1870.| MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. 391 
Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 357; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 92, 
pl. 18 (1868). 
This bird is beautifully represented in Professor Schlegel’s plate in 
the ‘ Faune de Madagascar ;’ and he states in this work that in the 
form of its beak it resembles Zosterops and the Phylloscopi in style 
of coloration, but that the wings present a very different conforma- 
tion, approaching rather in this respect the genera Calicalicus and 
Newtonia. In my opinion, however, its nearest allies are the South- 
African genera Hremomela and Dryodromas, it being, indeed, very 
close indeed to the latter genus, as appears from a comparison of 
Eroessa tenella with Dryodromas flavidus. Both genera possess 
well-marked hairy tufts on the feathers of the nape, this peculiarity 
being very prominent in Lroessa, less developed in Dryodromas, and 
apparently altogether wanting in HLremomela. The tarsus, more- 
over, is long and the leg robust in Dryodromas, but is altogether 
different from that of Hroessa, where the foot is small and weak and 
- the tarsus short. 
13. CisTICOLA MADAGASCARIENSIS. 
* Drymeca madagascariensis, Hart]. Faun. Madag. p. 53 (1861, 
descr. orig.); Roch & E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 272; E. Newt. Ibis, 
1863, p. 343; Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162. 
Cisticola madagascariensis, A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 835; 
Grand. Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 357; Schl. & Poll. Faun. 
Madag. Ois. p. 91 (1868). 
“*Nossi Vola. Native name Chinsen.”’ 
14, Evista TYPICA. 
Ellisia typica, Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 37 (1861); E. Newt. 
Ibis, 1863, p. 344; Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162; A. Newt. P.Z.S. 
1865, p. 835; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 358. 
Drymeca ellisii, Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 91, pl. 28. 
fig. 2 (1868). 
*Nossi Vola. Nov. 10th, 1869. Eyes brown. Insects in the 
stomach.” 
I am not sure that a detailed English description of the present 
bird has ever been furnished ; and asdiagnoses in our own language are 
always useful as an auxiliary help to the determination of any species, 
I subjoin the description of a fine specimen sent by Mr. Crossley in 
the present collection. 
Above olive-brown, inclining to green on the head and nape, but 
becoming decidedly brown on the rump and upper tail-coverts; 
quills brownish black, margined exteriorly with olive-brown, espe- 
cially on the secondaries, which are almost entirely of this colour, 
but are very dark; tail dark brown, with cross bands which are 
only conspicuous in certain lights, the shafts of the feathers 
black above, whitish brown beneath; lores yellowish; cheeks and 
ear-coverts brown varied with yellowish; throat whitish, on the 
lower part a few longitudinal dull brown markings; rest of the un- 
