210 ALCIPPE ABYSSINICA. 



keian region. Mr. Thomas Ayres writes from Natal : ' I have 

 at different periods met with several solitary individuals of 

 this species, always either amongst dense underwood or thick 

 creeping plants. They appeared to be sluggish in their habits, 

 and to feed on small fruits and berries. Their stomachs 

 contained no insects.' Mr. F. A. Barratt fell in with the 

 species near Lydenburg and Pilgrim's Rest gold-fields, but 

 Mr. T. Ayres observes that in the former district it is decidedly 

 scarce, and adds that he cannot remember ever having seen 

 more than a pair together." 



Alcippe abyssinica. (Pi. 11, fig- 1.) 



Dryrnophila abyssinica, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vog. p. 108, pi. 40, fig. 2 



(1835-40) Abyssinia. 

 Curruca abyssinica, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 57 (1845). 

 Aedon abyssinica, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 25 (1856). 

 Sylvia abyssinica, Heugl. Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 313 (1870). 

 Lioptilus abyssinicus, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1884, p. 231 ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. 



Genov. 1884, p. 128; 1888, p. 238 Shoa ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 



1293 ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 173 Abyssinia. 

 Bradyornis abyssinica, Hartert, Kat. Mus. Senck. p. 97 (1891). 

 Alcippe kilimensis, Shelley, P. S. Z. 1889, p. 364, Kilimanjaro ; Eeichen. 



Vog. Deutsch O. Afr. p. 227 (1894) ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 921 



(1896) ; Neum. J. f. O. 1898, pp. 241, 288 Man. 



Adult. Upper half of head and back of neck deep grey ; back, upper 

 tail-coverts and edges of the feathers of the wings and tail yellowish brown ; 

 remainder of wings and tail dark brown with the under wing-coverts and 

 inner margins of the quills buffy white ; throat, breast and under tail-coverts 

 ashy white shading into pale grey on the crop and sides of the neck and 

 chest; flanks and thighs washed with yellowish brown. " Bill dark ; iris 

 light brown ; legs grey " (Lord Lovat). Total length 5-2 to 6'0 inches, 

 culmen - 55, wing 2-75, tail 2-5, tarsus - 95. Kilimanjaro (Hunter). 



A specimen from Abyssinia, apparently not quite adult, has a patch 

 of brown on the crown and is labelled " Burka, 6. 1. 99 (Lord Lovat)." 



Ruppell's Grey-headed Hill Tit ranges from Mossamedes 

 into Abyssinia. 



