Lives in pairs in the Abyssinian Mountains at from 5000 to 10,000 feet above the sea-level, especially in isolated thickets; in wooded ravines, and torrents, sometimes also in tall grass. The song is very loud and variable. I have some reason to think that this bird may really coincide with D. lugubris (Rüpp.), and that it is to be regarded as the young of the latter species, but I have have no definite data upon this point. The coloration is very different, but not the structure of the tail or the distribution of colour upon it, especially the indication of the triple band at the tip. For the present I cite the two forms as specifically distinct.

14. DRYMECA CANTANS.

Drymæca cantans, Heugl., Syst. Ueb. No. 174. D. lugubris?, Heugl., J. f. O. 1861, p. 194.

Media; pileo et nucha saturate umbrino rufis, immaculatis; loris et superciliis latis, conspicuis, fulvescenti-albidis; interscapulio, scapularibus et tergo fuscescenti-canis, conspicue fusco-nigricante striatis; uropygio et supracaudalibus ex olivaceo cano fulvescentibus, immaculatis; tectricibus alarum cano-fumosis, pallide marginatis, minoribus magis cano tinctis; tertiariis saturate fumosis, dorsi colore dilute marginatis (marginibus in plerisque aut rufescenti-, aut sordide fulvescenti-lavatis); rectricibus fumosis, extus, basin versus, magis conspicue rufescenti-marginatis, intius basin versus ex hepatico-fulvo limbatis, rectricibus latusculis, ex olivaceo cano umbrinis, vix pallidius marginatis, extimis apice late albis, omnibus macula anteapicali nigricante notatis; subtus ex fulvescente albicans, vix olivaceo lavata; gula purius alba; lateribus pectoris canescente tinctis; tibialibus rufescentibus; rostro fuscescenti-corneo, mandibulæ tomiis pallidioribus; iride helvola; pedibus cerino rubellis, hypodactylis griseis.

Long. tot. 5" 2", rostr. a fr. 4.8""—5′′", al. 2′′-2′′ 13", caud. 2" 21"-2" 5"", tars. 9"".

This species, established upon six specimens in the Museums at Stuttgart, Frankfort, and Vienna, is distinguished from Drymaca lugubris by the distinct whitish superciliar streak, much brighter brownish-rusty vertex and nape, the lighter-coloured and less distinct streak on the shafts of the mantle, by the sides of the breast and the tail-coverts being spotless, the

much broader rectrices with a double apical band, by its rather smaller size and more curved but scarcely stronger bill. The tint varies, however, considerably. The birds, before moulting, which seems to take place in the beginning of the year, are of course less brightly marked; the rusty-red of the vertex and the margins of the remiges especially then becomes more of a cinnamon-colour; the mantle becomes of a dingy mouse-colour with a slight tinge of brown and a very obsolete dark striation.

This bird has a tolerably wide range in Abyssinia. We found it in Tigré and Semién, as also in the basin of Lake Tana, at from 5000 to 11,000 feet above the sea-level. It lives singly, and in pairs, in thickets on the borders of the torrents and stony islets, in the bushes and high grass, appears to be a permanent resident, and is distinguished by its excellent ringing song.

A similarly coloured but somewhat larger bird in the Frankfort Museum exhibits an obsolete dark striation on the vertex, narrower rectrices, and stronger feet; its measurements are:— wing 2" 53""; tail 2" 2""; tarsus 10"; but I doubt whether it is to be referred to D. cantans.

=

According to a communication by letter from Dr. Finsch, Drymæca cantans, Heugl., D. subruficapilla, Smith; but neither the figure nor the description and measurements given by Smith justify this supposition. My bird is rather larger; has a much more powerful bill, a whole-coloured vertex not streaked with brown, and a longer, much broader, and less graduated tail. The measurements of D. subruficapilla, according to Smith, are :— Length 5′′ (French measure); wing 1" 104"; tail 2′′ 1′′; and it has blackish streaks on the sides of the breast.

15. DRYMŒCA CONCOLOR, nob.

(Plate II. fig. 1.)

Similis Drymæcæ cantanti, Heugl., at lætius tincta, tergo interscapulio et scapularibus ex olivaceo saturate murino umbrinis immaculatis; tectricibus alæ et tertiariis fumosis obsolete et nec abrupte cinnamomeo rufescente marginatis; cauda lata conspicue rufescente lavata; genis rufescentibus; stria supraoculari et loris pallidioribus; ciliis albidis. Occipite et nucha ex olivaceo rufis, immaculatis; genis codem colore lavatis; macula anteoculari vix distincta fumosa;

N. S.-VOL. V.

H

rectricibus latiusculis umbrino murinis, pogonio externo rufescente lavatis, infra canis; margine angustiore apicali albido, conspicue cinereo lavato; macula anteapicali nigricante; gastræo albido, lateraliter olivaceo fulvescente tincto; subalaribus fulvidis; tibialibus ex olivaceo rufescentibus; rostro corneo-fusco, dimidio basali mandibulæ flavicante: pedibus cerino rubellis.

Long. tot. circa 43", rostr. a fr. vix 5"", al. 2", caud. 2′′ 1′′", tars. 91"".

Exceedingly like Drymæca cantans; the bill rather stronger; above in general much more brightly coloured, and the mantle without any trace of streaking, although the specimen described appears to have freshly moulted. The wing-coverts and tertials, moreover, show a perfectly different coloration : with a tolerably deep smoky ground, they are rather broadly (but not sharply) bordered with ferruginous, and exhibit no broad, dark spots on the shaft.

From North-east Africa, probably from the White Nile (certainly not from Abyssinia). In the Berlin Museum.

16. DRYMECA FLAVEOLA, Heugl., Syst. Ueb. No. 166, and J. f. O. 1862, p. 289.

(Plate II. fig. 2.)

Supra læte rufo-cervina (cervice excepta) late et conspicue nigricante, striata; supracaudalibus purius rufis, obsolete fusco striolatis; tertiariis et tectricibus alæ late et circumscripte cervino rufescente marginatis; remigibus fumosis, extus cinnamomeo marginatis, intus basin versus pallide hepatico limbatis; rectricibus fuliginoso canis, medianis cervino fulvo marginatis, omnibus apice late rufescente albis, fascia anteapicali 3"-5" late nigricante notatis; ciliis, loris et gastræo læte virenti-flavicantibus; fronte et tectricibus alæ minoribus eodem colore tinctis; pectoris lateribus et hypochondriis olivaceo rufescente adumbratis; crisso, cruribus et subcaudalibus rufescenti-ochraceis; margine alari et subalaribus extimis pallide viridi-flavescentibus, medianis pallide hepaticis; rostro cerino, culmine magis fusco; pedibus rubello cerinis; iride helvola.

Long. tot. 5" 4"", rostr. a fr. 5", caud. 2" 3", al. 2" 3"", tars. 10"-11"".

This species is distinguished by the bright light-greenish