THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series. —Vol. XIII.—No. 2 .—All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1935



THE ABYSSINIAN CLIFF-CHAT


(Thamnolrea cinnamomeiventris albiscapulata , Rupp.)


This species was imported a few years ago. I saw four or five

pairs at a dealer’s and bought the lot. They were in poor condition

and only two pairs survived, one of which was presented to the

Zoological Society and the other to Mr. C. H. Heal, who, I believe,

still has both birds.


Practically nothing is known of the species in a wild state, but

Mr. C. S. Webb has observed an allied race ( T. c. cinnamomeiventris)

in Portuguese East Africa, which, he says, is only found flitting about

rocks, where its movements are singularly graceful and delightful

to watch. The song is loud and may be heard at a considerable distance.

Strangely enough in captivity I have only heard the female sing.

The Plate gives an altogether excellent idea of the grace of the bird,

the tail being raised and spread partially almost with every movement.

The male has the head, neck, back, upper breast, wings, and tail black ;

the lower breast and abdomen cinnamon, and the scapulars pure white.

The female differs only in having the scapulars black.


The range of the species is from Bogosland to Harrar, and to the

Sudan border at Fazogli on the Blue Nile.


A. C.



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