DRYM@CA OCULARIA. 257 
be distinguished by its rufous-brown back, broadly streaked with 
black, and by its bright chestnut eyebrow and ear-coverts. Sir 
Andrew Smith writes :—“ This bird has a rather extensive range in 
South Africa, being found, though sparingly, among the brushwood 
in the northern districts of the Cape Colony, and between those and 
the Tropic of Capricorn. It feeds upon insects; and, in quest of 
them, it is to be seen flitting from branch to branch in the most arid 
and barren situations.” Victorin procured it in the Karroo in January 
and February, and we have ourselves found it in one particular 
locality near Mr. Jackson’s residence at Nel’s Poort, Beaufort. Mr. 
Ortlepp says that it is plentiful on all the flats near Colesberg. We 
have received several specimens from Kurwman, and we observed it 
ourselves on the road between Grahams Town and Table Farm. Mr. 
T. C. Atmore has sent us specimens from Hope Town, and the 
following note is taken from Mr. Ayres’ paper on the birds of 
the Transvaal :—“ There is very little difference in plumage between 
the sexes ; but the rufous patch on the cheeks is much lighter in the 
female than in the male. I first met with this species amongst the 
low bushes on the banks of the Vaal river, and between that and 
the Hartz, where they were pretty plentiful, hopping briskly about 
amongst the thickets, with the active habits common to most birds of 
this genus.”—The Hditor possesses a pair of specimens obtained by the 
late Mr. Andersson on the Hountop River in Great Namaqua Land, 
and the same gentleman writes :—* This species is very sparingly 
found in Damara Land, but is more common in some parts of Great 
Namaqua Land. Itis generally met with singly or in pairs; and it 
is usual to find it amongst the most arid scenes, hopping slowly 
about amongst the branches of low bushes in search of insects.” 
In its method of flight and in its search after food it exactly 
resembles the common species D. maculosa. Its nest is also similar, 
and the eggs are pale blue unspotted: axis, 6’’’ ; diam., 5’’’. 
The following description is that of the type-specimen in the 
British Museum. 
Adult Male.—Above sandy brown, very distinctly striped with 
black on the back, less plainly so on the head, which is rather darker 
brown; wing-coverts dark brown margined with dull sandy, the 
* quills also dark brown narrowly margined in the same manner as the 
coverts ; rump and upper tail-coverts exactly the same as the back, 
the mesial streaks rather broader on the latter; tail deep brown, 
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