of North 'Oastern Africa. 81 



belonging to this group can, however, hardly be effected ; not- 

 withstanding the diflPerences in the size and form of the bill, and 

 of the rectrices, and the variations in the proportions of the 

 toes, all show a remarkable agreement in their general type, as 

 also in their mode of life. 



Genus Catriscus. 

 1. Catriscus apicalis (Lieht.) ; Cabanis, Mas. Hein. i. 

 p. 43, note; Sphenoeaciis alexinrp, Heugl., Journ. fiir Orn. 1863, 

 p. 166. 



Supra fuscescente cinnamomeus, occipite magis olivaceo ; su- 

 pracaudalibus purius fusco-tinctis ; subtus sordide albidus, 

 lateribus colli et pectoris, cruribus et regione anali ex 

 olivascente rufo indutis ; remigibus pallide fumosis, notaei 

 colore marginatis ; rectricibus et subcaudalibus fuliginoso- 

 fuscis, apice lato et conspicue,squamatim fulvescente albido 

 marginatis, his spadiceo adumbratis ; subalaribus albidis ; 

 maxilla nigricante, mandibula fulvescente cerina ; iride 

 umbrina ; pedibus fulvis roseo lavatis. 

 Long. tot. 5" 9'", rostr. a fr. 44"', al. 2" 1"', caud. 3" 1'", tars. 

 7j'", dig. med. cum ung. SV"*. 



The only bird of this species that I obtained in Central 

 Africa, and the sex of which could not be determined with cer- 

 tainty f, was stated by Herr 0. Finsch to be perfectly identical 

 with the South-African Catriscus apicalis. On comparison with 

 Lichtenstein^s original specimen, however, many not unim- 

 portant differences present themselves. It is decidedly smaller 

 than the South- African bird; the rectrices are broader and darker- 

 coloured ; the difference in length between the second and third 

 remiges is more considerable ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth remiges 

 are thelo ngest, and nearly equal in length ; the first is half as 

 long as the fourth. 



The bill of this well-marked form is shorter and stronger 

 than in the Reed-Warblers, rather somewhat laterally compressed 

 than depressed, but slightly curved, with a scarcely perceptible 

 notch at the rather sharp point ; between the eye and the 

 * Throughout this paper the measurements will be given in French 

 inches, r = 12"; r' = 12"'. 



t [In the author's original description of this specimen (J. f. O. loc. cit.) 

 it is marked " 5 "• — ^u.] 



N. S. — VOL. V. & 



