This species may shortly he described as similar to 0. jardinii,
but much smaller and differing in having the region of the eye
blackish, the cheeks uniform greyish-brown, and all the feathers of
the crown and neck tipped with grey. Total length, 7'8 inches ;
culmen, 0-8; wing, 3'85 ; tail, 3-85 ; tarsus, T25.
196. C r a t e e o fu s h a r t la u b i. Hartlaub’s Babbling-Thrush.
I This species was discovered by Senor Anchieta at Huilla in
Mossamedes and he has also procured it at Gambos in the same
district and at Caconda in Benguela. Mr. Andersson met with it on
the River Cunene, where he procured two specimens on the 25th of
June, 1867.
The present bird may be described as very similar to G. melanops,
but easily recognisable from this and every other brown Babbling-
Thrush of Southern Africa, by its white rump. Total length, 93
inches; culmen, 085; wing, 4‘5 ; tail, 4-5; tarsus, T5.
197. C ea t e eo pu s melanops. Dark-faced Babbl ng-Thrush.
Mr. Andersson discovered this Babbling Thrush in Damara
Land, and gives the following description of its habits :—“ I have
only met with this bird in the northern district of Damara Land,
and in the parts adjacent towards the north and east; there it is
common, and, when not too much disturbed, becomes quite familiar
with man. During my encampment in the desert, on my return
from the Okavango, there was scarcely a day that a family of these
birds did not pay me a visit, coming quite close to my tent,
searching for insects amongst the débris, and especially attaching
themselves to my cook’s establishment. The favourite resorts of
this species are tangled brakes, where it restlessly hops about
amongst the bushes, gradually descending to the ground, exploring
on the way, and searching about the roots and amongst the fallen
dry leaves for insects and their larvæ. It is gregarious in its
habits ; and several of its nests are frequently found on the same
bush or in the immediate neighbourhood of each other. The nest is
firmly constructed of fine twigs lined with some Softer materials.
The eggs are of a greenish-blue colour, smooth at the extremities,
but quite rough on the central parts, with numerous little tubercles.”
General colour above brown, with obsolete lighter edgings to the
feathers, the wings-and tail much darker brown; the lower back,
rump, and upper tail-coverts inclining to sandy brown, the latter
darker; crown of head, sides of face and throat hoary grey, the
feathers tipped with the latter colour, the grey colour especially
distinct over the eye and on the ear-coverts; lores and plumes
below the eye black; plumes of the throat and fore-neck brown,
margined with hoary grey; rest of under surface of body pale
fulvous brown, inclining to white near the vent; thighs and under
wing-coverts brown. Total length, 9'5 inches; culmen, 0*9; wing,
4'4; ta il4 '7 ; tarsus, 1'4.
198. A e th o c ic h la gymnogenys.* Bare-faced Babbling-Thrush.
This handsome species was described by Dr. Hartlaub from a
specimen obtained by Mr. Monteiro in Benguela, and Senor
Anchieta has procured it at Capangombe in Benguela and in
Mossamedes. Mr. Monteiro says that they were “ common at Novo
Redondo and Benguela in the thick wood and under brush, flying
in small flocks, and most discordantly noisy.”
Adult.—Crown of head and nape white; hinder neck and the
sides of the same tawny rufous; upper surface of body dark brown,
with indistinct rufous-buff edgings to the feathers inclining to
whitish on the outer wing-coverts; wings blackish brown; lower
back greyish brown; rump white; upper tail-coverts brown with
greyish tips; tail blackish brown; sides of face, region round the
eye and ear-coverts, bare; cheeks and chin white; rest of under
surface creamy white; the sides of the body, under wing-coverts,
and inner webs of quills, tawny rufous; the throat and fore-neck
with transverse bars of dusky brown. Total length, 9-3 inches;
culmen, 0'9; wing, 4'2 ; tail, 4'3; tarsus, 1'25.
199. N eocichla g ut tu ral is. Anchieta’s Babbling-Thrush.
[The present bird was described by Professor Barboza du Bocage
as a Grateropus, but he pointed out at the time that it was rather an
* Although described as a Grateropus, it seems to me advisable to institute
a distinct genus for this bird on account of its naked face, a most prominent
character.—JB. B. S.