of North-easteim Africa . 1 39 



brevicaudata, Hartl., Orii. Westafr. p. G2 ; Brehm, Habesch, 

 p.288(?). 



Supra ex olivaceo fumosa, pileo et stria transoculari pallidius 

 fuscescentibus ; superciliis pallide fulvidis ; iutcrscapulio, 

 tectricibus alarum et luarginc exteriore remigum Isete 

 olivaceo-virescentibus ; reuiigibus et rectricibus f'umosis, 

 his olivascenti-griseo lavatis, apice albido limbatis ; uropygio 

 medio albo; subtus sordide albida, pectoris lateribus oli- 

 vaceo cinerascenti-, abdomine medio et hypochondriis magis 

 fulvido-tinctis ; subalaribus albidis, marginem alee versus 

 laete flavis ; tibiis Iffite viridi-rutis ; subcaudalibus pure 

 albis; cauda latiuscula, paulo rotundata; rostro longius- 

 culo, nigricante, dimidio basali mandibulse pallide corneo ; 

 pedibus rubellis ; iride pallide hclvola. 

 Long. tot. 4=^", rostr. a fr. 6'", al. 1" 9i"'-2" 1'", caud. 1" 

 4|"'-1" 6'"; tars. 8|"'-9"'. 



The first primary about half as long as the second ; the rest 

 about equal ; the fourth and fifth a little longer. 



Somewhat similar in coloration to Sylvia umbrovirens, Uiipp. 

 The tail is not remarkably short j but the rectrices are rather 

 narrow at the base, and somewhat darker towards the tip than 

 in other parts. The whitish edge of the tip is often wanting. 



Cretschmar^s description and figure of this pretty and lively 

 little bird are very defective ; Brehm^s characteristics (Habesch, p. 

 288) also leave much to be desired. We found this species in 

 Kordofan and Sennaar, on the Bahr el Abiad, and throughout 

 Abyssinia, even to the northward in Takar, at elevations of from 

 1000 to 10,000 feet above the sea. It lives singly and in pairs 

 in low bushes, and glides nimbly through the most impenetrable 

 thickets, either looking out quietly for its food, or fluttering 

 from twig to twig, constantly opening and contracting its wings 

 and tail. Its call-note may be nearly imitated by " huid" or 

 ^'ter"; its song is loud and pealing, resembling that of the 

 Whitethroat rather than that of the little Willow-Wrens. 



It is called " Isa " among the Bogos ; and the natives, when 

 engaged in business, or on a campaign, carefully observe its 

 appearance, and draw omens from its meeting them on the 

 right or left side of their road, and from its call-note, as to the 

 issue of their undertakings. 



The coloration of the upper surface is variable. Vertex 



