214 PARISOMA SUBCjERULEUM. 



body ashy grey, slightly paler and greyer than the mantle ; sides of forehead 

 and the cheek mottled with white ; throat white with broad blackish central 

 stripes to the feathers ; centre of breast white shading into grey on the crop 

 and sides of body ; lower abdomen and under tail-coverts bright chestnut ; 

 under surface of wings dusky brown with white on the coverts and whitish 

 inner edges to the quills. "Bill, tarsi and feet black; iris bluish white" 

 (T. Ayres). Total length 5'6 inches, culmen 045, wing 2'55, tail 2-8, tarsus 

 0-8. Eland's Post, 7. 70 (T. Atmore). 



Adult Female. Like the male but slightly greyer above, owing 

 apparently to the season. Colesberg, 4. 71 (T. Atmore). 



The Red-vented Grey Hill Tit inhabits South Africa south 

 from the Cunene river and Rhodesia. 



The most northern limit known for this species is Humbe 

 in the Upper Cunene district, where, from the number of 

 specimens collected by Anchieta, Professor Barboza du Bocage 

 suggests that it must be common, and according to Anchieta it 

 is known to the native as " Mudiankeno " and " Tubike," and 

 feeds entirely upon insects and spiders. 



In Damara and Great Namaqualand it has been recorded as 

 common by Chapman, Andersson, and Dr. E. Fleck, and the 

 last-named naturalist also obtained the species at Ukui in 

 Kalahari. With regard to its habits Andersson writes : " It 

 is rather a pretty songster, and utters, at times, varied and 

 singular notes, and occasionally also a clear ringing call, 

 rapidly repeated. It is very familiar, active, but not rapid in 

 its movements, and careful in its examination of the branches 

 of trees and bushes in search of insects ; it is found singly or 

 in pairs. A nest of these birds, taken on September 21, was 

 situated in a hedge and composed outside of grass, fine twigs, 

 and tendrils ; internally it was lined with hair and contained 

 two eggs. A second nest, obtained on October 1, was similarly 

 composed externally, but was lined with the softer tendrils of 

 flexible roots; it contained two eggs, hard sat upon. A third 

 nest, taken on November 29, also contained two eggs." 



