Expedition to the Zambesi River. 75 



81. Camaropteka sundevalli (SLarpe). 

 We obtained our two specimens near Tete. 



C. brevicaudata appears to take its place on the higher 

 reaches of the river. 



Adult ^ . Total length (measured in flesh) 4*68 inches, 

 wing 1"95. Iris orange ; upper mandible brown, lower light 

 horn-colour ; legs and feet flesh -colour. 



82. Sylviella pallida. (Plate I. fig. 1.) 



Sylviella pallida Alexander, Bull. B. O. C. viii. p. xlviii. 

 This species is closely allied to S. tninima Grant (see 

 below, p. 156), which in my original description of the present 

 species (/. s. c.) I erroneously called " S. leucopsis Reichen." 

 Under these circumstances I have thought it advisable to 

 figure both species in the accompanying Plate for com- 

 parison. The British Museum possesses a male and female 

 of S. minima from the island of Manda, B. E. A., with 

 which we have compared our specimens. From these 

 birds the Zambesi specimens difi'er in the following par- 

 ticulars : — The upper parts are uniform grey, not washed 

 with greenish ; superciliary stripes, chin, throat, cheeks, and 

 fore-neck, as well as the middle of the breast and belly, are 

 white, tinged with buff", the sides and flanks more distinctly 

 washed with the same colour. The bill, which is larger, is 

 black, not brown. 



Adult. Culmen 0"45 inch, wing 2"3, tail I'O, tarsus 0'7o. 

 Iris straw-colour; legs and feet light brown. 



Note.' — We seldom observed this elegant Sylviella. It is 

 shy and retiring by nature, keeps much to thick undergrowth 

 coating stony ground near the river, and is particularly fond 

 of frequenting acacia-growth, from which it seems to gather 

 an abundant supply of insect-food. It is interesting to 

 watch this bird threading its way through the maze of twigs 

 and branches, always examining one bush thoroughly before 

 passing on to the next, now hanging Tit-like from some 

 pendent twig, the next moment to run in mouse-fashion 

 along the branch, looking very like a miniature Nuthatch. It 

 is a silent bird, but now and again, when a pair are together, 

 the male will keep in touch with the female by uttering a 



