MUSICAPID^:. 141 



266. Phyllastrephus Oapensis, Bp. Consp, 



p. 28 : Phy. Terrestris, Swain., Nat. Lib., Vol. 11, 

 p. 271 ; Le Jaboteur, Le Vail., PL 112., f. 1. 



GENERAL colour, dull olive- green ; chin, throat, and centre 

 of belly, pure white ; flanks olive-green ; shafts of wing and 

 tail-feathers, white. Length, 8" ; wing, 3" 8'" ; tail, 4". 



" Dwellers in woods, they love the deepest and most shady parts of 

 the forest, where they are seldom noticed ; they build their nests in 

 low situations, amid the thick underwood that grows beneath the tall 

 forest-trees, and seldom lay more than two eggs ; if the female is dis- 

 turbed, she utters one shrill note, as she flies away, letting her mate 

 know danger is near. The notes of this bird are low and croaking, 

 somewhat resembling those of a frog ; there is no perceptible difference 

 between the d and p ." (Mrs. Barber in epistold.) 



A nest forwarded by this lady is composed of coarse grass, moss, 

 roots, and hair. The eggs are creamy white, densely blotched with 

 purple-brown at the thick end, the blotches being confluent : axis, 

 U'"; diam., 8"'. 



This species has never been seen by me from any place to the west- 

 ward of Graham's Town ; to the east of that locality it appears not un- 

 common, though from its retiring habits it is seldom procured. 



The Third-Family, MUSICAPIOffi, or 

 Fly-Catchers, 



have the bill of various lengths, generally broad, and de- 

 pressed at the base, with the culmen more or less curved, 

 and the sides compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; 

 the gape usually furnished with long and strong bristles ; 

 the wings generally long ; the tail more or less long ; the 

 tarsi mostly short and weak ; the toes more or less long, 

 and the outer one generally united at the base. 



The Sub-Family, MUSCICAPIN^E, or Ply- 

 Catchers, 



have the bill moderate, broad at the base, and narrowing to 

 the tip, which is emarginated ; the culmen more or less de- 

 pressed, and curved at the end ; the gonys usually long and 

 ascending, and the gape furnished with bristles ; the wings 

 generally long, and more or less pointed ; the tarsi usually 

 short and slender, and the toes short, with the outer toe 

 longer than the inner one ; the hind toe prominent, and the 

 claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 



Genus PLATYRHYNCHUS, Desmarest. 

 Bill moderate, straight, and broad at the base, with the 

 culmen more or less depressed, and slightly curved to the 

 tip, which is emarginated, the sides compressed, and the 



