136 Dr. von Ilenglin un the Maluiinje 



Genus Hemipxeuyx, Swainson. 

 29. Hemipteryx oligura, Heugl.* 



Cisticola brumnescens, Heugl., J. f. 0. 1862, p. 289; ''Hemi- 

 pteryx immaculata, Hartl./' Sclater, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 22. 

 (Plate III. fig. 3.) 



Pileo subconcolore canescenti-cervino, cervicis pluinis medio 

 dilute et obsolete fuscescentibus ; macula nigricante inter 

 oculum et rictnm ; notseo fuliginoso nigricante; inter- 

 scapulii plumis rufescenti-fulvo-, tectricibus alarum sordide 

 fulvescenti-marginatis ; uropygio Isete cinnamomeo-fulvo, 

 vix fuliginoso striato ; rtctiicibus et supraceiudalibus nigro- 

 fuscis, sordide at conspicuc fulvescenti-albido marginatiss, 

 illis apice abrupte albido limbatis ; gastrseo genisque ful- 

 vescenti-albidis ; subalaribus, hypocbondriis et tibiis Isete 

 ocbraceo-indutis ; pectoris lateribus area conspicua fuligi- 

 noso nigricante notatis; primariis pallide fumosis, secun- 

 dariis magis fuscis, bis extus basin versus rufescente-, illis 

 pogonio externo delicate et strict e albido marginatis, om- 

 nibus intus basin versus bepatico fulvescente limbatis ; 

 rostro fusco, mandibula pallidiore ; iride belvola ; pcdibus 

 rubello cerinis. 

 Long. tot. 3" 6'", rostr. a fr. 4-8'", al. 2" l"'-2" 2'", caud. 

 1" 3'", tars. 9"'-10"'. 



A remarkably squat form. Bill robust; tarsi long and strong; 

 the very short tail is not really graduated, the narrow, whitish 

 edge of the tip is sharp, broader on the lateral than on the me- 

 dian rectrices, nowhere more than 1'" broad ; there is no black 

 spot before the tip of the rectrices ; their blackish-brown 

 ground-colour extends uniformly from the base to the edge of 

 the tip ; the upper tail-coverts are of the same colour, not di- 

 shevelled, and finely but sharply margined with clear greyish- 

 yellowish white; the rusty colour of the rump is sharply divided 

 from them ; the fir^t primary is 13'" shorter than the tip of the 

 wing, the third and fourth are the longest, although but little 

 longer than the second, fifth, sixth, and seventh. 



We had only once the opportunity of observing this bird in 

 freedom ; and this vias upon pasture land near Gudofelasi in the 



* [Our contributor does not state on what grounds lie supersedes tlie 

 name by wliicli he first described this species. — Ed.] 



