2. PRINIA. 187 



Drymceca flavicans, Stiickl. ^ Scl. Contr. Oni. 1852, p. 148 ; Shnrpe, 



Cat. Afr. B. p. 29 (1871) ; id. ed. Laijard, B. S. Afr. p. 254, 



pi. viii. (1876) ; Sliellexj, Ibis, 1882, p. 53. 

 Drjmoica flavicans, Sundev. Krit. Framst. Levatll. p. 38 (1857) ; Gray, 



Hnnd-l. B. i. p. 108, no. 2761 (1869) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1869, p. 290 ; 



Gurney, in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 84 (1872). 

 Drymoica subflava {nee Gm.), Gurney, Ibis, 1862, p. 28. 

 Drjanoica ortleppi, Trisfr. Ibis, 1869, p. 207 ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. 



p. 200, no. 2803 (1869). 

 Drymceca subflava, Layard, Ibis, 1869, p. 366 («ec Gm.). 



Adult male. General colour above pale brown, a little deeper on 

 the crown, tbe feathers on the forehead above the eyebrow dark 

 brown ; rump slightly more fulvous-brown, the upper tail-coverts 

 rather rufous-brown ; tail pale brown, with dusky obsolete bars 

 across it, very indistinct, no darker subtcrminal spots, the feathers 

 having only rather lighter edges ; wings dark brown, the coverts 

 edged with ashy fulvous ; edge of the wing and the margins of the 

 bastard- wing plumes whitish ; quills externally edged with rufous- 

 brown, lighter towards their tips ; lores and feathers over the eye 

 dull white ; cheeks and ear-coverts also dull white, the latter 

 brownish on their hinder margins ; throat white ; across the breast 

 a broad band of dark brown ; rest of under surface pale yellow ; 

 thighs tawny ; under wing-coverts pale tawny buff; the quills ashy 

 brown below, edged with rufous along the inner webs ; " bill jet- 

 black ; legs and toes flesh-colour ; iris brownish yellow " (Anders- 

 son). Total length 5'7 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 2'05, tail 2-8, 

 tarsus 0*8. 



The adult female, as determined by Sir Andrew Smith, has 

 not so broad a black pectoral band, but is otherwise similar to the 

 male. 



Ohs. The variation in the black pectoral baud of this species has 

 given rise to much inquiry as to whether it is a seasonal plumage 

 or a sign of age. Sir Andrew Smith expressly states that the 

 young birds want the black band ; and this is no doubt correct. 

 The large series which I have examined show the following facts, 

 viz. that birds killed between April 19th and July 8th exhibit no 

 sign of the pectoral band, while those killed towards the end of 

 July (18th and 30th) show a slight trace of it ; on the other hand, 

 very faint remains of dusky markings are to be seen on examples 

 kiUed on the 12th and 16th of April as^vell as on one procured 

 on the 1st of September, while the band is most pronounced in 

 a bird shot on the 27th of March. All these dated specimens were 

 collected by that admirable naturalist the late Mr. C. J. Andersson ; 

 and they suggest that the black pectoral band is part of the summer 

 plumage, as it seems to be appearing in the Julj'-killed specimens and 

 to be disappearing in those killed in the middle of April. All the 

 specimens shot between April and the early part of July are in good 

 plumage, and are perhaps young birds in their first winter liverv : 

 they seem to have longer tails than the brooding birds, and their 

 colours are much richer, the general tone of the upper surface 



