BIEDS OF EOYPT. 107 



61. CuRRUCA MELANOCEPHALA (Gm.). Blach-lwaded Warbler . 



The present species is abundant throughout Egypt and 

 Nubia, more especially so on the islands of the First Cataract. 

 It is a lively bird, somewhat resembling the Lesser White- 

 throat in habits. 



Von Heuglin (Orn. N. O. Afr. p, 303) separates a small 

 race of this bird under the name Sylvia melanocephala minor, 

 to which he refers all the Egyptian specimens, but does not 

 appear to place much faith in this separation, for he has not 

 bestowed a number on the species in his book. I have not 

 examined his type specimens ; but I cannot allow that the slight 

 difference in the measurements between the Egyptian and 

 Piedmontese specimens in my collection justifies their separa- 

 tion as distinct species ; I therefore give measurements of both 

 forms, the smaller bird being an Egyptian specimen, the 

 larger one from the Continent of Europe. 



Top of the head, region of the eye, and ear-coverts black ; 

 back and scapulars slaty grey ; wings dusky, with pale edges 

 to the feathers ; tail slaty black, except the exterior web of 

 the outermost feather and the ends of the three outer ones, 

 which are white ; underparts white, shading into grey on 

 the sides of the body ; eyelids scarlet ; beak black, shading 

 off into yellow at the base of the lower mandible ; legs and 

 irides brown. 



The female has a slate-coloured head, and the plumage is 

 generally browner. 



Entire length 4-5-5 inches; culmen 0'35-0'4; wing, 

 carpus to tip, 2-l-2'2; tarsus 0-75-0*85. 



Pig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 129. 



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