AFRICAN BRISTLE-BILL. 263 



follows that any intervening forms, between these 

 two, must be looked upon only as aberrant species 

 either of one or the other. 



Having already noticed the chief peculiarities of 

 the bird before us, a few other particulars will 

 suffice. The form of the bill is precisely that of 

 Dasycepkala*, except that the sides, and even the 

 base, are compressed, instead of being expressed; 

 the bristles of the mouth are two-thirds the length of 

 the bill and are very strong ; while none can be dis- 

 tingushed (as in Trichophorus ) on the back of the 

 neck ; the wings are moderate but much rounded, 

 the four first quills being graduated. The middle 

 claw is much longer than in Dasycephala, and the 

 two first joints of the outer toe are connected to it ; 

 the claws are broad, much curved, and are obviously 

 adapted alone for perching; the tail is rounded; 

 the tarsi smooth and pale, with the lateral and pos- 

 terior scales entire. 



The colouring of the plumage is simple and quite 

 resembles that of Brachypm ( Hcematornis ) flam- 

 collis. The ground colour of the upper plumage is 

 olive-brown ; the wings have a tinge of ferruginous, 

 the tail and its upper covers are bright rufous, and 

 the ears are as dark as the crown. All the under 

 parts, from the chin to the vent, are straw colour, 

 tinged with olive on the sides of the breast and 

 flanks ; the bill is horn colour ; pale on the under 

 mandible and on the sides of the upper. 



* The species used for this comparison is D. ru/escens, the 

 type of the group. 



