of North-eastern Africa. 135 



28. Drymceca ferruginea. 



Cisticola femginea, Hcugl., Syst. Ucb. No. 163; Id., J. f. 0. 

 1861, p. 259. Drymceca troglodytes, Antiu., Cat. p. 38. 



(Plate III. fig. 2.) 



Minima; supra Isete cinnamomeo rufescens; subtus pallidius 

 rufescens ; gula et abdomine mediis albidis ; loris et stria 

 obsoleta superciliari fuscescenti-albidis ; reniigibus pal- 

 lide fumoso-fuscis, intus basin versus bepatico rufescente 

 marginatis ; secundariis pogonio externo tergsei colore, 

 leetius ferrugineo, primariis extus delicatius eodeni colore 

 marginatis ; tertiariis dorso concoloribus ; rectricibus fu- 

 moso fuscis, apicem versus magis nigricantibus, lateraliter 

 Isetius cinnamomeo rufo-, apice obsolete albicante margi- 

 natis, I medianis dorso masis concoloribus ; tibialibus Isete 

 rufis; subalaribus ex bepatico rufescentibus ; rostro ru- 

 bente-corneo, apice nigricante ; iride belvola ; pedibus ru- 

 bellis. 

 Long. tot. 3" 91'", rostr. a fr. 4^1'", al. 1" 7f"-l" 9'", caud. 

 1" 3V", tars. 7i"'-8"'. 



The outer and inner toes of equal length. The third and fourth 

 remiges are of equal length. Before the somewhat lighter apex 

 of the first four rectrices the dark spots peculiar to the genus some- 

 times appear, but they are observable only on the underside. Dr. 

 Finsch regards this species as identical with the much larger D. 

 uropygialis, Fraser (P. Z. S. 1843, p. 17), which, according to 

 the description, has a completely different coloration, light fer- 

 ruginous beneath, and a black band at the tip of the rectrices. 



We found this charming little bird in the year 1853 in the 

 country of the sources of the E,ahad and Dender, and afterwards 

 in abundance about the Djur and Kosanga rivers, in Central 

 Africa ; it is usually met with in pairs, and goes about in the 

 high gi-ass of the wooded steppe, and sometimes also upon 

 shrubs and dry branches. It climbs very actively, is exceedingly 

 lively and restless, showing in its behaviour much resemblance 

 to a Wren. The tail is frequently much elevated. The bird 

 rarely comes down upon the ground ; its call-note is a loud 

 buzzing chirp. Whether this species is a permanent resi- 

 dent, I cannot say. According to my notes, I observed it only 

 between the months of March and May. 



