130 Dr. von Heuglin on the Malurinae 



fifth remiges are the longest, the third but little shorter, the 

 first 8'", and the second 3 " shorter than the tip of the wing. 



This aberrant form lives in the low bushes of the rocky slopes 

 of Arabia Petrsea. We met with it between 2000 and 5000 

 feet above the sea-level. It appears singly and in pairs, alights 

 upon the ground not unfrequently, and hops away over the 

 boulders and rocks. It is a very lively and active bird, and 

 reminds one in its movements rather of the Phyllopneusta than 

 of the true Malurince. The song is somewhat like that of a 

 Titmouse ; the cal-note also is not unlike that of Parus cristatus. 

 During the morning especially, the melodious song of the males 

 sounds widely through the mountain solitude of their deserted 

 and lifeless abode ; during the heat of the day they are quieter. It 

 appears to be a permanent resident ; nevertheless we did not meet 

 with this species on the higher summits of the Sinaitic peninsula. 

 It probably occurs also on the other side of the Bay of Agabah. 



25. Drymceca pachyrhyncha, Heugl. 

 Drymceca valida, Heugl., J. f. O. 1864, p. 258. 

 Statura obtusa, rostro brevi, valido ; cauda lata, breviuscula, 

 minus graduata; supra pallide fuscescenti-cinerascens, plu- 

 mis medio obscurioribus, fuscescentibus ; tertiariis et rectri- 

 cibus fumoso fuscis, illis stricte sordide albicante margi- 

 natis, his basin versus obscurioribus, subtus magis canis, 

 ante apieem albidum fascia conspicua fuliginoso nigricante 

 notatis ; remigibus saturate fumosis, extus basin versus 

 rufescenti mai'ginatis, intus pallide fulvido limbatis; loris 

 sordide albidis ; area anteoculari obsolete nigricante ; 

 gastrseo ex fulvescenti-albido, hypochondriis ex olivaceo 

 cinerascenti-, tibiis magis rufescenti indutis ; gula et abdo- 

 mine medio purius albis ; rostro basi nigro, apieem versus 

 magis cserulescente corneo ; pedibus rubentibus ; iride 

 pallide umbrina. 

 Long. tot. 5" 1'" ; rostr. a fr. H'" ,y^- 2" 5'", caud. 1" 10'", 

 tars. vix. 1". 



The bill of this species, which is certainly very nearly allied 

 to D. fortirostris, Jard. and Fras. (Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 60), 

 and D. ncevia, Hartl. (Orn. Westafr. p. 56), is very robust, 

 short, and pretty strongly arched ; the feet are long and strong, 

 with the outer toe shorter than the inner one. 



