ARROW-HEADED WARBLER. 163 



ARROW-HEADED WARBLER.* 



Sylvicola pharetra, — mihi. 



This is another species, of which I have but a 

 single specimen. It was shot on the 9th of 

 February, in Bognie woods, on the top of Bluefields 

 Peak. I know nothing of its manners, but that it 

 was engaged, as Warblers commonly are, hopping on 

 trees, and peeping for insects. The specimen was 

 a male. Its general aspect is like that of the Black 

 and white Creeper, but it may be distinguished at 

 once by comparison ; the colours in that being dis- 

 tributed in greater masses, and disposed in broad 

 stripes ; in this, in small mottlings, or thick spotting, 

 which difference is especially observable on the 

 head. The beak, also, though partly shot away in 

 my specimen, is decidedly that of a Sylvicola. 



* Length 5-^ inches, expanse 8 (nearly), flexure 2^, tail 2, rictus 

 about "5^ ? tarsus -j^, middle toe ^. Irides hazel ; beak black above, 

 suture and lower mandible grey ; feet purplish horn, with pale soles. 

 Head, neck, back, less coverts, chin, throat and breast, mottled with 

 black and white, each feather being grey at the base, and black, bounded 

 on each side by white, at the tip. The black preponderates on the upper 

 parts, the white on the breast, where the black spots take arrow-headed 

 forms. Wing-quills and coverts black ; the first primaries have the 

 middle portion of their outer edge narrowly white, and those from the 

 third to the seventh inclusive have a more conspicuous white spot at the 

 basal part of the outer edge. The secondary greater coverts are tipped 

 outwardly with white, the medial coverts more broadly ; and these form 

 two bands, but not very notable. Plumage of rump and tail-coverts un- 

 webbed, brownish-grey. Tail-feathers black, with paler edges, the out- 

 most tvvo or three tipped inwardly with white. Sides, thighs, and under 

 tail-coverts grey, with indistinct black centres. Belly greyish white. 



