86 Dr. von Heuglin on the Malurinse 



its nesting-place the bird is not particular ; and we found the 

 nest in pomegranate-, cotton-, and tamarisk- bushes, upon low 

 mimosa-trees half-concealed in grass, and in thin hedges, in 

 gardens, and the immediate vicinity of buildings and the busy 

 noise of men, as well as in deserted solitary places, or in quiet 

 mimosa-groves. It resembles that of the Blackcap, consists of 

 fine grass, rootlets, horsehair, wool, and so forth ; occasionally, 

 but rarely, small twigs are interwoven in it. The structure is 

 slight and not very thick or artificial. The bird does not appear 

 to lay more than four eggs ; and I believe that it usually makes 

 two nests, even when the first is not disturbed. In coloration 

 the eggs have nothing in common with those of the Nightingale ; 

 they rather resemble those of certain Reed- Warblers, and of the 

 Wagtails. The young, as regards coloration, are scarcely dif- 

 ferent from the adults. The sides of the breast are shaded with 

 rusty-reddish, and indistinctly spotted. 



Although differing in many respects, I should arrange Aedon 

 next to the Maliirince. Dr. Hartmann states that he has ob- 

 served Aedon galactodes in Lower Egypt still singing at the end 

 of November, whilst at this season of the year the bird was 

 never met with by me north of the rainy limits. 



Found also on the Gold Coast (Mus. Stuttg.), and in Algeria 

 (Loche, Tristram). 



5. Aedon leucoptera (Riipp.). 



Salicaria leucoptera, Iliipp., Syst. Ueb. tab. 15 and No. 125, d; 

 Heugl., Syst. Ueb, No. 220 ; Bp., Consp. Av. i. p. 286. 



Saturate cinnamomea, subtus alba, regione mystacali et pec- 

 tore obsolete furaoso-canescente striatis ; hypochondriis 

 Isete ferrugiueo indutis ; capite supra cerviceque cauis, collo 

 laterali pallidiore ; stria anteoculari fuliginosa, altera super- 

 ciliari altera suboculari et ciliis albis; stria obsoleta mystacali 

 alba; alis nigricante fumosis, tectricibus et cubitalibus 

 conspicue et late albo marginatis; remigibus majoribus 

 pogonio interno basin versus albicantibus j subalaribus albo 

 et fumoso variis, rectricibus Isete cinnamomeo rufis, scapis 

 basin versus intense rufoflavis ; fascia rectricum apicali lata 

 obsolete nigro-fusca, prima secunda et tertia late albo ter- 

 uiinatis, })ogonio cxtcrno prinise, apicc albo excepto fumoso. 



