tail very short, and slightly graduated, two centre-feathers brownish-
red, the rest umber-brown, all edged with wood-browD, and the
three outermost broadly tipped with white. Length, 4"; wing,
1 "' 10^'"; tail, 1 " 1 '".
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Ares, pi. 74, fig. 1.
264. H em ipt ery x immaculata. Bulger’s Grass-Warbler.
This second species of “ Pinc-pinc ” was discovered by Major
Bulger, near Windvogelberg, and was described by Dr. Hartlaub, in
the “ Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1866” (p. 22). I t is
very like U. tectrix, but differs in having the under parts unspotted.
I t has been subsequently described and figured under the name of
Uemipteryx oligura by Dr. von Heuglin. (Ibis (2) v. p. 79, pi. iii.)
Above, rufous-olivaceus, variegated with fuscous; back of head,
back and rump, more rufous. Below, spotless, fulvous; throat and
middle of abdomen whitish; tail feathers brownish-black, with a
white terminal spot. Inner margin of webs pale. Under wing-
eoverts Isabella colour, feet and bill pale. Length 3” 10“ wing,
1" 9 '” ; tail, 9"'.
265. S phenceacus a fr ic a n u s . Pointed-tailed Grass-Warbler.
Drymoica africana, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 95 (1867).
This curious warbler is distributed throughout the whole colony,
preferring open country covered with low scrub or grass. Captain
Shelley obtained it at the Paarl in Cape Colony, and both Andersson
and Victoria shot it at the Knysna. Mr. Rickard procured it at
Port Elizabeth, and one specimen also at East London. Captain
Shelley shot it at Pinetown in Natal, and Mr. Ayres gives the following
note on its habits as observed by himself in the last named
eolony :—“ This is also not a very common warbler; it frequents
much the same cover as the preceding species, but has perhaps a
rather greater partiality to bushy underwood on the edges of the
dense bush ; its flight is very weak, and it is difficult to drive it from
its hiding-places ; its food consists of insects.”
Mr. T. E. Buckley has recently procured a male specimen during
his trip to Suaziland: it was killed on the 16th of June, 1876.
Captain Shelley says that “ it frequents the high grass and is difficult
to drive out of the thick covert it resorts to ; when on the wing it
flies low with a straight and even flight.” The wings in this species
are very small and weak, hardly enabling the bird to fly fifty yards.
If flushed more than once, it betakes itself to a clump of grass, or
bush, and will suffer itself to be taken with the hand rather than
rise again; for this reason it has acquired the name of “ Idle Jack”
and “ Lazy Dick.”
Mrs. Barber sends nest and eggs of this curious bird. The
former, usually constructed in the bottom of a bush, is a beautiful
structure, lined with feathers and hair. The eggs white, more or less
clouded (at the obtuse end chiefly) with very faint “ indian-ink”
spots or blotches. Axis, 11'"; diam. 7'".
Upper parts rufous, deepest on the head and rump, inclining to
grey on the fore part of the back, and everywhere marked with
very dark-brown, broad streaks down the centre of the feathers :
these are nearly obsolete on the head, but extend along the centre
of the tail-feathers: under parts, uniform light Isabella-coloured,
everywhere mottled with dark black-brown streaks, most evident on
the flanks; “ beak grey, inclining to black towards the culmen ; legs
grey; iris hazel” (Shelley). Length 8" 9'"; wings, 3"; tail, 4".
Fig. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 112, fig. 2.
266. A palis tho rac ica . Bar-throated Warbler.
Drymoica thoracica, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 93.
This warbler is generally distributed all over the colony. We
procured specimens in considerable numbers at Plettenberg’s Bay
(on the southern side of the colony), in the wooded ravines and
deserted gardens in which the brushwood had sprung up. They
hunted incessantly after insects, gliding about among the branches,
peering up at the under sides of the leaves or thick branches, and
darting up at the small insects which sought concealment in such
situations.
Swellendam has furnished us with several specimens; it is also
abundant at Nel’s Poort, and all along the rivers in that part of the
Karroo; and we likewise saw a pair which evidently were nesting in
the rank herbage and scrub which line the crater of the minute
volcano from which issue the hot springs of Caledon.
Captain Shelley says that he met with several specimens creeping
about the stunted bushes while on the way to Ceres. Victorin
procured it at the Knysna from April to September, and Mr.
Rickard has noted it from Port Elizabeth. Mr. Thomas Ayres gives