AVES. 359 



125. Ruticilla (?) fuscicaudata, W, Blanford (Plate IV.). 



Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist Kov. 1869. 



R. supra hrunneseentirfusca, uropygio magis rufescenti, remigibus 

 rectribv^ue fugcis, vix pallidiori-m/irginatis, macula preorulari 

 nigrescenti, albido-circumdata, mento, gula, abdomineque medio 

 sordide albis, pectore et hypochondriis cinerascentibus. Rostro 

 pedihastlue fuscis. 



Long, alee 2'95 in., caudm 2"2, tarsi 9 '9, rostri a fronU 0'45, a rictu 

 0"7, tota circa 5"5, poll, et dec. Angl, 



Hah. in Abyssinia septentrionali. 



This is a somewhat anomalous bird. In the general 

 form, the bill, and non-scutellated tarsi it agrees with 

 Ruticilla, but the sombre plumage rather resembles that 

 of a Sylvia. The tail also is more rounded. It approaches 

 nearest to R. (Saxicola) familiaris, Stephens, and R. 

 {Erythacui) sinuata, Schlegel. None of the three are 

 typical RuticillcB. But for the non-scutellated tarsi I 

 should have placed the present form in Sylvia. It may 

 be allied to Cuphopterus. 



I obtained a single specimen only on the hills between 

 the Anseba and Lebka valleys, at an elevation of about 

 4,000 feet, in bushes. 



I see that, in his new work, Von Heuglin identifies 

 my new species with his Saxicola scotocerca. I believe 

 my name, published on the 1st of November, has priority 

 over Dr. Von Heuglin's, first "published " in the 9th — 

 11th livraison of his " Ornithologie Nord-Ost Afrikas," 

 which did not reach England till the middle of December, 

 though it may have been issued in Germany a week or 

 two sooner. 



