situated in a concavity near the base of the upper mandible, and above membranous.
Wings rounded, and when folded reach beyond the first third of the
tail; the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, quill feathers nearly equal
and longest, the third rather shorter, the second considerably shorter than the
third, and the first rather more than half the length of the second; the
secondary and tertiary quill feathers nearly as long as the primaries. Tail
long and much graduated, the feathers slightly decomposed, the two middle
ones longest. Tarsi robust, anteriorly scutellated, posteriorly entire; toes
long and slender, the outer and middle ones united near the base, the hinder
toe longest; claws rather short, slender, and slightly curved, the claw of the
hinder toe longest.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the tarsus ............. ....... 0 10£
the tip of the tail .......... 5 . 8 of the outer to e......... ...... 0 i f
of the bill to the angle of the of the middle toe ..... ...... 0 5
0 7 |§
of the wings when folded ... 9. H ........ 0
of the tail .......................... 3 0
M a l e .— The male i s not known to me.
.So far as my experience goes this is a rare bird in Southern Africa, and the only individuals
which I have met were on the banks of the Oliphant’s River, about one hundred miles to the
north of Cape Town. It is generally found in thickets composed of high brushwood or dwarf
trees, in which it is seen flitting rapidly from branch to branch, apparently in quest of insects,
which constitute its food. When so employed it carries its tail rather above the line of the
back, and when it fancies it is perceived it generally remains tranquil for a time; but as soon
as all danger is supposed to be past, from no act of aggression being committed by the
individual who intrudes upon its retreat, it again betakes itself to search for food, and so
continues till it disappears in some distant part of the thicket.
DRYMOICA PALLIDA.—S m i t h .
A v es .— P la t e LXXII. F ig . 2 .
D. suprk pallide griseo-brraraea, flavo-brunneo lavata; gul&, gutture, pectoreque sordide albis; abdomine
subflavo; remigibus sordide griseo-brunneis, exteme flavo-brunneo marginatis; rostro colore comeo ;
pedibus flavis; oculis
Longitudo e rostri apiee ad basin caudee 2 unc. 7 lin.; caudee 3 unc. 4 lin.
C o lo u r .—Upper parts pale broccoli-brown, lightly washed with yellowish
brown, the head and upper parts of the neck lightest, the tail darkest; ear coverts
rusty white; chin, throat, and breast white, faintly tinged with wood-brown ;
belly and vent pale sienna-yellow. Bill a dark horn colour. Legs and toes
a clear buff-orange.
Form, &c.—Figure slender ; the tail long and much graduated. Bill
moderately strong, nearly straight, and compressed towards the point; culmen
near the tip considerably arched. Wings rounded, and when folded reach
about an inch beyond the base of the tail; the third, fourth, fifth, and
sixth quill feathers nearly equal and longest; the seventh rather shorter; the
second and eighth nearly of equal length and rather shorter than the seventh;
the first about half the length of the longest quill f e a th e r a l l the feathers
silky and slightly decomposed. Tarsi moderately strong, anteriorly scutellated,
posteriorly entire; toes rather short and strong, the outer one united to
the middle one near the base; claws slender, curved, and pointed, the one
arming the hinder toe longest and most curved.