1882.] CAPT. SHELLEY ON BIRDS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 337 



May the colouring is of a slightly more tawny hue than in the 

 others. 



Sphenceacus natalensis, sp. nov. 



Very similar to S. africanus, but differs iu the almost uniform 

 rufous-buff colouring of the under surface of the body, and in the 

 absence of black shaft-stripes to the upper and under tail-coverts ; 

 the sides of the upper chest and crop, in some specimens, are 

 slightly mottled with the dark tips and central stripes to the feathers, 

 but show no distinct black marks ; the flanks are generally entirely 

 uniform, but in one specimen I find a few obscure dark central stripes 

 to some of these feathers ; the upper and under tail-coverts are 

 always uniform. 



The characters here given for this species are further borne out by 

 the specimens in the British Museum. Although I separate the 

 Natal form under the title of S. natalensis, I myself would regard 

 it as merely a well marked local race of S. africanits. 



The only specimen I have examined from Kaffraria is in some 

 respects intermediate, but appears to me to be closer to S. africanus, 

 in that the black markings on the sides of the body are very distinct, 

 though fewer in number and smaller than in the Cape-Colony form. 

 But the upper and under tail coverts are without dark central stripes ; 

 so perhaps it would be more consistent to separate this form as a 

 third race under the title of S. intermedins. 



The distinguishing characters for these three races or species 

 may be clearly summed up in the following key : — 



a. With very distiuct black central marks to some of the 



feathers on the sides of the body. 

 a'. Upper and under tail-coverts with dark central stripes ... S. africanus. 

 h'. Upper and under tail-coverts uniform, with no dark central 



stripes to the feathers S. inter mcdius. 



h. With no distinct black marks on the sides of the body. 

 Upper aud under tail-coverts uniform, with no dark central 

 stripes to the feathers 8. natalcmia. 



I have carefully examined the following specimens of these three 

 birds, and find no character in the measurements. 



S. africanus : — a, <S , Cape (J^erreaux) ; b, c, d. Cape (Butler) ; 

 e, 2 , Paal, Cape Colony {Shelley) ; f, George (Atmore). 



S. intermedius: — g, Kaffraria (iJa^ro^^). 



iS. natalensis : — h, c? > Pinetown {T. L. Jyres); i,j, I; I, Transvaal 

 {W.Lucas); wi, Swaziland {T. E. Buckley) : Shelley Mus. a, J, 



b, S , (-; 6 , d, (S , Newcastle: Butler Mus. a, d ^ I', 2 > c> d , 

 Ingngane river ; d, $, Drakensberg : Reid Mus. 



23* 



