140 Dr. G. Hartlaub on a New Genus of African Birds. 
On the other hand Bradypterus sylvaticus of Sundevall (op. cit.) 
seems to be a typical species of that genus ; but the B. brevi- 
rostris of the same author is nothing but Catriscus apicalis of 
Cabanis. The genus has been thrown into further confusion 
by Lesson, who states, “ l’Afrique nourrit trois Bradypteres, le 
Pavaneur, le Coryphee et le Grivelin de Levaillant ”! and whose 
Bradypterus ruficoccyx (Descr. Mammif. et Ois. p. 293) has “ la 
queue fourchue” !! 
What finally separates our new genus Phlexis from the Cala - 
modytce , and more especially from the genus Bradypterus , is the 
great comparative length of the strongly graduated tail, the 
very concave and very weak wings, the scutellated tarsi, and the 
whole structure of the plumage. The great development of the 
under tail-coverts in Bradypterus, and their still more wonderful 
development in Catriscus , is entirely wanting in Phlexis. The 
generic position of this last is with the Malurince; it stands be¬ 
tween Drymceca and Sphenoeacus, and shows a very remarkable 
affinity to the Australian form Brymodes. 
I should add that the form of the bill is very similar in Bra¬ 
dypterus and Phlexis, but that it is more slender and more com¬ 
pressed in the former, and that they differ very considerably in 
the structure of the nostrils. 
The two known species of the genus Phlexis are therefore— 
a), p. victorini (Sundevall). 
(2). P. layardi , Hartlaub. 
of the Berlin Museum and of Cabanis (probably also of Levaillant) is 
neither a Cettia , as supposed by Cabanis, nor does it belong to my new 
genus Phlexis ; but it comes nearer to the latter, from which, however, it 
differs in its less slender and less subulate bill, in the structure of the 
nostrils, in its longer, stronger, and less concave wings, in its much less 
graduated tail, and, dually, in its longer and stronger tarsi and feet. The 
plumage of the sides and back is also much longer, fuller, and softer in 
Phlexis. In fact the “ Pavaneur ” is generically distinct from this last as 
well as from Cettia , and stands in some respects intermediate between 
them. Neither Phlexis nor the “Pavaneur” show the curious develop¬ 
ment of the under tail-coverts, which is very apparent in Cettia , and still 
more so in the nearly allied form Catriscus. I abstain from applying a 
new generic name to the “ Pavaneur,” but fear that it will ultimately be 
necessary that this be done. 
