. The birds of South Africa. Birds. 256 EALLID^ SAKOTHBUEA Alecthelia dimidiata, Gurney, in Andersson's B. Daniaraland, p. 320 (1872); Ayres, Ibis, 1877, p. 354. Corethrura rufa, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiii, p. 121 (1894); Shelley, B. Aft: i, p. 177 (1896). Sarothrura rufa, Beichenoiv, Vog. Afr. i, p. 288 (1900). Description. Adult Male.—Head, nape, neck all round, throat and chest, rich rufous chestnut; rest of the upper surface black, longitudinally streaked with white, the latter colour being on the tail more in the form of spots ; primaries brownish-black, the first two with a whitish line al
. The birds of South Africa. Birds. 256 EALLID^ SAKOTHBUEA Alecthelia dimidiata, Gurney, in Andersson's B. Daniaraland, p. 320 (1872); Ayres, Ibis, 1877, p. 354. Corethrura rufa, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiii, p. 121 (1894); Shelley, B. Aft: i, p. 177 (1896). Sarothrura rufa, Beichenoiv, Vog. Afr. i, p. 288 (1900). Description. Adult Male.—Head, nape, neck all round, throat and chest, rich rufous chestnut; rest of the upper surface black, longitudinally streaked with white, the latter colour being on the tail more in the form of spots ; primaries brownish-black, the first two with a whitish line along the outer web; lower breast and rest of the lower surface black, streaked or spotted with white. Iris dark hazel; bill and legs greenish Pig. 80.—Head of Sarothrura rufa. x \l Length about 7-0 ; wing 3-0; tail 2-10; tarsus 1-0; culmen -^b. The female is black above throughout, spotted on the head and back but not on the tail with ochre spots and dashes; beneath the throat is pure unspotted white ; the breast is ochraceous white, spotted and mottled, especially on the sides, with black; the under tail-coverts are black, spotted like the back. Iris, bill and feet dusky-brown. Distribution.—Of the three South African species of this genus the present one seems on the whole to be the most abundant. It has been found in Cape Colony, Natal and the Transvaal and in German territory and extends beyond our limits to South Angola. The following are recorded localities : Cape Colony—Cape div. December (S. A. Mu?.), The Traka in Willowmore (Atmore), St. John's Eiver (Reichenow); Natal—Durban, September (Bt. Mus.); Transvaal—Potcbefstroom, March, July (Ayres); German South- west Africa—Omanbonde (Andersson). Habits.—Like the others of the genus, this bird is found in marshy situations, where it skulks in the long grass and thick stuff and is very difficult to flush ; its flight is excessively feeble, extend- ing only three or four yards, and it can easily be caug
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