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Show 392 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON RIRDS FROM MADAGASCAR. [June 9, der surface of the body dusky olive-brown, yellowish down the centre; edge of the carpal joint yellowish white, bill horn-brown, the lower mandible yellow; feet horn-brown, claws pale yellowish brown. Totallength 6*2 inches; of bill from front 0*5 ; wing 2*4 ; tail 2*9 ; tarsus 0*8. The intensity of the yellow on the throat and olive-brown on the under parts varies in specimens. In the female bird mentioned by Mr. E. Newton (I. ci), and the specimen of which has been lent to me by Professor Newton, the throat is nearly white, the longitudinal marks on the upper part of the breast very distinct, and the abdomen pale yellowish olive, all the colours being clearer than in the specimens in m y own collection. I would here remark that Drymceca morelii, Pollen (Gray's 'Hand-list,' no. 2748), is the present bird (I. c. no. 2845). This oversight, which was pointed out to me by Mr. Gray himself, is not due to any fault of his, as the following facts will show. In the course of last year Mr. Gray received from Mr. Pollen a specimen of Ellisia typica, labelled in Mr. Pollen's own handwriting Drymceca morelii ; and being at work on his ' Hand-list' at the time, he placed the bird in the genus Drymceca, supposing that the description was published in Holland and would in due time make its appearance in this country. No description, however, appeared, the bird being afterwards recognized to be Ellisia typica* by Mr. Pollen ; but the names had already been printed before the mistake could be rectified. MYSTACORNIS (nov. gen. Sylviidarum). Rostrum gracile, elongatum, compressum, dertro recto, gonyde versus apicem paullo ascendente, setis rictalibus nullis ; naribus oblongis linearibus. Alee moderatee, rotundatce, remige primo brevi, secundo et tertio gradatim longioribus, quarto, quinto et sexto eequalibus et lon-gissimis. Cauda fere quadrata, rectricibus 10, mediis paullulo longioribus. Pedes graciles, tarso longo, haud scutellato; digitis lateralibus subcequalibus, exteriore ad basin medio conjuncto ; unguibus debilibus. This genus comes very near to Tatare and Macrosphenus, but has the bill more compressed, and may at once be distinguished by the absence of all rictal bristles. The name Mystacornis was suggested to me by Mr. G. R. Gray; and I have adopted it, as it well expresses the configuration of the head of the typical species. 15. MYSTACORNIS CROSSLEYI. (Plate XXIX.) Bernieria crossleyi, Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1870, p. 50. * Exactly the same circumstances will account for Saxicola arborea, Pollen (Gray's ' Hand-list,' no. 3280), which is Newtonia brunneicauda (I. c. no. 4840), appearing in the ' Hand-list.' |