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Show 1870.] MR. R. B. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. 391 Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 357 ; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 92, pl. 18 (1868). This bird is beautifully represented in Professor Schlegel's plate in the ' Faune de Madagascar;' and he states in this work that in the form of its beak it resembles Zosterops and the Phylloscopi in style of coloration, but that the wings present a very different conformation, approaching rather in this respect the genera Calicalicus and Newtonia. In m y opinion, however, its nearest allies are the South- African genera Eremomela and Dryodromas, it being, indeed, very close indeed to the latter genus, as appears from a comparison of Eroessa tenella with Dryodromas fiavidus. Both genera possess well-marked hairy tufts on the feathers of the nape, this peculiarity being very prominent in Eroessa, less developed in Dryodromas, and apparently altogether wanting in Eremomela. The tarsus, moreover, is long and the leg robust in Dryodromas, but is altogether different from that of Eroessa, where the foot is small and weak and the tarsus short. 13. CISTICOLA MADAGASCARIENSIS. Drymceca madagascariensis, Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 53 (1861, descr. orig.); Roch & E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 272; E. Newt. Ibis, 1863, p. 343; Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162. Cisticola madagascariensis, A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 835; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 357; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 91 (1868). "Nossi Vola. Native name Chinsen." 14. ELLISIA TYPICA. Ellisia typica, Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 37 (1861); E. Newt. Ibis, 1863, p. 344 ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 162; A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 835 ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 358. Drymceca ellisii, Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 91, pl. 28. fig. 2 (1868). "Nossi Vola. Nov. 10th, 1869. Eyes brown. Insects in the stomach." I am not sure that a detailed English description of the present bird has ever been furnished; and as diagnoses in our own language are always useful as an auxiliary help to the determination of any species, I subjoin the description of a fine specimen sent by Mr. Crossley in the present collection. Above olive-brown, inclining to green on the head and nape, but becoming decidedly brown on the rump and upper tail-coverts; quills brownish black, margined exteriorly with olive-brown, especially on the secondaries, which are almost entirely of this colour, but are very dark; tail dark brown, with cross bands which are only conspicuous in certain lights, the shafts of the feathers black above, whitish brown beneath; lores yellowish; cheeks and ear-coverts brown varied with yellowish ; throat whitish, on the lower part a few longitudinal dull brown markings ; rest of the un- |
