AFRICAN BRISTLE-BILL. 
263 
follows that any intervening forms, between these 
two, must be looked upon only as aberrant species 
either of one or the other. 
Having already noticed the chief peculiarities of 
the bird before ns, a few other particulars will 
suffice. The form of the hill is precisely that of 
Dasycephala *, except that the sides, and even the 
base, are compressed, instead of being depressed ; 
the bristles of the mouth are two-thirds the length of 
the hill and are very strong ; while none can be dis- 
tingushed (as in Trichophorus ) on the back of the 
neck ; the wings are moderate but much rounded, 
the four first quills being graduated. The middle 
claw is much longer than in Dasycephala , and the 
two first joints of the outer toe are connected to it ; 
the claws are broad, much curved, and are obviously 
adapted alone for perching ; the tail is rounded ; 
the tarsi smooth and pale, with the lateral and pos- 
terior scales entire. 
The colouring of the plumage is simple and quite 
resembles that of Brachypus ( Hcmnatornis ) Jlavi- 
collis. The ground colour of the upper plumage is 
olive-brown ; the wings have a tinge of ferruginous, 
the tail and its upper covers' are bright rufous, and 
the ears are as dark as the crown. All the under 
parts, from the chin to the vent, are straw colour, 
tinged with olive on the sides of the breast and 
flanks ; the bill is horn colour ; pale on the under 
mandible and on the sides of the upper. 
* Tlie species used for this comparison is D. rufescens, the 
type of the group. 
