INDICATORID^ 



PRODOTISCUS 



155 



Genus II. PRODOTISCUS. 



Type. 



Prodotiscus, Sundev. Ofvers. K. Vet. Akad. Forhandl. 



1850, p. 109 (1851) P. regulus. 



Bill slender and very pointed but broader than deep ; tail 

 composed of ten feathers only. In other respects resembling 

 Indicator. 



This genus is entirely African, one out of three species recognised 

 is found south of the Zambesi. 



Fig. 50. — Tail of Prodotiscus regulus. x {. 



448. Prodotiscus regulus. Wahlberg's Honey Guide. 



Prodotiscus regulus, Sundev. Ofvers. K. Vet. ATtad. Forhandl. 1850, p. 

 109 ; Sharpe, Bowley's Orn. Misc. i, p. 208, pi. lower figure (1876) ; 

 id. ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. pp. 171, 811 (1876-84) ; Shelley, Cat. B. 

 M. xix, p. 11 (1891) ; id. B. Afr. i, p. 125 (1896) ; Woodward Bros. 

 Natal B. p. 108 (1899). 



Description. Adult female. — General colour above, uniform 

 brown ; tail blackish-brown with a large basal portion of the three 

 outer feathers on each side white ; underparts white, strongly 

 washed with pale brown on the throat and flanks ; under wing- 

 coverts white, slightly washed with brown ; under surface of the 

 quills with white inner margins. Bill and feet blackish. 



Length 4-8 ; wing 30; tail 2-25 ; culmen 0-45 ; tarsus 0-45. 



Sundevall states that the throat is white in the male. 



Distribution. — This is apparently a very rare bird ; it was first 



