264 AFRICAN BRISTLE-BILL. 



Total length about 9J ; bill from the front, T 8 ^ ; 

 wings, 4J; tail from the base, 4; tarsus, 1 ; hind- 

 toe and claw, \ ; middle ditto, fa 



OLIVE BRISTLE-NECK. 



Tricophorus olivaceous, SWAINS. 



Olive-green ; chin and part of the throat pale yellow, 



THE three birds we are about to describe, although 

 not attractive in their plumage, are yet remarkable 

 for the very singular peculiarity which gives rise 

 to their name of Bristle-Necks, or Bristle-necked 

 Thrushes. The nuchal bristles, in nearly all those 

 birds which possess them, are so short and slender 

 as to escape detection, unless the adjoining feathers 

 are carefully raised and examined ; but, in the sub- 

 genus before us, these bristles are so much developed, 

 and are so long, that they often extend more than 

 an inch beyond the feathers of the neck. It is not 

 known for what especial purpose these bristles are 

 intended. We doubt, however, the accuracy of the 

 assertion, that they are found in both sexes ; since 

 we believe they are connected with the process of 

 copulation, and that they are only possessed, at least 

 in their greatest developement, by the females. 

 The genus Trichophorus was proposed by M. 



