84 BIRDS OP SOUTH AFRICA. 



tile gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed 

 in a broad groove, with the opening linear, and closed by a 

 membranous scale ; wings moderate, and rather pointed, 

 with the lirst quill wanting ; the second nearly as long as the 

 third and fourth, which are equal and longest ; tail short and 

 even ; tarsi longer than the middle toe, strong ; toes 

 moderate ; the outer one rather longer than the inner, and 

 united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws 

 moderate, compressed, and curved. 



144. Diceum Rufescens. (Vieii) Syivieita Rw 



fescens, Vieil. ; Lesson, Vol. 2, p. 19; Le Crombec, 

 Le Vail, PI. 135 ; Nedarinia Ruhracana, Temm, 

 Certhia Erythropygia, Lath. 



Upper parts, brownish- grey ; all the lower parts reddish, 

 deepest on the vent ; bill long and curved, clear-brown ; legs 

 rather more red. 



Le Vaillant found this bird about the banks of the Orange Eiver, in 

 Great ]S^amaqualand, among the mimosa trees, amid the branches of 

 Tvbich it hops in search of insects. 



I have received specimens from Graaff-Reinet, Colesberg, Hope 

 Town, Damaraland, and Swellendam. At this latter place, Mr. 

 Atmore informs me : " It is not uncommon, creeping about the decay- 

 ing fences, like our English hedge-sparrow. 



The Third Tribe, DENTIROSTRES, or 

 Tooth-billed Birds, 



embraces a numerous series of birds, that have the tip of tho 

 upper mandible more or less emarginated and hooked ; tha 

 tarsi vary in length, but are mostly slender, and covered 

 with broad scales ; the toes generally long, with the outer toe 

 more or less united to the middle one at the base. 



The First Family, LUSOINID^, or 

 Warblers, 



have the bill subulate, more or less slender and straight, with 

 the tip of the upper mandible curved and emarginated ; tho 

 base sometimes broad, but the sides always compressed 

 towards the tip ; the nostrils basal, and placed in a mem- 

 branous groove, with the opening exposed ; the wings more 

 or less long, sometimes rounded, and sometimes pointed ; the 

 tail of various lengths, truncated at the end, or rounded, and 

 sometimes graduated ; the tarsi more or less long, always 



