9C BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



of the feathers: these are nearly obsolete on the head, but 

 extend along the centre of the tail-feathers. 



Under parts, uniform light isabella-coloured, everywhere 

 mottled with dark black-brown streaks, most evident on the 

 flanks. Length, 8" 9"' ; wings, 3" ; tail, 4". 



The plumage of this curious bird is of a singularly lax texture ; the 

 tail-feathers are long, pointed, and graduated, and furnished with 

 webs, so thin that they are transparent ; the shafts project_beyond the 

 webs, which are fined down to a point. Wings small and weak, hardly 

 enabling the bird to fly fifty yards. If flushed more than once, it 

 betakes itself to a clump of grass, or bush, and will sufier itself to be 

 taken with the hand rather than rise again ; for this reason it has 

 acquired the name of " Idle Jach" and "Lazy Dick." 



173. Drymoica Apicalis; Catriscus Apicalis, 



Caban, Mus. Hein. I, p. 43 ; Ibis Vol. 1863, p. 323 ; 

 Bradypterus Brevirostris,^ Sundev. ; Ofvers, Kongl. 

 Yet. Ak. Forhandl., p. 403. 



General colour, lightish-brown ; back, rump, and quill- 

 feathers light yellow-brown ; beneath white, as is also an 

 inconspicuous eyebiow ; flanks the colour of the back, but 

 paler ; tail fuscus, the lateral feathers terminated by a semi- 

 lunate white spot ; upper mandible fuscous ; the lower and 

 legs yellow. Length, 7" ; wing, 2" 4'" ; tail, 3^". 



Found in Natal by Mr. Ayres, who describes their habits as very 

 similar to those of the preceding species. 



The Sub-Family, LUSCININ-ffi, or Warblers, 



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

 the culmen curved at the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; 

 the sides compressed, and the gonys long and ascending ; the 

 nostrils basal, and placed in a membranous groove, with the 

 opening usually exposed ; the wings moderate and sometimes 

 rounded ; the tail moderate and rounded at the end ; the 

 tarsi more or less lengthened, slender, and covered with 

 broad scales, the divisions of which are sometimes obliterated ; 

 the toes more or less long and slender, the outer toe gene- 

 rally longer than the inner, and united at its base ; the claws 

 long, curved, and acute. 



Genus CALAMODYTA, Meyer and Wolf. 

 Bill rather small and straight, with the culmen very 

 slightly carved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 

 scarcely emarginated ; the lateral margins straight and 

 slightly inflexed ; the gonys long and ascending ; the gape 

 sometimes furnished with very short, weak bristles ; tlio 



* According to Dr. Hfirtlaub, see Ibis 1866, p. HO, 



