of North-eastern Africa. 83 



3. Bradypterus cinnamomeus (Riipp.). 



Sylvia cinnamomea, Riipp., N. Wirbelth. Taf. 42, fig. 1. 

 Salicaria cinnamomea, Id., Syst. Uebers. No. 125, b. Calamoherpe 

 cinnamomea, Bp., Consp. Av. i. p. 286 ; Heugl., Syst. Uebers. 

 No. 188. 



Exolivaceo rufo-umbrinus, subtus pallidior,magis olivaceo-fulvus, 

 gula et abdomine medio albicantibus ; pileo, nucha et re- 

 gione pai'otica olivaceo-cano lavatis ; stria supraoculari 

 alteraque infraoculari et ciliis fulvescente albidis; macula 

 obsoleta anteoculari nigricante; scapis regionis paroticse ex 

 parte albidis ; remigibus fumosis, dorsi colore marginatis ; 

 alis brevibus rotundatis ; Cauda longa, valde graduata dorso 

 concolore at ex parte ferrugineo tincto et delicate fasciolato ; 

 scapis rectricum fuscis; rostro nigricante corneo, pedibus 

 cerino cornels ; iride pallide umbrina. 

 Long. tot. 6", rostr. a fr. ^\"'-^'", al. 2" 3"'-2" 6'", caud. 



2" 5"'-2" 9'", tars. 10"'-10i'". 



This species comes nearest to the South-African Bradypterus 

 hrachypterus {Sylvia hrachyptera, Vieill.), with which it agrees 

 in the slender bill, general coloration, the structure of the wings 

 and tail, as also in the soft dishevelled plumage. But in the 

 Abyssinian species the tail is still more graduated, and the tail- 

 coverts shorter. The first primary of the short, much rounded, 

 wings is about half as long as the fifth to tenth inclusive, 

 which are the longest ; the fourth a little shorter than the 

 fifth ; the second is somewhat shorter than the longest cubital 

 remiges. The feet are stouter than in S. hrachyptera, and the 

 bill a little shorter and stronger. One specimen has more of a 

 rusty-yellow tint than that described. 



As we ascend the high Alps of Semien, the Guna, or the 

 plateaux of Begemeda, Lasta, and the Galla country, the wan- 

 derer is greeted from a blooming bush of roses or Hypericum, 

 or from a thicket of Erica hung with long grey beards of 

 lichen, by the far-resounding, metallic-ringing song of this 

 little bird, which appears to be a permanent resident in Abys- 

 sinia ; at least we found it from December to the beginning 

 of the summer rains. It lives, by preference, concealed in 

 sunny bushy slopes, and in the bushes along icy torrents, in 

 which it glides to and fro like a Willow -Wren. It more rarely 



g2 



