Captain Shelley also observes In habits it is very lively, now
flitting for a short distance along* the path, then running fleetly
through the stunted bush, stopping at intervals and erecting and
expanding its tail, the white on the outer feathers contrasting well
with the dark sombre hues of its general plumage.”
General colour, cinereous, darkest on the crown of the head, and
tinged with rufous on the lower part of the back, wings, and two
centre tail-feathers ; beneath paler, with belly, vent, and a broad
stripe down the throat, white ; a narrow white stripe extends over
the eye j tail-feathers black, broadly tipped with white; bill and legs
black, iris dark brown. Length, 6' ; wing, 2" 9" ; tail, 2" .
Fig. Le Yaill. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 120.
238. A edon leuco phry s . White-eyebrowed Warbler.
Sir Andrew Smith states that this Warbler inhabits arid districts,
thinly covered with dwarf trees. Le Vaillant writes that he found
it on the borders of the Gamtoos, Sunday, and Swartkop Rivers,
among the mimosa bushes that fringe these streams. The male has
a moderate power of song, and the female deposits four or five light-
green eggs, spotted with brown, at the obtuse end, in a nest which
is placed in the midst of a thick bush. We have received it from
Rumman, and Mr. T. C. Atmore found it in some abundance at
Eland’s Post in the Eastern Province, and he says that “ it has a fine
mellow note or whistle, which it utters while perching on the summit
of trees or shrubs.” Mr. Buckley states that it is one of the commonest
Warblers in the Bamangwato district, and in the Transvaal,
writes Mr. Ayres, " these birds inhabit the bush, but appear to be
rather scarce. Their food consists of insects; and I noticed one
feeding on the ground. In habits they appear much to resemble the
Warblers.” According to Mr. Andersson, “ This is a pretty common
species in the middle and northern parts of Damara Land, and also
further to the northward, being very common near Ombongo.
During the pairing and breeding season it occasionally sings most
exquisitely; and it, moreover, has the power of imitating almost
every other bird to be found in its vicinity. It forms its nest, in
November and December, on the lower branches of small bushes,
rarely more tba.-n one or two feet from the ground; the nest is composed
of rough grasses, and is lined with material of the same kind,
but of a softer texture. The eggs are two in number.”
Senor Anchieta has forwarded it from Humbe, on the Ounene
river, where, he states, it is called by the natives " Pvria.”
Brown above; posterior part of back and rump, deep reddish-
orange; chin, middle of abdomen, and vent, pale cream-colour; breast
light sienna yellow, streaked with umber-brown; wing feathers edged
with greyish-white; eyebrows pale cream-colour; tail liver-brown, the
feathers rusty at their edges, and white at the tips, most visible on
the ohtside feathers, all but obsolete on the two centre ones. Irides
hazel. Length, 6” 3'" ; wing, 2" 9" '; tail, 3" 1'".
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 49.
239. A edon pcena. ■ Sir Andrew Smith’s Warbler,
Sir Andrew Smith, who discovered this species, does not indicate
the locality where he procured it, but we have received it from Mr.
Moffat at Kuruman. Mr. Ortlepp has also procured it near Coles-
berg, and.Mr. T. 0. Atmore met with it in Griqua Land in May,
1871. Mr. Buckley observes :—■/' Common throughout the north of
the Transvaal and in the Bamangwato district, where they may be
found along the banks of the sand rivers; they are very tame.”
We have recently received it from the neighbourhood of Potchefs-
troom, through the kindness of Dr. Exton of Bloemfontein, who
sent us four specimens. Mr. Ayres says that in the Transvaal they
are “ by no means plentiful; and the two I obtained were very shy
and difficult to approach. Their stomachs contained insects. This
species is found amongst thorn-trees and high grass, and when in
motion constantly jerks the tail, showing to advantage the broad
white tips of the feathers.” We extract the following note from
Mr. Andersson’s work : “ This bird is pretty generally distributed
over Damara and Great Namaqua Land and the parts adjacent. Its
habits are exactly like those of the preceding species; and I know
no birds which they both resemble so greatly in manner, habits,
food, &c. as those of the.genus Saxicola. The present species
spends much of its time on the ground and amongst the roots of
bushes; it runs with great swiftness, and raises and droops its tail in
quick succession, but does not expand it; at times it stands quite
vertically, with its whole body vibrating with excitement, whilst it
rapidly utters a succession of harsh, jarring chirps.
“ Two nests of this species, taken on the 5th and 6th of January,
contained two eggs each: the nests were composed of grass, and