Vertebrata. Zoological Collections, 169 



size relatively to that of the bird. I could only attribute this fatal increase 

 of vermin to the old birds having been prevented from cleaning out the 

 abode of their family. 



" Poultry which run about in stony or paved yards, wear away the points 

 of their claws by friction and digging, which renders them unfit to penetrate 

 their coating of feathers ; they are, therefore, more covered with vermin, 

 and in -consequence more sickly, than fowls from the country." 



New Species of Birds from Northern Africa, Described and Figured by Dr 

 Riippell. — In a former number, (p. 41, supra,) we gave a list of the new 

 species of Mammalia, published in Riippell's Atlas zur Meise im Noerdlichen 

 Africa, and we proceed now to the Birds. This part, though the species 

 were published irregularly in diiferent numbers, forms a separate volume, 

 and contains 36 plates. The following species are new: — 



1. Falco rufinus, (pi. 27.) Capite et toto gastraeo laete ferrugineis, 

 maculis x)blongis umbrinis plumarum ; dorso, tectricibus et braccis ex 

 nigro umbrino et ferrugineo variis ; remigibus umbrinis ; cauda elongata, 

 supra ex albo cinerea, ad apicem rufescente lineis duabus undulatis nigris, 

 infra alba ; ceromate et pedibus citrinis. — Total length, 1 foot, 8 j inches. 

 Inhabits Upper Nubia, Schendi, Sennaar, and Abyssinia ; frequents culti- 

 vated districts, preying on the smaller rodentia. 



2. Ixos leucocephalus, described and figured under the name of Turdoi- 

 des leucocephala, (pi. 4.) Rostro nigro, capite albo ; alis caudaeque color 

 umbraceus, qui plumis laxis nuchae auchenii et interscapulii dUutior. Gas- 

 traeo e fusco candicante ; gula maculis albescentibus varia Length, from 



point of beak to end of tail, 9 inches. The young are distinguished by a 

 white head, spotted with brown, and by the absence of white spots on the 

 fore part of the neck. Inhabits Sennaar j common near Welled-Medina, 

 Feeds on insects. 



3. Ixos plebeius, (pi. 2.3.) Rostro nigro, corpore supra umbrino, gula alba, 

 jugulo et pectore fuscescentibus, plumis maculis albis terminatis, abdomine 



ex fusco candicante Total length, 8^ inches. Inhabits Kordofan, where 



it is only found in winter. Feeds on plants and worms. 



4. Malurus damans, (pi. 2, male. ) Fronte et vertice ex albo nigroque 

 variegatis ; corpore supra helvolo ; infra subtlavo ; tectricibus nigris, albo 



limbatis Inhabits Nubia, along the woody banks of the Nile. Entire 



length, 4 inches. 



5. Malurus gracilis, (pi. 2, male.) Corpore supra excinereo olivascente, 

 subtus albescente ; in pileo, cervice et dorso maculae oblongae, obsolete fuli- 

 ginosae Total length, 4 inches. Inhabits Egypt and Nubia. An unco- 

 loured figure of this species is published in the Atlas of the Description de 

 VEgypte, Oiseaux, tab. 5, fig. 4, 



6. Malurus squamiceps, (pi. 12.) Corporis colore fabarum coffese natural! ; 

 plumis capitis rigidioribus maculae oblongae nigra?, illis dorsi et gastraei fuli- 



ginosis ; gula alba Total length, 9 inches ; length of the tail, 4 inches, 



9 lines ; of the beak, 1 inch. Inhabits Akaba, where it is found in the 

 month of May in the Mimosa woods. It feeds on insects. 



7. Malurus Acacice, (pi. 18.) Corpore coloris ex ochraceo isabellinij 

 capite cinerascente, obsolete fusco-striolato ; gula alba, rostro pedibusque 



flavis Length, from the crown of the head to the end of the tail, 8^ inches. 



Inhabits Nubia, and Kordofan, in the Acacia woods. 



8. Caprimulgus infuscatus, (pi. 6.) Corporis colore ex fusco rufescente; 

 plumis omnibus striis subtilibus nigris undulatis ; gula, fascia mentali, eaque 

 remigibus, rectricibus duobus externis albis. — Length, from the point of the 

 beak to the end of the tail, 7 inches, 8 lines. Inhabits Nubia. 



9. Emheriza striolata, (pi. 10.) Capite et dorso rufescentibus, nigro 

 striolatis ; taenia superciliari, infraorbitali, et mentali albis ; alis caudaque 



VOL. III. y 



