Dr. G. Hartlaub on a New Genus of African Birds. 13*J 



XII. — On a New Genus of African Birds. 

 By GusTAV Hartlaub, M.D., For. Mem. Z.S., &c. 



(Plate VI.) 



Phlexis, gen. uov. 



CUAR. GEXER.: 



Rostrum rectum, mediocre, emarginatum, gracile, subulatura, 

 apicem versus cornpressuni, valde carinatum, gonyde di- 

 midio apicali adscendente ; setis rictalibus vix uUis; naribus 

 in fossa majore positis, operculo maguo fere clausis. 



Ala breves, caudse basin vix superautes, fornicate, dcbiles, 

 truncato-rotundatse, remige primo minimo, quarto et quiuto 

 subsequalibus omnium longissimis. 



Cauda elongata, valde gradata, mollis ; rcctricibus latiusculis, 

 scapis parum rigidis, ])ogoniis mollibus, subpellucidis, 

 quatuor intermediis aequilongis. 



Pedes satis robusti, tarsis antice scutellatis, digitis externis et 

 internis sequilongis. 



Ptilosis mollis, laxa; plumis tergi, uropygii et hypochondriorum 

 valde elongatis. 



Phlexis layardi, sp. nov. (Plate VI.) 



Supra olivaceo-fusca, cauda subrufescente ; subtus fulvo-ferru- 

 ginea; abdominc pallidiore, in colorem isabellinum vergente; 

 regione parotica conspicue cinerascente ; hypochondriis 

 dorsi colore adumbratis ; loris subrufesceutibus ; rostro 

 nigricante, niandibula ad basin pallida j pedibus dilate 

 brunneis. 



Long. tot. 5" 10'", rostri a fronte 5'", alse 2" 2'", caud.e 2" 9'", 

 tarsi 9"'. 

 Hah. Natal [E. L. Layard). 



The type of this very interesting and well-defined new 

 African form is Bradrjpterus victorini of Sundevall (Zoolog. 

 Anteckn, Victorin. p. 29) *, a rare and little-known bird, which 

 has hardly anything to do with the genus Bradijpterus of 

 Swainson, this latter having been originally formed for the 

 ''Pavaneur" of Levaillantf {Sylvia hrachijptera, Vieillot). 



* {_Cf. Ibis, 1861, p. 203.— Ed.] 



t The true " Pavaneur " of Levaillant being unknown to me, I wrote 

 for the specimen in the Berlin Museum, which Cabanis (Mus. Ilein. i. 

 p. 43) considers to belong to Levaillant's species, and which, judging 

 from his description, must be a female. This I have examined most 

 minutely, and have arrived at the following results : — The " Pavaneur " 



