140 Dr. G. Hartlaub on a New Genus of African Birds. 



On the other hand Bradyjjterus sijlvaticus of Snudevall [op. cit.) 

 seems to be a typical species of that genus ; but the B. brevi- 

 rostris of the same author is nothing but Catriscus apicalis of 

 Cabanis. The genus has been thrown into further confusion 

 by Lesson, who states, " I'Afrique nourrit trois Bradypteres, le 

 Pavaneur, le Coryphee et le Grivelin de Levaillant " ! and whose 

 Bradypterus ruficoccyx (Descr. Mammif. et Ois. p. 293) has " la 

 queue fourchue" !! 



What finally separates our new genus Phlexis from the Cala- 

 modytce, and more especially from the genus Bradijpterus, is the 

 great comparative length of the strongly graduated tail, the 

 very concave and very weak wings, the scutellated tarsi, and the 

 whole structure of the plumage. The great development of the 

 under tail-coverts in Bradypterus, and their still more wonderful 

 development in Catriscus, is entirely wanting in Phlexis. The 

 generic position of this last is with the Malurina; it stands be- 

 tween Drymoeca and Sphenceacus, and shows a very remarkable 

 affinity to the Australian form Drymodes. 



I should add that the form of the bill is very similar in Bra- 

 dypterus and Phlexis, but that it is more slender and more com- 

 pressed in the former, and that they differ very considerably in 

 the structure of the nostrils. 



The two known species of the genus Phlexis are therefore — 



(1). P. victorini (Sundevall). 



(2). P. layardi, Hartlaub. 



of the Berlin Museum and of Cabanis (probably also of Levaillant) is 

 neither a Cettia, as supposed by Cabanis, nor does it belong to my new 

 genus Phlexis ; but it comes nearer to the latter, from which, however, it 

 diflFers in its less slender and less subulate bill, in the structure of the 

 nostrils, in its longer, stronger, and less concave wings, in its much less 

 graduated tail, and, finally, in its longer and stronger tarsi and feet. The 

 plumage of the sides and back is also much longer, fidler, and softer in 

 Phlexis. In fact the " Pavanem* " is generically distinct from this last as 

 well as from Cettia, and stands in some respects intermediate between 

 them. Neither Phlexis nor the " Pavaneur " show the cm-ious develop- 

 ment of the under tail-coverts, which is very apparent in Cettia, and still 

 more so in the nearly allied form Catriscus. I abstain from applying a 

 new generic name to the " Pavaneur," but fear that it will ultimately be 

 necessary that this be done. 



