long, and moderately strong ; claws slender, and slightly curved, the claw of
the hinder toe strong, long, and pointed.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the tarsus............. ___ 0 9
the tip of the tail .......... . 5 1 of the outer to e......... ...... 0 s i
of the bill to the angle of the of the middle toe ..... ...... 0 5f
mouth ......................... 0 M of the inner to e......... ...... 0 4*
of the wings when folded ... 2 • 3^ of the hinder toe......... ...... 0 gl
of the tail ................1........ 2 8
FEMALE|^-The colours the same as those of the male, only not so deep.
This species is rather widely distributed over South Africa. In the vicinity of Cape Town it
is not an uncommon bird, nor is it rare for at least some distance to the north of the Orange
River. I t resorts both to underwood and long grass, especially in situations where the latter is
closely set and strong; and it is found perhaps more frequently than any where else among
rushes or slender reeds in the neighbourhood of marshes, or upon the edges of streams. Its
food consists of insects, and in quest of these it flits quickly from spot to spot. Of the species
of this genus it is one of the least wild, and specimens are easily obtained when its resorts are
once discovered. Any unusual noise or appearance readily engages its attention, and leads it
to ascend to the top or outside of the material upon which it may happen to be perched, in
which position it is readily shot. It exhibits a slight peculiarity in respect of the length of the
toes: in most of the species of D rym o ic a the outer and inner toes are nearly of equal length;
in this one, however, the inner toe is nearly as long as the middle toe, and palpably longer than
the outer one.