior toes rather slender, pointed,
and slightly curved; claw of hinder toe long, strong and much curved.
DIMENSIONS.
In ch e s. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to
the base of the tail . . . . . 3 A 6
of the ta il............................ 4 0
of the bill to the angle of the
mouth ............................ 0 9#
of the wings when folded . . . 3 0
Male.—Colours not known.
In ch e s. Lines.
Length of the tarsus....................... 1 0
of the outer toe................... 0 5
of the middle toe................. 0 6&
_ of, the inner toe................... 0 4^
of the hinder toe . . . . . . . . 0 3£
The only specimen of this species which I have seen was shot to the northward and eastward
of Kurrichane between 24° and 25° south latitude. During the time which elapsed from
its being observed till it was killed, it flitted about with great celerity from twig to twig, and
from bush to bush, but manifested no inclination or intention of leaving the dense thicket in
which it was discovered. Its food was found to have consisted of insects, and in that respect
as well as in its manners generally, it had a marked resemblance to T . e rythropterus and
longirostris, the two species of the genus which are not uncommon in certain districts of the
Cape colony.
H U H