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?/ ones, THE
ree OL AFRICA,
COMPRISING ALL THE SPECIES WHICH OCCUR
IN THE
ETHIOPIAN REGION.
G. vB. SHELLEY, FZ.5.5 F-BoGso., OC:
(LATE GRENADIER GUARDS),
AUTHOR OF “‘A HANDBOOK TO THE BIRDS OF EGYPT,’
<¢ 4 MONOGRAPH OF THE SUN-BIRDS,” ETC.
WES {ihe
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY
R. H. PORTER, 7, PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W.
1902.
CONTENTS.
List oF PLATES ... aCe
Section II. Anaupai (continued)...
Family Vil. Moraciniipme (con-
tinued) tbo
Genus III. Macronyx
197. Macronyx capensis
198. 3 croceus...
199. a fuelleborni
200. Ja aurantiigula
201. , flavicollis
202. amelie ...
Family VIII. ALAUDIDS ..
Genus I. CerTHILAUDA ...
203. Certhilauda alaudipes
204. a albofasciata ..
205. 5 semitorquata...
206. 5 breviunguis
207. 5 capensis
Genus II. Mrrarra
208. Mirafra nivosa
209. » gilletti... (Pl. xv.)
210. », sabota a a
211. » neevia
212. ~~, ~plebeia
213. —,,_- pecilosterna (PI. xvi. i)
214. », apiata
215. », fischeri
216. ,» rufocinnamomea
217. », rufipilea
218. ,, hypermetra (Pl. xvii. .
219. », Sharpei
220. » athi
221. », africana
222. », cordofanica ...
223. ,, damarensis ...
PAGE
iii.
1
|
924. Mirafra africanoides
225. ,», alopex
226. ,, intercedens (PI. xviii. s
997. sy NHOValees
228, ,, fringillaris
229. », cantillans
230. 5, cheniana
231. » albicauda RN
232. », buckleyi (Pl. xix.)
233. », angolensis as
234. », nigrescens
235. collaris
Genus II. PINAROCORYS...
236. Pinarocorys nigricans
237. is erythropygia...
Genus IV. PyrraubAuDA
238. Pyrrhulauda australis
239. ,, leucoparea
240. » trontalis.. :
241. » nigriceps (Pl. XX.)
249. » verticalis
243. » Ssignata ...
244, » leucotis ... Ee
245. melanocephala ...
Genus V. Racromiees
246, Ammomanes ferruginea
247. », erythrochlamys
248. » phenicuroides
249. », deserti
250. ,, Sambharensis(Pl. =)
951. », lusitana
952. » cinetura
253. _,, _ arenicolor
254. ee
Genus VL. ee
Vi. CONTENTS,
PAGE PAGE
255. Botha difficilis (Pl. xxii.)... 105 | 284. Emberiza hortulana low
Genus VII. GateRita ... oe LOD) | 2855 saan sesssiaene fee pop ol kay)
256. Galerita senegalensis .-- 108 | Genus II. Frinemuaria spe Sia)
257. 5p abyssinica .. 110 | 286. Fringillaria capensis ss LOG
258. 5 ellioti ... Sogn LITE | shri i reidi ... Sonate!
259. 3 preetermissa Son alae} 288. 5 impetuani we D9
Genus VIII. Hentocorys soo. kil} 289. a striolata Soo lanl
260. Heliocorys modesta aeee ts} 290. Ps septemstriata ... 162
Genus IX. CALENDULA ... Pao) em btlis) 991. a tahapisi we 64
261. Calendula erassirostris ... 115 292. socotrana ga5 alloys:
Genus X. ALAUDA 350 ... 117 | Sub-family IL. FRINGILLINS ... 169
262. Alauda personata ... ... 118 | Genus I. Eryrurospiza ... ae 70)
Genus XI. PssupDALZMON ... 118 | 293. Erythrospiza githaginea ... 170
263. Pseudalemon fremantlei ... 119 | Genus II. Linureus wa on abl
264. Pe delamerei ... 120 | 294. Linurgusrufibrunneus ... 172
Genus XII. MenanocorypHa ... 121 | 295. a thomensis ae
265. Melanocorypha rylagorih 121 | 296. x olivaceus ene
Genus XIII. TEPHROcORYS woe 12D 297. 5 kilimensis sei
266. Tephrocorys cinerea ... 123 | Genus III. Curysomitrris comple
267. . ruficeps ... 126 | 298. Chrysomitris totta (Pl. sir) 175
268. ss; blanfordi ... 128 | Genus IV. Serinus Se Boe LAs)
Genus XIV. CaLANDRELLA ... 128 | 299. Serinus nigriceps ... Bo lett
269. Calandrella brachydactyla 129 | 300. » citrinelloides soo, Hts
270. * acutirostris ... 1381 301. * scotops ... aon BS
271. * athensis ... 132 | 802. ,, capistratus kom EIS
972. somalica ee dea 303. », madaraszi . 186
273. “es conirostris ... 133 304. ri canicollis ... ss 186
274. - starki loo 305. x flavivertex seeal89
275. x sclateri . 136 | 306. ,, ‘huillensis <:. ... 190
276. ¥ Yaze ... jos aly 307. », dorsostriatus seen LOL
Genus XV. ALAUDULA ... San 18 308. 3) bucyraceus ; 193
277. Alaudula minor .... eeloo 309. 5 hartlaubi (PI. an) 197
Genus XVI. Otocorys ... ooo lS OmllrelOE » flaviventris $52 2 LOG
278. Otocorys berlepschi 3 J40)) 2315 ;,, marshalls: ae 200
Section III. Frincinuz ... sun 140) Bile: Tee dmMberbisn secs pcp AOE}
Family I. FRincILuip2 ... 566) wet Sule » sulphuratus vs 208
Sub-family I. EmBerizina .. 142 | 314. », donaldsoni waa OK
Genus I. EMBERIZA “oe son 1 B15. .s socotranus sand Ole
279. Emberiza flaviventris ... 143 | 316. pe OUIR=D gees ... 208
280. ,, affinis : 148 | 317. , burtoni ... sone 209
281. ,, poliopleura (Pl. sail.) 149 | 318. , albifrons ... sop KG,
282. », cabanisi site 150 319. iF striolatus ... pe ehlal
283. ,, major us jen ils! 320. » wWhytei ... ce 21S
CONTENTS.
PAGE
321. Serinus alario mas boa) le} 338. Passer insularis
322. », leucopygius sca. BAG: ||) BEBE 5 hemilencus
323. . angolensis... saat pHbyy 340. ,, domesticus
324. » reichenowi son) ee) By an jagoensis ...
325. a xanthopygius vee, 20) B42. | motitensis...
326. » flavigula ... cae Al 343. ;; cordofanicus
327. » crocopygius fe AAA) ake sy shelleyi
328. », albigularis soo B45; 55 arcuatus ...
329. », leucopterus 224 BEG, an simplex
Genus V. Poniospiza . 225 By oy diffusus
330. Poliospiza gularis (Pl. xxvi. i 226 | 348. ,, crassirostris
331. FA canicapilla 228 34955; emini
332. Bs reichardi 229 30), on leuteus
333. 5 tristriata 229 351. euchlora (Pl. xxviii. in
Genus VI. Passer . 232 | Genus VIL. PETRONIA
334. Passer crema (PL. 352. Petronia dentata
XXVil.) .. we 204 || Boo. + pyrgita
335. ,, fcpariolensis ... 2385 | 354. 8 flavigula ...
350s) | 55 italia aa6 ... 236 | InpEx To LATIN NAMES...
Bolen 45 montanus ... soo 2B ENGLISH NAMES
a
Plate XV.,
”
Plate XVI.,
Plate XVII.,
Plate XVIII.,
Plate XIX.,
”
LIST OF PLATES—VOL. III.
fig.
”
fig.
”
Plate XX., figs. g
Plate XXI.,
Plate XXII.,
”
?
Plate XXIII.,
Plate XXIV.,
Plate XXV.,
”
Plate XXVI.,
”
Plate XXVII.,
”
fig.
”
fig.
”
”
fig.
”
fig.
”
Plate XXVIII, fi
”?
”
5 dle
2.
1
2.
2.
2.
g
1
2.
9
a.
2
1.
1
2.
Ike
3
il
2
il,
2
ik,
2
1
2
51
2
rele
melts
Mirafra gilletti
» nevia j
» pecilosterna
» fischeri
athi )
» hypermetra
» intercedens )
» albicauda j
», buckleyi )
» collaris j
Pyrrhulauda nigriceps
Ammomanes samharensis )
Tephrocorys blanfordi j
Botha difficilis
Calandrella starki |
‘ sclateri
Emberiza poliopleura
Fringillaria impetuani —}
Chrysomitris totta )
Serinus capistratus )
» hartlaubi )
», albifrons J
Poliospiza gularis )
3 reichardi j
Passer castanopterus
», Shelleyi
Passer euchlora )
Petronia flavigula j
PAGE
Order I. PASSERIFORMES.
Suborder II. OSCINES.
Section II. ALAUD/A.
Family VII. MOTACILULIDA.
Ton
Genus II]. MACRONYX.
The Long-claws, as Dr. Bowdler Sharpe calls them, in the ‘‘ Birds of South
Africa,” may be described as heavily-built Pipits. Their feet are extremely
large, the hind claw long, and also the tarsus, so that the outstretched feet
extend well beyond the end of the tail, although the tail is not abnormally
short. This character, together with the bright colouring of the throat, and
often of the breast, render the species of this genus easily recognisable.
Anatomically they are Pipits.
Type.
Macronyx, Swains. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 344 (1817). . . . M. capensis.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Five outer pairs of tail-feathers with white
ends; throat and centre of breast reddish
orange ao he’ Jo. hh ih re capensis.
b. Four outer pairs of tail-feathers with white
ends; no shade of red on the throat or
breast.
a+. Throat and some of the breast bright
lemon yellow.
a. Smaller; wing less than 4 inches; upper
parts paler; less brown on the breast croceus.
b?. Larger; wing 4:2 to 4:4; upper parts
darker; more brown on the breast . . fuelleborni. >
(January, 1902,
2 MACRONYX CAPENSIS.
61. Throat orange yellow; eyebrow brownish,
with only the portion in front of the eye
orange.
c?. Some yellow on the middle of the
abdomen. . . 2 «. « . . =. « . aurantugulas ge
d?. No yellow on the breast or abdomen . flavicollis.
c. Three outer pairs of tail-feathers with white
ends; throat and centre of the breast
carminewed) £7.) =) a) aenenen nec CIILEL OC
Macronyx capensis.
Alauda capensis, Linn. S. N. I. p. 288 (1766) Cape of Good Hope.
Macronyx capensis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x. p. 623 (1885) Cape
Col., Natal, Transvaal ; Simonds, Ibis, 1887, p. 333 Orange River
State ; Distant, Naturalist in Transvaal, p. 164 (1892); Kuschel,
J. f. O. 1895, p. 343 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 171 (1896);
Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, pp. 412, 514 Zululand ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers.
p. 93 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 238 (1900); Marshall,
Ibis, 1900, p. 238, Mashona.
Adult male. Upper parts mottled brown, the feathers with blackish
brown centres and broad pale edges ; lesser wing-coverts partially washed
with orange yellow on their edges; bend of wing orange yellow; ends of
primary-coyerts, quills and outer web of first primary narrowly edged with
white ; the five outer pairs of tail-feathers have white ends widening towards
the outer one, which has the outer web white; a broad orange yellow eye-
brow extends from the nostril; remainder of the side of the head buffy
brown, washed with orange and inclining to white in front of the eye; a
narrow black band extends down the sides of the throat and widens out
into a broad black collar across the crop, enclosing a bright orange red
throat ; centre of body, thighs and under tail-coverts chrome yellow, the
latter with large black bases to some of the feathers, and shading into buffy
brown on the flanks, which show some dark shaft-stripes; axillaries white,
partially washed with yellow ; under wing-coverts white, passing into orange
yellow at the bend of the wing; quills ashy brown with partial narrow pale
inner edges. Bill grey with the culmen and tip dusky; iris hazel, tarsi and
feet dull chrome yellow. Total length 8 inches, culmen 0:65, wing 3:9,
tail 4, tarsus 1:35. Newcastle, 9, 13. 6. 81 (A. HK. Butler).
Adult female. Very similar in plumage to the male, but slightly duller ;
eyebrow and throat paler and rather Jess yellow on the breast. Upper
mandible brown, lower one grey ; iris brown, legs flesh-colour. Pinetown,
ls (elle fray (Uh IDE Zeuyadeye)),
Immature. Differs in having the upper parts blacker, with the pale
MACRONYX CAPENSIS. 3
edges to the feathers narrower; eyebrows and throat brownish buff, very
slightly mottled with orange ; black throat-band absent; crop spotted with
a few blackish shaft-marks; bend of wing whitish orange. Wing 3:8.
Grahamstown (Layard).
The Cape Long-claw ranges from Cape Colony into
Zululand and Mashona.
I met with the species near both Cape Town and Durban,
singly or in pairs. They appear never to assemble in flocks,
but to be very generally distributed over suitable country,
such as the open veldt which is here and there interspersed
with bushes and ant-hills, on the tops of which they imme-
diately perch when disturbed. No doubt on account of
this habit Levaillant called the species ‘‘ L’Alouette Senti-
nelle,” a more euphonious name than “ Cut-throat Lark” or
** Kalksentje ;”. by which they are generally known to the
colonists.
Like the other members of the genus Macronyzx, it is
partial to certain localities, for Layard writes: “Mr. W.
Atmore declares that it is never found on Karroo soil, and
we do not remember noticing it near Beaufort; certainly it
is not recorded in Victorin’s collections from the Karroo,
though he appears to have met with it plentifully in the
Knysna district.”
The species is common in Southern Cape Colony, Natal,
Zululand and the Transvaal; but according to Dr. Bradshaw
it is not found along the northern border of Cape Colony,
and it has never been recorded from so far north as the
Zambesi River.
Mr. T. E. Buckley writes: “Very common through
Natal and the High Veldt part of the Transvaal. They
are found singly or in pairs, and fly with several very rapid
beats of the wing together, uttering their call-note all the
time, which is exactly what Layard calls mewing.” Mr. T,
4 MACRONYX CROCEUS.
Ayres considered this species to be the commonest and most
regularly distributed of all the Pipits in the Transvaal
and met with it as far north as the Inshlangreen River
during his expedition into Mashona with Jameson. From
the latter country Mr. Guy Marshall writes: ‘‘This hand-
some Pipit is generally distributed throughout the open
country, but is nowhere plentiful, being found only singly
or in pairs.”
According to Stark, they feed principally on insects and
their larve, and occasionally a few seeds. ‘‘ The nest is
artfully concealed in a hollow under the grass, and is a
cup-shaped structure built of dry grass and root fibres.
The eggs, laid in October or November, are from three to
four in number, cream-coloured, closely spotted and speckled
with various shades of brown and purple. They average
105) x O77.
Macronyx croceus.
Alauda crocea, Vieill. N. Dict. H. N. i. p. 365 (1816).
Macronyx croceus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1870, p. 481 Volta R.; Reichen. and
Lihder, J. f. O. 1873, p. 217 Accra; Shelley and Buckley, Ibis,
1872, p. 290 Accra; Fisch. J. f. O. 1878, p. 279 Wanikaland ;
id. Zeitschr. 1884, p. 8308 Maurui Kilimanjaro; Sharpe, Cat. B. M.
x. p. 626 (1885) Gambia, Gold Coast, Niger, Gaboon, Angola, Natal,
Zambesi, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa; Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 137
Lindi to Galaland, Wapokomoland and Barawa; Biittik, Notes
Leyd. Mus. 1885, p. 174; 1886, p. 253 Liberia ; Sousa, Jorn. Lisb.
1886, p. 84 Ibo Is.; p. 165 Cuce; Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 73
Ruwana R.; Matsch. t. ¢. p. 148 Boga-Katani ; Reichen. t. c.
p- 305 Leopoldville ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1888, p. 28 Wadelai ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1889, p. 284 Quilimane ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 589
Machako's ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 52 Uganda; Bocage Jorn.
Lisb. 1893, p. 162 Galanga ; Shelley, Ibis, 1893, p. 27; 1894, p. 23
Nyasaland ; Reichen. Vig. Deutsch. O. Afr. p. 199 (1894) Usegua,
Bagamoyo, Lindi, Arusha, Rwwana, Ugalla, Karagwe, Kawende ;
Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 343 eqg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 170
(1896) ; Rendall, Ibis, 1896, p. 174 Transvaal; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897,
i
MACRONYX CROCEUS, 5
p. 514 Zulu ; Shelley, t.c. p. 527 Nyasa; Reichen. J. f. O. 1897,
p- 42 Togo ; Jackson, Ibis, 1898, p. 186 Witw; Shelley, ¢. c. pp. 379,
503 Nyasa; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1898, p. 71 Shiré; W. L. Sclater,
Ibis, 1899, p. 112 Inhambane; Alexander, t. c. p. 563 Zambesi ;
Jackson, t. c. p. 629 Karirondo, Kampala, Ntebi, Maw ; Hartert in
Ansorge’s ‘‘ Under Afr. Sun,” p. 348 (1899) Unyoro ; Nehrkorn, Kat.
Hiers, p. 93 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. i. p. 239 (1900) ;
Sharpe, Ibis, 1900, p. 111 Mosambique ; Marshall, ¢. c. p. 288
Mashona ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1901, p. 763 Senegambia ;
Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, p. 340 Niger.
Macronyx flavigaster, Swains. B. W. Afr. i. p. 215 (1837) Senegal ;
Fraser, P. Z. S. 1843, p. 51 Accra; Gordon, Contr. Orn. 1849, p. 10
Gold Coast.
Macronyx striolatus, Heugl. J. f. O. 1863, p. 164 Gazelle R. ; Woodward,
Ibis, 1897, p. 411 Zulu ; 1900, p. 524 St. Lucia Lake.
Adult male. Upper parts pale ashy or rufous brown with blackish
brown centres to the feathers of the crown and mantle ; wings dark brown
with rather broad pale edges to the feathers, of a tawny buff shade passing
into bright yellow towards the outer feathers; under wing-coverts golden
yellow mottled with some black and white; under surface of quills dusky
with faintly marked, broad, tawny buff inner edges; tail dark brown with
the end third of the four outer pairs of feathers white; a broad yellow
eyebrow, remainder of the sides of the head and neck ashy brown fading
almost into white above the gape, and next to the black gorget which starts
from the gape and encircles the middle and lower throat; chin and throat
bright golden yellow ; chest, abdomen, thighs and under tail-coverts golden
yellow with black shaft-stripes on the front and sides of the chest and the
flanks, which latter are partially pale tawny brown. Bill, upper mandible
dark brown, lower one grey ; iris brown; legs stone colour. Total length
7-5 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3:8, tail 3-2, tarsus 1:45, middle toe with claw
1:5, hind toe with claw 1-6. Pinetown, 3’, 16. 6. 75 (T. L. Ayres).
Adult female. Exactly like the male in plumage. Total length 7:2
inches, culmen 0°75, wing 3:7, tail 3, tarsus 1:45. Pinetown, ?, 21. 10. 75
(T. L. Ayres).
Immature. Differs from the ‘adult in having the upper parts slightly
more rufous; eyebrow tawny buff; little or no white or black on the sides
of the head, neck and crop; flanks and under tail coverts mostly pale
tawny buff with a few rather indistinct blackish shaft-stripes. Length in
the flesh 8:5; bill flesh colour shaded with dark brown on the tip and
culmen ; legs pale yellowish brown. Pinetown, 3, 14. 3. 74 (Shelley).
The Common Yellow-throated Long-claw inhabits Africa
south from the Senegal and Gazelle rivers and Somaliland,
avoiding the actual forest.
6 MACRONYX CROCEUS.
Although abundant throughout this wide area the birds
select certain damp grassy spots, usually very limited in
area, from which they rarely wander. ‘This habit is apparently
common to all the species of Macronyz.
The most northern locality yet recorded for this species
is St. Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal river, where
Laglaise procured a specimen which is now in the British
Museum. Swainson received the type of his M. flavigaster
from Senegal and Verreaux specimens, from Casamanse and
Sierra Leone. Dr. Buttikofer, while in Liberia, found them
abundant on the flat country by the Grand Cape Mount
river after it left Fisherman Lake, though in other places,
offering apparently the same conditions, he never saw a
specimen.
On the Gold Coast Ussher found these birds almost
invariably in pairs and remarks: “ The male appears very
fond of the female, and while the latter remains on the
ground the male will take a short flight or soar above her.
They will frequently perch on bushes, especially if disturbed,
but as a rule they prefer marshy and grassy ground.”
The genus Macronyx is not likely to be represented in
the densely wooded mountains of Aguapim, so the specimen
recorded in the list of Riis’s collection from that district,
no doubt came from the plains of Accra where the present
species is abundant. Ussher met with it at the Volta river,
and Baumann in T'ogoland. In the Niger district Forbes
found these birds at Shonga and Mr. Hartert met with them
in the Kashia valley.
The species has not been recorded from Camaroons, but
has been met with in Gaboon by Du Chaillu at Cape Lopez
and by Marche at Fernand Vaz. Falkenstein, Lucan and
Petit have all procured specimens on the Loango Coast, and
Bohndorff on the Congo river at Leopoldville. Monteiro
MACRONYX CROCEUS. 7
found them at Cambambe in Angola, where they were called
“ Dibaquela” by the natives. In Benguela Anchieta has
collected specimens at Galanga, Ambaca, Caconda, Huilla
and Cuce, at which latter place it is known to the natives
as the “ Kilongo.”
I can find no mention of these birds from any part of
Western South Africa between Huilla and Cape Town,
Grahamstown being the most western locality known to me in
Cape Colony, from whence the species has been procured.
According to Stark, this species is rarely found in Cape
Colony. It is the commonest Long-claw in the lower parts of
Natal, Zululand and the Transvaal. It “does not appear to
differ in any of its habits from M. capensis, and in localities
where the two species occur together I have in vain tried
to detect any peculiarity, apart from colour, by which they
might be distinguished. Their call-notes are, to my ear,
exactly the same, and their eggs are exactly similar.”
The eggs of this species in the British Museum are of a
blunt oval shape and moderately glossy, they differ from those
of M. capensis in the same collection only in being rather
less boldly marked.
In Natal these birds are decidedly abundant in certain
places. I found them generally in pairs, and when disturbed
from the high grass they flew to the topmost branch of
some neighbouring tree. I only met with them at Durban
within half a mile of one spot; here they were fairly
plentiful on a patch of marshy ground covered with tall
grass and bushes, and although there is much similar country
within the semicircle formed by the Berea hills, | never saw
one in any other place. My friend, Mr. T. L. Ayres, collected
for me many specimens at Pinetown. In Zululand Messrs.
Woodwards obtained the species at Hschowe: ‘‘ Common
everywhere,” they write, “it is naturally very tame; boys
8 MACRONYX CROCEUS.
knock over numbers of them with their sticks, and grass-fires
are apt to destroy their nests.”
One Transvaal specimen in the British Museum has a
horny spike on each side of the throat, and in another from
Natal I found a similarly placed bare patch with the indication
of a small wattle. I presume that this is the effect of some
disease to which the species is subject.
This Long-claw has been met with by Dr. Rendall in the
Barberton district of the Transvaal, and at Inhambane by Mr.
Francis, and the former naturalist remarks: ‘‘ As this bird
circles down and alights with outspread wings, the tail is
also spread and the white rectrices are noticeable. It has a
short and rather pleasing song while on the wing.” Mr.
H. 8. H. Cavendish procured a specimen near Beira and Dr.
Stuhlmann others at Quilimane, where the natives call it
“Djogore Mreo.” <A few miles further north Serpo Pinto
met with the species at Kisanga and on the adjacent island of
Ibo, where the natives call it the ‘ Hsse.” At the Zambesi
Sir John Kirk found it abundant on the sea-coast of the Delta.
Further up the river Capt. Boyd Alexander shot a pair in full
breeding plumage at Senna in February. “The male bird
kept perching on the tops of the bushes and uttering a pleasant
song, after which it would suddenly shoot straight up into
the air and alight once more a little further off.” In Nyasa-
land specimens have been collected at Zomba, Fort Johnston,
'shiromo, Mtondwe and Kasungu. ‘To the north of Lake
Nyasa one of Dr. Fulleborn’s specimens of Long-claws have
been referred to a new species, M. fiilleborni, Reichen, but the
present species is very well represented throughout Central
and Hast Africa, where specimens have been collected by
Bohm at Boga-Katana, by Fischer at Lindi, the Rovuma river,
Bagamoyo, Lamu, the Tana river, Barawa and Gallaland; by
Sir Jobn Kirk at Dar-es-Salam, Zanzibar and the Usambara
MACRONYX FUELLEBORNI. 9
country. From Zanzibar to the Upper White Nile specimens
have been collected by Emin at Altoni, Mahagi, Mbero,
Muggi, Kiri and Wadelai. Dr. Stuhlmann found it near the
north-western shores of the Victoria Nyanza at Towalia and
Manjonjo, and there is a specimen in the British Museum from
the Albert Edward Nyanza, obtained by Mr. Scott Elliot.
Heuglin met with four or five pairs, including the type of his
Macronyx striolatus, all in one place, near the source of the
Gazelle river in the Rek country, which is the furthest known
range of the species down the Nile valley. Dr. Ansorge
collected specimens at Mruli on the Kafu river in Unyoro
and at Ntibua in Usogalaland. Mr. Jackson’s collection
contains examples from Kavirondo, Kampala, Ntebi, and he
writes: “Plentiful in the open on the eastern slopes of Mau.
Almost invariably in pairs all the year round.” On the Mau
downs he found them up to an elevation of 8,000 feet; he
also procured specimens at Machako’s and at Witu. The
furthest northern range for this species on the coast of
Eastern Africa is Barawa in about 1° N. lat.
Macronyx fuelleborni.
Macronyx fiilleborni, Reichen Orn. Monatsb. 1900, p. 39 Unika.
Type. Similar to M. croceus, but larger ; upper parts darker and the
under surface of the body browner.
Upper surface similar to that of M. croceus, but with the pale edges
to the feathers darker; back and scapulars shaded with rufous; rump
and upper tail-coverts uniform brown; lores, eyebrow and throat yellow,
the latter surrounded by a black gorget; breast and under tail-coverts
yellowish brown with the centre of the breast bright yellow; under wing-
coverts whitish ; tail like that of MW. croceus. Total length, 8:4 to 88
inches ; culmen 0°8, wing 4:2 to 4°4, tail 3-2, tarsus 1-5.
Fiilleborn’s Yellow-breasted Long-claw inhabits the Unika
highlands to the north of Lake Nyasa.
Not having seen a specimen of M. /fiilleborni, I can only
10 MACRONYX AURANTIIGULA.
remark that its large size appears to me to be the character
which most readily distinguishes it from M. croceus. The wing
is stated to vary from 4:2 inches to 4:4, a difference which
is probably sexual; but this wing measurement is quite a
quarter of an inch longer than that of any specimen of
M. croceus 1 have yet examined.
Macronyx aurantiigula.
Macronyx aurantiigula, Reichen. J. f, O. 1891, p. 222 Pangani R. ;
id. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 199 (1894); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 172
(1896).
Macroynx croceus (nec Vieill.) Fisch. Zeitschr. 1884, p. 308 (fide
Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 52).
Type. Similar to MW. crocews, but with the throat more orange yellow;
middle of the abdomen yellowish; remainder of the under surface of the
body, the thighs and under tail-coverts pale brown with dusky streaks ;
eyebrow brownish, with the portion in front of the eye orange; four outer
pairs of tail-feathers with white ends to the inner webs. Total length 7-2
inches, wing 3°55, tarsus 1:2.
The Pangani Orange-throated Long-claw inhabits the
country to the north of the Pangani river.
The type is recorded as coming from the Pangani, and
Dr. Richenow informs us that the M. croceus of Fischer from
the Maeru mountains and Maurui, belong to this species.
I have not seen an authentic specimen; but judging from
the original description this bird appears to be very nearly
allied to M. flavicollis, from which it differs in having some
yellow on the abdomen.
Fischer found a nest of this species on the Maeru
mountains, July 24. It was placed under a tuft of grass
and was constructed of that material. The eggs were of
a chalky white thickly streaked with ashy yellowish brown
and mottled with scattered rufous brown blotches; 0°9 x
0°65 inch.
MACRONYX FLAVICOLLIS. 11
Macronyx flavicollis.
Macronyx flavicollis, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 102, pl. 38, fig. 2 (1835)
Abyssinia; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x. p. 625 (1885) Shoa, Abyssinia ;
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genov. 1884, p. 169; 1888, p. 265, Gigl. f.c. p. 35
Shoa ; Hartert, Kat. Vég. Mus. Senck. p. 41 (1891) Abyssinia, 2 juv. ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 173 (1896) ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 142; 1901,
p. 633 S. Abyssimia.
Adult. Similar to M. capensis, but differs in being smaller; upper parts
more strongly mottled; throat duller orange, not shaded with red; the
broad eyebrow yellow in front of the eye and buffy white behind; the black
on the sides of the throat more extended and margined on the sides of the
neck with a broadish buffy white band ; breast, thighs and under tail-coverts
brownish buff with scarcely any yellow shade down the centre of the body ;
sides of the chest and the flanks strongly marked with blackish shaft-stripes ;
the yellow on the wing with no orange shade; axillaries white. Total
length 6:7 inches, culmen 0-6, wing 3:5, tail 2-8, tarsus 1:2. Shoa, 3,
10. 7. 78 (Antinor?).
The Abyssinian Long-claw is apparently restricted to the
Abyssinian district.
In Gallaland and Shoa, Antinori and Dr. Ragazzi have
collected many specimens; but although by no means
uncommon it appears, like all the other members of this
genus, to have a special predilection for certain spots.
Antinori’s specimens came from Rugghié in Gallaland and
Woddeccia in Shoa, and Dr. Ragazzi’s from Antoto and
Fallé. Lord Lovat, during the Weld-Blundell expedition
from Berbera to the Blue Nile, collected specimens at Jeffi
Dunsa and Balti (9° N. lat., 39° EH. long.), and writes:
“A bird of the high plateaux, often observed to perch on
trees”; and according to Mr. A. HE. Pease, it has a clear
note, uttered when on the wing as well as when settled on
trees, and was abundant here in pairs on the higher plateau.
Riippell, who discovered the type, records the species as
abundant in Abyssinia, and Heuglin frequently met with pairs
and small parties in the highlands of Semien, Wogara and
12 MACRONYX AMELIZ.
Begemeder, between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. According to
Dr. Blandford, ‘It was only seen on the highest parts of
the Dalanta plateau and near the crest of the Wandaj pass,
and was never observed below 10,000 feet. It was not
common, but occurred generally in pairs.”
Macronyx amelie.
Macronyx amelie, de Tarr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 452; Heugl. Orn. N. O.
Afr. p. 830 (1870); Sharpe, Cat. B. M. x. p. 628 (1885) Natal ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 174 (1896); Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 240
(1900).
Macronyx wintoni, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, pp. 444, 589 Kavirondo ; Neum.
J. f. O. 1898, pp. 233, 235; Reichen. Werth. Mittl. Hochl. nord. D.
O. Afr. p. 279 (1898) Manyara lake ; Alexander, Ibis, 1899, p. 563
Zambesi ; Jackson, t. c. p. 630 Naiwasha.
Adult. Crown, entire back, upper tail-coverts and scapulars brownish
black, with buffy brown sides to the feathers, as in M. flavicollis ; wings
brownish black, the feathers mostly with buffy brown edges, but the outer web
of the first primary and the broad edges to many of the smaller wing-coverts
pure white, the latter forming a clear broad white band next to the median
series of coverts; a few of the least coverts and the bend of the wing rosy red ;
axillaries and under wing-coverts white, washed with vermilion at the bend
of the wing; under surface of the quills dusky ash, with ill-defined pale
inner margins; tail brownish black with pale edges to the feathers, and
distinct white ends present on the three outer pairs of feathers; sides of
head and neck pale rufous brown, slightly whiter on the broad eyebrow and
down the sides of the neck adjoining the black gorget; chin and throat
uniform carmine red; sides of body, thighs and under tail-coverts buffy
brown, strongly marked with black shaft-stripes, shades into bright carmine
towards the centre of the breast. Bill grey, shading into dark brown on the
tip and culmen; iris brown; tarsi and feet yellowish brown. Total length
7-4 to 8:3 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 3:4 to 3:7, tail 3, tarsus 1:25, middle toe
with claw 1:25, hind toe with claw 1:25. Umlaas R. (Gordge). Type of M.
wintoni. Exactly like the Natal specimens, with the exception of the bill
being slightly shorter. Culmen 0:5, wing 3:6.
The Rosy-breasted Long-claw ranges over Hastern Africa
from Natal, probably into Abyssinia.
During the month I passed at Durban | never saw this
species, nor was it known to my friend, Mr. T. L. Ayres, who
MACRONYX AMELIZ. 13
then lived at Pinetown. However, his father, Mr. T. Ayres,
remarks: “‘ These beautiful birds are not nearly so common
as most other species in Natal; they are to be found along
the coast on marshy flats, and are fond of perching on small
mounds early in the morning and sunning themselves.”
After my return to England Mr. Gordge sent me five
specimens from the watershed of the Umlaas river, between
Durban and the Tugela, which are now in the British Museum
along with one obtained by Mr. Fellowes to the north of the
Tugela, where he found the species not uncommon. Messrs.
Woodwards saw them at St. Lucia lake in Zululand, and
according to Holub, Bradshaw procured a specimen of this
species at the Pantamatenka river.
Stark writes: “On the flat and swampy grass lands
bordering on the coast of Natal this brilliant coloured Pipit
is by no means uncommon, and from its habits of perching
on ant-heaps and other slightly elevated spots, where its
bright pink throat and chest are easily visible, it is not
readily overlooked. Like its congeners, it has a ‘‘mewing”’
eall-note, usually uttered as it flies from one perch to another ;
in spring the male in addition has a short, hurried song,
uttered as it hovers for a few seconds in the air. This Pipit
feeds on grass- and other small seeds, to a larger extent on
various insects, small grasshoppers, young locusts, beetles
and termites. A nest containing four eggs, found near
. Durban in November, was built in a hollow at the foot of
an ant-hill. It was deeply cup-shaped, constructed of grass
Ls stems, lined with finer grass and a few horsehairs. ‘The eggs
resemble those of M. capensis and M. croceus, but are somewhat
smaller, averaging 0°95 x 0°70.
—— ea
I fail to see any character for separating M. wintoni
from M. amelie. At Chicowa, on the Zambesi, Captain Boyd
Alexander -obtained an immature specimen in long grass,
14 ALAUDIDZ.
which he compares with the type of M. wintoni (Ibis, 1899,
p. 563). The latter was shot by Mr. Jackson in Kavirondo,
October 22, 1839, and Dr. Sharpe writes: “This is an
interesting discovery of Mr. Jackson’s, considered along
with the appearance of Chera procne and Pyromelana taha in
Central East Africa. In the case of the two last-named
birds I was unable to find any specific differences from
South African examples, but the present bird is quite
recognisable from M. amelix by its smaller size and much
smaller bill.” Mr. Jackson also procured a specimen near
Naiwasha lake, August 6, 1897. In this country to the
east of the Victoria Nyanza between Manyara lake and
Kavirondo, Mr. Neumann appears to have found the species
fairly abundant, and it probably ranges northward into
Southern Abyssinia, for Heuglin mentions a specimen of
M. ameliz in the collection of Prince Paul, of Wiirtemberg.
Family VII. ALAUDIDA.
The Larks differ from all the other Oscines in having the back of the
tarsus scaled.
Bill variable and often somewhat Finch-like. Nostrils hidden by
bristly plumes or exposed. Wing generally with ten primaries, unless
the bastard-primary, which is very variable in size, is entirely absent, as
in Ca’andrella ; longest secondary generally reaches nearly or quite to the
tip of the wing, but in Otocorys, Rhamphocorys and Melanocorypha it falls
short by at least the length of the tarsus. Tarsi fairly long; hind claw
very variable, never strongly curved, but sometimes abnormally long and
straight. Plumage generally mottled, consisting of white, brown, rufous
and black, rarely with any yellow and never with any other bright colours,
and is well adapted for protection in the open country these birds frequent.
Nest, cup-shaped, constructed of dry grass, placed on the ground in
a slight depression and generally hidden beneath a tuft of grass. The
number of eggs in a nest varies from two to five; they have a characteristic
colouration, being whitish freckled with brown, which latter colour
generally forms a somewhat distinct zone towards the larger ends.
In 1896, when I published my list of the birds of the Ethiopian Region,
ALAUDIDZ. 15
I followed the arrangement of the Larks proposed by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe
(Cat. B. M. xiii.) ; but on working out the ‘‘ keys” to the genera and species,
I have somewhat altered my views. Alemon and Heterocorys are not, I
think, worth separating from Certhilauda, and I find no characters for
distinguishing Spilocorydon from Mirafra or Spizocorys from Calandrella.
The Alaudide I divide into two sections: those with ten primaries and
those with only nine. This character readily distinguishes the Calandrella
group from Alauda. By disregarding the character of an abnormally long
hind claw for Alauda, that genus would include not only A. arvensis and
its sub-species, but also Spilocorys personata, Sharpe ; otherwise a new genus
would be required for the reception of this one species, which I consider
it would be folly to propose.
In my key to the genera I have entered the names of all that I can
recognise and have placed, between brackets, those which have not been
met with in the Ethiopian Region.
The genus Certhilawda runs very closely into Mirafra through the
typical Certhilauda capensis and Certhilauda nivosa, Swains.; which latter is
a true Mirafra.
I have restricted the genus Mirafra to birds in which the sexes are
similar in plumage and the upper parts always mottled. I therefore propose
the new generic name Pinarocorys for the reception of Alauda nigricans,
Sundey., and Alauda erythrophygia, Strickl., in which the coloured pattern
of the wings is very dissimilar in the males and females, and the crown and
back uniform in old birds.
I place Pyrrhulauda next, as it is the only other genus of the Alaudide
in which the sexes differ in the colouring and pattern of the plumage.
The very remarkable genus Rhamphocorys may follow and be succeeded
by Ammomanes, leaving a number of nearly allied genera, all with the backs
mottled, to end the section of Larks which have ten primaries. These
include Botha, gen. nov., Lullula, Galerita, Heliocorys and Calendula, which
constitute the Galerita group, and Alauda, Pseudalemon and Melanocorypha
belonging to the Alauda group.
Among the specimens examined I have found an immature bird which
I cannot locate in any known genus, so make it the type of Botha, a new
generic name. In the structure of the wings, tarsi, feet and hind claws it
agrees well with Galerita, but the bill is very different and also the pattern
of the tail. Zullula, Galerita, Heliocorys and Calendula are scarcely dis-
tinguishable genera. Calendula in its almost obsolete crest approaches in
this respect to Alauda.
I now come to the section of Larks characterised by having no bastard
primary, including Alaudula, Calandrella and Tephrocorys, extremely near
allies, and finish with the well-marked genus Otocorys.
16 ALAUDID.
KEY TO THE GENERA.
a. Wing of ten primaries, the first a bastard
primary.
a1, Bill long and slender, culmen longer than
the middle toe with claw.
a?. Bastard-primary small, shorter than
culmen seis in Lee
b?. Bastard-primary large, longer than
culmen Nes ee tent OS pat a
b1, Bill not abnormally long and slender.
c?. Nostrils exposed.
a*, Shortest secondary falls short of tip of
wing by less than the length of the
tarsus; mantle always mottled;
amount of rufous and the pattern of
the wing never varies in adult birds.
b8, Shortest secondary falls short of tip
of wing by the length of the tarsus ;
crown and mantle in adults uniform ;
amount of rufous and pattern of
wing varies in adult birds
d?. Nostrils hidden by plumelets.
c8, Sexes extremely dissimilar in colour-
ing; adult males with the ear-coverts
uniform white or black; females
brown and white with the under
wing-coyerts black.
d. Sexes alike in plumage.
a*, Upper parts uniform, sandy or ashy.
a®, Bill extremely thick, with the
cutting edge of the upper man-
dible festooned. Seen Oe kc
b>, Bill moderate, cutting edges of
bill normal and not festooned.
b+. Upper parts mottled with dark
centres to the feathers.
c5, Bastard primary larger, not
shorter than the culmen; hind
claw longer than the hind toe and
very slightly curved.
a®. Culmen straight; bill very
Finch-like :
(CHERSOPHILUS).
CERTHILAUDA,
MirAFRA.
PINAROCORYS.
PyRRHULAUDA.
(RHAMPHOCORYS).
AMMOMANES.
Borua.
ALAUDID&.
6&, Culmen curved ;_ bill not Finch-
like.
a7. Crown more crested;
slighter.
a®, Patches of white on the
wings and on the ends of
the five outer pairs of tail
feathers. Spe, hae
68. No white on wings, pale
pattern of tail confined to
the two outer pairs of
features.
a®. Crest longer
b®. Crest shorter oi
b7. Crown less crested; bill
rather stout . cia Ste
d> Bastard primary small, shorter
than the culmen.
c®. Secondaries reaching nearly or
quite to the tip of the wing.
c7. Bill moderate, culmen shorter
than middle toe with claw .
d7. Bill stout, culmen longer
than middle toe with claw
d®. Secondaries falling short of tip
of wing by length of tarsus .
6. Wing of nine primaries only, the bastard
primary being absent.
c’. No elongated black hornlets on sides of
bill
head; secondaries not falling short of
tip of wing by so much as the length of
the tarsus.
e*. Secondaries reaching nearly or quite to
tip of wing.
e8, Crown mostly bright chestnut in
adults .
f8. No bright chestnut on the crown .
f?. Secondaries falling short of tip of wing by
more than half the length of the tarsus.
d‘. Adults with black hornlets on sides of
head; secondaries falling short of tip of
wing by more than length of tarsus
[January 1902
17
(Lunwuna),
GALERITA,
Hetiocorys.
CALENDULA.
ALAUDA.
PsEUDALZ/MON.
MELANOCORYPHA.
TEPHROCORYS.
CALANDRELLA.
ALAUDULA.
Ortocorys.
18 CERTHILAUDA.
Genus I CHRTHILAUDA.
Bill long and slender; culmen longer than the middle toe with claw;
nostrils exposed. Wing of ten primaries, the first a bastard-primary more
than one inch in length; second primary shorter than the fifth. Tarsi and
feet pale.
Type.
Certhilauda, Swains. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 344
(1827) . . . . GC. capensis.
Alemon, Keys. nal Blag, Witb. Eur, p. XXXVI.
(1840) . . . . OC. alaudipes.
Chersomanes, Cab. “Mus. TERE, if 7 126 (1850) C. albofasciata.
Heterocorys, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1874, p.625 . C. breviunguis.
The genus Certhilauda, as I have here defined it, includes five species,
all natives of the Ethiopian Region, and one only, C. alaudipes, ranges into
North Africa and Asia, for I do not admit Alauda desertorwm, Stanley, to be
distinct from Upupa alaudipes, Desf.
The character of the long and slender bill excludes Certhilauda nivosa,
Swains., which is a species of Mirafra, belonging to the same group as
M. sabota, and the genus Chersophilus, Sharpe, C. B. M. xiii. p. 526 is
excluded by its small bastard-primary.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Mantle uniform; secondaries, with the excep-
tion of the inner ones, white crossed oe a
broad blackish bar . . . . . . alaudipes. |9
b. Cone mottled ; no white on ine wing.
. Tail short, min broad white ends to all but
the centre pair of feathers. . . . albofasciata.
1, Tail longer ; no white ends to the featheee
a?, Abdomen and flanks uniform.
. Dark centres to feathers of crown and
mantle narrow . . senutorquata. 2
b? Dark centres to feathers or crown bad
mautle broad. . . . breviunguis. 2 ©
6%. Breast and flanks strongly pizeaked . . capensis.
CERTHILAUDA ALAUDIPES. as)
Certhilauda alaudipes.
Upupa alaudipes, Desf. Mém. Acad. 1787, p. 504.
Certhilauda alaudipes, Hartert, Kat. Vég. Mus. Senck, p. 38 (1891)
Kordofan ; Koenig, J. f. O. 1896, p. 216, pl. 7, figs. 5a, 5b, eggs.
Alemon alaudipes, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 518 (1890) Cape Verde Is. ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 178 (1896); Alexander, Ibis, 1898, pp. 112,
116, 281; Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1898, p. 146; Salvad. Ann. Mus.
Genov. 1899, p. 294 Cape Verde Is. ; L. Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 400
Somali; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers, p. 132 (1899) egg.
Alauda desertorum, Stanley, in Salt’s Exped. Abyss. App. p. Ix. (1814).
Alemon desertorum, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 519 (1890) Abyssinia,
Sind, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 179 (1896) ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 65
Somali ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers, p. 132 (1899) egg ; Grant, Ibis, 1901,
p. 287 Zeila ; p. 626 Somali.
Alauda bifasciata, Licht. Verz. Double p. 27 (1823) Nubia.
Certhilauda meridionalis, A. E. Brehm. J. f.O. 1854, p. 77 note, Dongola.
Certhilauda salvini, Tristram, Ibis, 1859, p. 57 Algeria.
Certhilauda dori, Salvad. Att. R. Ac. Torin. iii. p. 292 (1867).
Certhilauda jessei, Finsch, Trans. L. §. vii. p. 273 (1870) Annesley Bay.
Adult male. Upper parts uniform sandy buff with a slight tinge of grey
on the head, neck and upper tail-coverts ; crown and upper back with nearly
obsolete brown shaft stripes; lesser wing-coverts sandy buff; inner greater
coverts and inner secondaries sandy buff with ashy brown centres ;
remainder of the wing dark brown with the following portions white—edges
of the median coverts, broad ends to the greater coverts, broad outer
margins to the secondaries, a broad band across the base and another at the
ends of the secondaries, the former extending across the primaries with the
exception of the outer webs of the first four quills, and the latter extends on
to the four inner primaries only ; tail square, with the extreme base white
and the remainder blackish brown, fading into grey on the centre feathers
which are broadly edged with sandy buff, the outer tail-feather on each side
has nearly the whole of the outer web white; eyebrow and side of head
white with a patch on the lower cheek, and upper ear-coverts black; under
parts white with a faint ashy shade on the crop, the latter boldly spotted
with brownish black centres to the feathers; under surface of the wings
white with a large blackish brown portion of the quills narrowing into a bar
across the secondaries. ‘Iris dark brown, bill grey, legs white.’ Total
length in the flesh 9:1 inches, culmen 1:05, wing 5:0, tail 2°7, tarsus 1-4. 3,
15.1.97. Berbera (Lort Phillips).
Adult female. Differs from the male in being much smaller and of
a slightly more sandy colour, the grey shade being almost entirely absent.
Total length in the flesh 8 inches, culmen 0°95, wing 4:2, tail 3:2, tarsus 1:2,
?,15.1.97. Berbera (Lort Phillips).
20 CERTHILAUDA ALAUDIPES.
The Great Long-billed Lark ranges over the desert portions
of North Africa into the Cape Verde Islands, Somaliland and
the coastlands of Southern Asia to as far east as Sind.
The most western range known for this species is Boavista,
the nearest island of the Cape Verde group to the African
continent and it has not been recorded from any other of
these islands. It is evidently a very common species here,
and a resident according to Mr. Boyd Alexander, who writes :
«This species frequents the sandy portion of the island near
the sea. Throughout the day we found it either singly or
in pairs, but as a rule, the males kept to themselves, while
each female was invariably accompanied by a single immature
bird.” He also writes: “The eggs, two in number, are laid
on the bare ground, in a depression, underneath a stone, or
among the ruins of a wall. Their ground colour is dirty
white, blotched and spotted with reddish brown, with under-
lying markings of purplish grey, which often form a thick
zone round the larger end. Measurements: length 1:0 to 0-9
inch; breadth 0°7 to 0°63 inch. Incubation is performed
by the female, and while she sits the male bird will decoy
with antics the intruder right imto the opposite direction to
where the nest is situated.” He found them breeding in
September and obtained twelve specimens and remarked that
locusts formed their chief food, and further writes: ‘* Alemon
alaudipes will sometimes perch on trees, while its manner on
the ground is very Thrush-hke. It runs in front of its
pursuer, with head bent low, now and again stopping and
then raising its head as if to listen. Its flight is slow and
clumsy, and rather Jay-like in action, while the broad white
bars on the wings are very conspicuous as the bird travels
forward, only to alight, however, a few yards ahead of the
spectator. Towards sundown individuals come together from
far and near and resort to a favourite spot for an evening
CERTHILAUDA ALAUDIPES, 21
meal. The love-call of the male during the breeding-season
has the ring of a clarion in it, and can be heard at a great
distance. At this call, uttered three or four times in rapid
succession, the female comes to his side, and he then shoots
up into the air above her head uttering the whole time his
note, which becomes tremulous as the flight upward is
completed, and then he drops down again with a float-like
motion of the wings almost upon the head of his consort.”
The most southern locality known to me for this species
is the Berbera plains of Somaliland, where my friends, Mr.
Lort Phillips and Mr. Hawker, collected specimens in January
and February. The former naturalist writes: ‘‘ These strange
Desert-birds were very plentiful on the Berbera Plain in
January, and as they were invariably met with in pairs, they
may have been breeding. ‘Their colouring so exactly matches
that of the sand and stones among which they live, that they
might easily escape observation altogether, were it not for
the long-drawn melodious note frequently uttered. When
followed they run with the greatest swiftness, instead of taking
to flight.” Mr. Hawker found these birds generally on the
salt-flats near the sea shore, where Mr. A. H. Pease considers
them to be common and saw them feeding there by moonlight.
The species frequents the most desert portions of the
land on each side of the Red Sea. From Zoulla in Abyssinia,
there are six specimens in the British Museum, including the
type of Alemon jessei, Finsch. The specimens in Rippell’s
collection came from Kordofan, Dongola and Arabia. Heuglin
generally met with these Larks in pairs along the caravan
routes, and likens their short weak flight to that of the
Hoopoe, but when on the ground running they resembled the
Cream-coloured Courser, which latter bird it strongly reminded
me of when I saw it in Egypt hurrying along the ground
without stopping, till I lost sight of it in the distance on the
desert sand.
22 CERTHILAUDA ALBOFASCIATA.
The species is divided by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (Cat. B. M.
xiii.) into two subspecies: a pale form Alemon alaudipes, p.
518, and a darker one, A. desertorum, p. 519. These are both
well figured by Mr. Dresser, B. Eur. iv. pl. 226, under the
name of Certhilauda desertorum.
Specimens from the Cape Verde Islands and from Somali-
land in the British Museum agree perfectly in their shade of
colouring, and therefore as the former is not always paler
than those from tropical North-east Africa I see no justification
for cutting up this species.
It appears to me that the species, although it has a fairly
wide range, is essentially local. That is to say, any members
having selected an isolated barren spot, as is their custom,
never willingly leave it, and consequently breed in and in for
generations; if in doing so they are establishing new sub-
species is a question.
Certhilauda albofasciata.
Certhilauda albofasciata, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1836, Ois. p. 3, pl. 58, S. Afr.
Certhilauda garrula, Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 106, fig. 1 (1846)
Cape Col. ; Chapman, Trav. 8. Afr. 11. p. 400 (1868) Gt. Namaqua ;
Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 37 (1891) S. Afr.
Certhilauda rufula (nec Vieill.) Butler, Feilden and Reid, Zool 1882,
p. 302 Natal; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 515 (1890) Gt. Namaqua,
Cape Col., Natal, Transvaal ; Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 411 Kalahari ;
Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 344 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 177
(1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 132 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun.
8. Afr. B. i. p. 234 (1900).
Adult male. Upper parts rufous shaded brown, slightly paler on the
hind neck and passing into bright rufous on the tail-coverts and with rather
narrow blackish shaft-stripes on the feathers of the crown and back, the
latter somewhat mottled with broad buff terminal edges to the feathers, more
marked in younger birds; wings brown, the feathers with pale edges,
broadest on the coverts and secondaries, which latter have dark submarginal
lines next to the buff edges; tail short and rounded, blackish, with very
broad rufous edges to the centre pair of feathers and large patches of white
CERTHILAUDA ALBOFASCIATA, 23
at the ends of all the others; sides of the head rufous with the cheeks and
an indistinct broad eyebrow paler ; under surface of the body pale cinnamon,
somewhat mottled with buff and fading into white on the throat; a few
blackish shaft-stripes on the lower throat and crop; under surface of the
wings brown; with the under wing-coverts pale cinnamon and partial buff
inner margins to the quills. ‘Iris light ashy brown; bill dusky, with the
lower mandible paler and more ashy; tarsi and feet pale ashy brown ”’
(I. Ayres). Total length 6:2 inches, culmen 0:8, wing 3:5, tail 2-0; tarsus
1:0. Hope Town (Atmore).
Immature. Slightly darker than the adult; crown and mantle spotted
with white, the ends of the feathers being broadly edged with white with
a partial black subterminal bar; chest and flank with blackish brown spots.
3, juv. 7. 5. 78. Potchefstroom (T. Ayres).
The Rufous Long-billed Lark inhabits South Africa, south
of about 20° S. lat.
Mr. Fleck found the species in the Kalahari. Chapman
and Andersson do not appear to have met with it further
north than Great Namaqualand, for although Dr. Bowdler
Sharpe in 1874 refers to two specimens then in his collec-
tion, as labelled ‘‘Damaraland (Andersson),” Andersson writes :
“T have not observed this species in Damaraland, but it is
common in some parts of Great Namaqualand, frequenting
very open localities covered with grass and bush, where it
runs about with great swiftness.” In the northern portion of
Cape Colony the late Sir Andrew Smith obtained the type
of his Certhilauda garrula, a rather dark specimen, which is
now in the British Museum along with others from Great
Namaqua, Hope Town, Colesberg and Port Elizabeth.
To the eastward of Cape Colony, Messrs. Butler, Feilden
and Reid record the species as being: “ Extremely abundant
about Newcastle, found in small flocks on the open veldt,
generally where there are ant-hills or loose rocks among the
grass. Flies low and rapidly, displaying its white-tipped tail
very conspicuously, and dropping with astonishing suddenness
into the grass. Nest very small indeed, placed under a slight
24 CERTHILAUDA ALBOFASCIATA.
projecting lump of earth or bit of coarse stunted grass. Eggs
three, very variable in colouring, the ground colour being
white, more or less distinctly speckled and blotched with
brownish ash or brown. They measure 0°7 x 0°5 inch. In
some the markings are fine, in others they take the form of
large obscure blotches.”
In the Transvaal Mr. T. Ayres found these Larks in the
open country in small companies, rising abruptly and as
abruptly settling down again in the grass; and when on the
wing they constantly uttered a low chirping note. He found
a nest of this Lark at Mamusa, some little distance from the
river; it was placed under a tuft of grass and was composed
of rough grass outwardly, lined with roots of fine grass, and
partially arched over with the rough grass of which the outer
portion of the nest was constructed; it contained two eggs,
one of which was larger than the other.
With regard to its habits, the late Dr. Stark writes: “ Like
the other Long-billed Larks, this species keeps much to the
ground in rather open stony localities. Here it runs with
great swiftness, and endeavours to escape detection by
suddenly stopping and crouching on the ground in spots that
assimilate in colour with the plumage, and this manceuvre is
frequently successful. The flight of this Lark is undulating;
its note is a clear and prolonged whistle.” The specimens
I have seen from Great Namaqualand are very much paler
and of a more sandy shade than those from Natal and the
Transvaal, while examples of an intermediate colouring come
from Cape Colony; and I agree with Dr. Sharpe’s opinion
that ‘the difference in depth of colouration probably depends
upon the habitat of the birds themselves and the nature of
the country they frequent.”
=
CERTHILAUDA SEMITORQUATA. Ze
cr
Certhilauda semitorquata,
Certhilauda semitorquata, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. p. 47 (1836) EZ.
Cape Col. ; Chapm. Trav. 8. Afr. ii. p. 400 (1868) Gt. Namaqua.
Alzmon semitorquata, Butler, Fielden and Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 302,
Natal; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 521 (1890) Benguela, Damara,
Cape Col., Natal, Transvaal; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 344 egg;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 180 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 132
(1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 228 (1900).
Certhilauda rufopalliata, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1836, Ois. p. 4, pl. 59.
Certhilauda subeoronata, Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves. pl. 90, fig. 2
Cape Col.
Certhilauda coronata (laps. cal. pro swbcoronata) Layard, Ibis, 1869,
p. 371.
Adult male. Above bright cinnamon, slightly paler on the hind neck,
and with narrow blackish shaft-stripes to the feathers of the crown, neck,
and mantle. Wing brown, with pale cinnamon edges to the feathers, which
are narrow on the primary coverts and primaries and broad on the other
feathers, increasing in breadth towards the inner secondaries, which are
mostly rufous. Tail brown with rufous edges to all the feathers. Hye-
brows and cheeks rufous buff; ear-coverts uniform cinnamon; under parts
sandy buff washed with cinnamon on the crop and sides of the body;
crop strongly spotted with angular blackish shaft-marks; under wing-
coverts rufous buff; quills brown with narrow buff inner edges. ‘Iris
brown; bill dark brown with the base of the lower mandible flesh colour ;
legs brownish flesh colour” (S. Reid). Total length 8-4 inches, culmen 0:9,
wing 4:2, tail 3°25, tarsus 1:0. g,10.6.81. Newcastle (H. A. Butler).
Adult female. Very similar to the male but smaller. Total length 6°6
inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3°7, tail 2°8, tarsus 1-1. 9,1.6.81. Newcastle
(HK. A. Butler).
In a specimen labelled * g, 22. 10. 78, Potchefstroom (T. Ayres), the
dark shaft-stripes are almost absent.
Specimens labelled ‘30. 5. 66, Otjimbinque (Andersson),” are very much
paler, the general tone of colouring of the upper parts is pale sandy shaded
cinnamon ; eyebrows, cheeks, and under surface white with only an
obsolete tinge of buff on the top.
A speciman labelled ‘‘ Benguela (Monteiro) is very similar to the
Damara specimens, but is duller brown above, with scarcely any rufous
shade. Those from Cape Colony have the upper parts dark like the Natal
and Transvaal birds, and the eyebrow and under parts white like the
Damara and Benguela specimens, and show a good connecting link between
the extreme forms.
26 CERTHILAUDA SEMITORQUATA.
The Grey-collared Long-billed Lark inhabits South Africa,
south of the Quanza and Limpopo rivers.
The most northern range recorded for this species is
Benguela, from whence there is a specimen in the British
Museum obtained by Monteiro, who writes: “ Very abundant
about Benguela, particularly in bare rocky places. Keeps
always on the ground, and is very tame, as it may be passed
quite close without its flying away or otherwise showing alarm.”
Referring to the above remark, Professor Barboza du Bocage
observes (Orn. Angola, p. 377): ‘* We have never received this
species from Benguela, nor elsewhere.”
To the south of the Cunene river, the species has not been
recorded by Mr. Fleck from German South-west Africa; but
according to Andersson: ‘These Larks are not uncommon in
the middle and southern parts of Great Namaqualand: and
I have also observed a considerable number of them together,
between Wilson’s Fountain and Tjobis, in Damaraland.” Chap-
man writes: “ First observed in Great Namaqualand, where
in some localities it is not unfrequent.” Sir Andrew Smith,
when he described the type of the species, wrote as follows :
*‘ Tnhabits the eastern province of the colony and the country
immediately above the Orange river.” Later, when he came to
figure the species under the name of Certhilauda subcoronata, he
apparently forgot his previous notice of this species and writes:
«The few specimens of this species which have come under my
observation were procured from the arid Karroo plains of the
middle and eastern districts of the Cape Colony.” Mr. Layard
found the species near Grahamstown and procured others from
Traka in the Albert division, and a nest and eggs from Mr.
Artlepp. ‘“ Eggs sent by the latter gentlemen are of clear, pale,
cream coloured ground, spotted throughout with red, brown
and purple, rather inclining to form a ring near the thick end.
The nest is a cup-shaped structure of dry grasses placed in a
CERTHILAUDA SEMITORQUATA. 27
tuft of grass on the ground. It feeds on insects and small
erass seeds, and inhabits flats and mountain slopes—soars
frequently. Notes: a loud but plaintive whistle, somewhat
resembling é-t.”
In Natal, according to Messrs. Butler, Feilden and Reid,
it is “‘a very abundant species on the rocky ‘kopjes.’ he
male has a curious way of rising suddenly and silently from its
perch on a rock, in a nearly perpendicular direction, for a
height of twenty or thirty feet. Just at the summit of its
flight it gives a long-drawn whistle ‘ phe-e-ew,’ not unlike that
of the Clapper Lark; then, with wings nearly closed, descends
in a slanting direction to another neighbouring rock to repeat
the manceuvre in a few minutes’ time. Reid shot one in the
very middle of this singular performance, so there is no
question as to correct identification of the bird; moreover,
Mirafra apiata is not found near Newcastle, and there is no
cracking of the wings as with that well-known species. The
male bird is considerably larger than the female, and has the
iris greyish brown; in the female it is brown.” Mr. T. H
Buckley shot a specimen in the Transvaal in June, and writes:
*“Not very common, I fancy. This was the only specimen I
obtained; and I observed only one or two more.” The late
Mr. Frank Oates also obtained a specimen here in December
of the same year. The late Dr. Stark informs us that he
never met with more than a pair together; “ their ordinary
call-note is a clear and prolonged whistle, they also indulge
occasionally in a short but cheerful song. ‘Towards the end
of August or beginning of September, they proceel to nest.
A slight cavity scratched in the ground under cover of a tuft
of grass is lined with fine dry grass, and in it three eggs are
laid about the end of September. These are cream coloured,
spotted all over, but more thickly in a ring round the widest
part of the egg, with reddish and purplish brown. ‘hey
average 0°90 x 0°65.”
28 CERTHILAUDA BREVIUNGUIS.
Certhilauda breviunguis.
Alauda breviunguis, Sundev. Afr. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 99
Transvaal.
Heterocorys breviunguis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 524 (1890) Cape Col.,
Transvaal; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 182 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr.
B. i. p. 227 (1900).
Adult male. Above pale rufous brown with black shaft-bands, very
broad on the crown and mantle; wings dark brown with buff edges to the
feathers, broadest on the wing-coverts and secondaries, and more shaded
with rufous than on the primary-coverts and primaries; tail dark ashy
shaded brown with rufous buff edges to all the feathers ; ear-coverts brown,
eyebrows, cheeks and under parts sandy buff, slightly darker on the crop
and flanks ; crop strongly spotted with brownish black angular shaft-marks ;
under surface of the wing ashy brown with the coverts mostly sandy buff,
and a faint buffy shade extends along the inner margins of the quills.
Total length 6:8 inches, culmen 0°75, wing 3:9, tail 3-1, tarsus 1-1.
3, 16. 4. 44. Hast of Inhambane (Wahlberg).
The Short-clawed Long-billed Lark inhabits Cape Colony
and the Transvaal.
There has been no further information regarding this Lark
since 1884, when Dr. Bowdler Sharpe wrote: ‘ This species
seems to be very rare, as we have never seen a specimen in
any recent collection. Sir Andrew Smith procured two
individuals, which are now in the British Museum; but he
does not appear to have named the species. The late Professor
Wahlberg obtained it in the Transvaal.” There are still only
three specimens in the British Museum.
Certhilauda capensis.
Alauda capensis, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Eul. p. 45 (1783).
Certhilauda capensis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 514 (1890) Cape Col. ;
Kuschel. J. f. O. 1895, p. 344 egg ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 176 (1896) ;
Stark, Faun. S. Afr. i. p. 233 (1900).
Alauda africana, Gm. §. N. i. p. 798 (1788) Cape.
Adult. Above, rufous tinted brown, slightly paler on the hind neck, with
broad blackish shaft-stripes and some whitish tips to the feathers; wings
CERTHILAUDA CAPENSIS. 29
brown with pale edges to the feathers; tail square and entirely brown with
paler edges to the feathers; sides of head brown mottled with buff, and a
broad buff eyebrow extending from the nostril to the nape. Under parts
buffy white with dark brown shaft-stripes to the feathers, excepting to those
of the chin, centre of abdomen, thighs and centre of under tail-coverts.
“Tris dark brown; bill yellowish brown; legs and toes clear buffy orange
tinted with flesh red; claws yellowish brown” (Sir A. Smith). Total
length 8:1 inches, culmen 1:1, wing 4:1, tail 2°9, tarsus 1:25. Natal
(Seebohm Coll.).
The Cape Long-billed Lark inhabits Cape Colony and
Natal. According to the late Sir Andrew Smith, “ Specimens
of this species abound in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town,
and are partial to localities whose soil is loose and sandy.
They seek their food among the brushwood with which the
parts they inhabit are generally more or less covered; and
when not so occupied, are fond of resting upon small hillocks
or even upon the tops of shrubs.” Layard writes: ‘“ The
chief distinguishing character of the present species is the
absence of white tips to the tail-feathers. It is common in
most parts of the colony, as we have received it from all our
correspondents. It frequents the sandy Cape Flats, the corn-
lands of Malmesbury, the uplands of Caledon, and the grassy
plateaux of the Knysna. It never congregates in flocks, rarely
more than two being found within a certain range. Its food
consists of insects and seeds. It constructs a cup-shaped nest
of hair and grasses, lined with feathers, under the shelter of
a bush or stone; the eggs, generally three in number, are
dirty white, faintly and minutely specked with light brown:
axis 0°9, diameter 0°75 inch. Some specimens run much
darker than others. Mr. Gurney records a specimen from
Natal in one of Mr. Ayres’ early collections from that colony,
but we have never seen a specimen from that country.” In
the British Museum there is a specimen from Natal.
According to Stark, this species is more abundant on the
Cape Flats and in the western districts of Cape Colony than
30 MIRAFRA.
elsewhere. He met with them almost invariably in pairs and
never saw them assemble in a flock. They, not unfrequently,
perched on the tops of bushes, and their note was loud, pro-
longed, and a clear whistle. He further remarks that they
breed in the neighbourhood of Cape Town in September and
October.
Genus II. MIRAFRA.
Sexes alike in plumage; crown and back always mottled. Bill
moderately strong; culmen shorter than the middle toe with claw; nostrils
exposed. Wing rounded, none of the secondaries fall short of the tip of the
wing by nearly so much as the length of the tarsus, and the longest ones
reach about to the end of the wing ; bastard-primary well developed, extend-
ing beyond the primary coverts and middle of the wing ; second primary not
longer than the fifth. Tarsi, feet and claws moderate and brown or flesh-
colour.
Type.
Mirafra, Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii, p. 159
(1820) ‘ M. javanica.
Corypha, Gray, List Gan B. 1840, p: 48 : M. apiata.
Megalophonus, ge List Gen. B. 1841,
prOZnee .~. M. apiata.
lsoctieas Hodes in Gray's: Doak, " Mise.
1844,p.84 .. . . M. assamica.
Geocoraphus, Cab. Aceh: Nat. xiii. _ 328
(S27) eee M. javanica.
Calendulauda, Blyth, i, As S. Berg. XXiv.
p. 258 (1855) . . M. nivosa.
Spilocorydon, Reichen. Onl Gentealb: "1879,
DlOOW cee. oe; erate M. hypermetra.
To this genus belong nearly half the known species of Larks. It is
confined to the tropical portion of the Old World and South Africa, ranging
eastward to the Philippines, Borneo, Flores and Java. Of the thirty-seven
species known to me twenty-six are confined to Africa; one, M. cantillans,
ranges from N.E. Africa into India; nine are confined to S. Asia and the
islands above mentioned, and one is restricted to Madagascar.
MIRAFRA,
31
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. No black collar across the middle throat.
a1. No rufous on primaries. Subgenus Calen-
dulauda.
a?, Under wing-coverts dusky, sometimes
mottled with buff.
a’, Flanks streaked.
a*, Crop-markings brownish black ee
district) .
64. Crop-markings brownish cinnamon
(Somali district) .
63. Flanks uniform.
c*, Bill smaller; upper parts darker and
more rufous (8. Afr.)
d*, Bill larger.
a>. Upper parts paler and more sandy
(S.Atr:)
65. Upper parts greyer ae no eaioae
nor sandy colouring (Loango)
b?, Under wing-coverts and crop-markings
cinnamon (E, Afr.)
b*. Some rufous on the primaries.
c?, With bars on the upper tail-coverts and
generally on some or many of the other
feathers ; wing less than 3:5 inches.
Subgenus Corypha.
c8. Pale pattern on outer tail-feathers
buff; adults with no rufous on the
inner webs of the quills :
d®, Pale pattern on outer tail- feather
rufous.
e*. Rufous on primaries never entirely
cross both webs.
c®. Upper parts less rufous and very
strongly barred
d®. Upper parts more “aioe
scarcely barred
f*. Rufous on primaries entirely crosses
both webs .
d?, No bars on upper parts moles ‘the wing
is more than 3°5 inches.
and
nivosa. Sf
gulletiz.
sabota.
NEVI.
&
plebeia.
pecilosterma. °
apiata
fischeri. “2
rufocimnamomea. §
rufipilea.
392 MIRAFRA,
e3, Large; wing 3°7 to 4:4; rufous on
primaries entirely crosses both webs
and extends over quite two-thirds of
these feathers. Subgenus Spilo-
corydon.
g*. Larger; wing 4 inches or more;
tail an inch longer, about 3-5.
e°, Lessrufous; outermost web of tail
narrowly margined with buff .
f°. More rufous; outermost web of
tail entirely buff . 3
h+. Smaller; wing about 3:8;
inch shorter, about 2°5.
g®. Plumage more buff; scarcely any
red on crown; dark centres to
feathers, widened at the ends.
h®. Plumage less buff; a considerable
amount of red on crown; dark
centres to feathers more pointed
at the ends ane?
f?. Smaller; wing not more than 3:5.
Subgenus Mirafra.
i*. Rufous on primaries entirely crosses
a portion of both webs of some of
the feathers.
75. Rufous on primaries extends over
the entire basal half of the inner
webs.
a®, Above pale cinnamon; wings of
the same colour with a brownish
shade towards the ends of the
primaries matte ah Oy.
b®. Above brownish ash with navr-
row black shaft-stripes
k®. Rufous of inner webs of primaries
only cross the extreme base.
c®, Above more uniform rufous
with the dark shaft-stripes
narrow.
a7. Paler above ;
22 Darkerabover = 8) one
d®. Above less rufous and with
broad dark centres to the
feathers
tail an
hypermetra. % 9 |
sharper. “o>
athi. Ame
africana. & /
cordofanicus.
damarensis. S ©
africanoides. s£ ©
alopex. lay
/
intercedens. © ¢
MIRAFRA NIVOSA.
k+, Rufous of primaries never crosses
the inner webs and very seldom the
outer webs.
15. Upper tail-coverts like the mantle
in colour.
e®. Tail with the shafts of pen-
ultimate feathers dark, and the
white pattern smaller.
e7. Hind claw abnormally long .
d’?, Hind claw not abnormally
long.
a’. Darker and ee wing
3°3 : SG
68. Paler and graaillen; wing
3:0
f®. Tail with shafts a poalente
feathers white, and the white
pattern larger.
e7. Above mottled with rufous
brown edges to the feathers.
f7. Above mottled with grey
edges to the feathers .
m®. Upper tail-coverts unlike ite
mantle in colour.
g®. Upper tail-coverts and sides of
centre tail-feathers cinnamon ;
pale pattern of tail rufous
h®. Upper tail-coverts ashy.
g7. Centre tail-feathers with
broad cinnamon edges; pale
pattern of tail white
h7. Rump and sides of centre
s— tail-feathers ashy grey; pale
) pattern of tail ee
Seem brown .
b. A black collar across the middle of the cncesih:
back mostly cinnamon; upper tail-coverts
grey ; entire base of quills rufous
Mirafra nivosa.
hova. ¢/
fringillaris. x
cantillans.
chimana.
albicauda. (
buckleyi. &
angolensis.
migrescens.
collaris.
Certhilauda nivosa, Swains. B. W. Afr. i. p. 213 (1837).
Alemon nivosa, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 522 (1890) Zt. Namagqua,
Cape Col. ;
ds ti, Oh 1895, p. 344 egg ; Shelley, B.
(January, 1902.
Distant, Nat. Transvaal, p. 168 (1892) Pretoria ; Kuschel,
Afr. I. No. 181 (1896);
3
34 MIRAFRA NIVOSA.
Nehrkorn, Kat. Eiers. p. 132 (1899) egg ; Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i.
p. 230 (1900).
Alauda albescens, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 259 Cape Col.
Alauda guttata, Lafr. l. c. Cape Col.
Alauda codea, Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pl. 87, fig. 1 (1843) Cape Col.
Alauda lagepa, Smith, ¢. c. pl. 87, fig. 2 (1843) Cape Col.
Adult, summer plumage. Above bright cinnamon with black shaft-stripes
on the crown, mantle and upper tail-coverts. Wings dark brown with the
pale edges to the feathers buff, narrow on the primary-coyverts and primaries,
increasing in breadth and rufous colouring towards the inner feathers. Tail
dark brown with a narrow buff margin and broad cinnamon buff outer edges
to the centre pair of feathers. Eyebrow and sides of head white with the
ear-coverts uniform bright cinnamon ; under parts white slightly shaded with
rufous buff and strongly streaked with dark brown on the crop, sides of body
and under tail-coverts; thighs brown; under surface of wings entirely
brown with a slight ashy shade on the coverts. ‘‘ Iris light reddish brown,
bill light reddish brown, fading into pale orange buff at base of lower
mandible ; tarsi and feet pale brown” (Smith). Total length 6-9, culmen
0:65, wing 3°8, tail 3:0, tarsus 1-1. S. Africa (Layard).
Adult, winter plumage. Very similar in pattern to the summer plumage
but differs entirely in the colour, there being no trace of rufous on the
plumage, that colour being replaced by a soft ashy brown, partially fading
into white on the broader edges of the wing-feathers and the pale external
margin of the tail, it also differs in the feathers of the rump being mottled
with dark centres, and the general colouring of the throat and body white.
Cape Town (Butler).
Type of Alauda lagepa (Smith). Apparently just passed out of the winter
dress and nearly attained the full summer plumage.
Immature. Differs from adults in the general tone of the colouring being
earthy brown ; all the feathers of the crown and some on the mantle have
white marginal tips; crop mostly brown owing to the profusion of large
rounded central spots to the feathers.
The Cape White-breasted Sabota-Lark is apparently con-
fined to western South Africa, south of the Orange river.
It is represented in the British Museum by specimens from
Little Namaqualand, Cape Town, Swellendam, Berg river and
the Karroo. Andersson “ observed this species pretty fre-
quently in Little Namaqualand, but not to the north of the
Orange river.”’ Sir Andrew Smith found them sparingly dis-
tributed in Cape Colony, frequenting localities thinly furnished
with low brushwood, and they rarely failed when disturbed to
E ZEGLLIG FGI,
“AX Id VOIB4AV 40 SCHIEG AHL
MIRAFRA GILLETTI. 35
fly to a distance and then perch upon the summit of some dwarf
shrub. He also remarks that it whistles occasionally in the
morning, soars like a true Lark, and on descending usually
alights ona shrub. Its food consists of seeds and small insects.
The most eastern locality I can find for the species is
Beaufort, where it has been met with by Mr. Layard. He
writes :—‘ A single nest fell under our observation in December.
The eggs, four in number, and of a mottled brown, were
deposited in a cup-shaped nest on the side of a low bush at
the edge of a footpath. When we approached it the bird
crept away to a little distance, then rose, flew a few yards,
and perched on an ant-heap to watch us. As we were pro-
ceeding to kill a Hyzxna, which had been caught in one of our
traps, we deferred taking the eggs until our return; but
coming home by a different route, we had to leave them till
next morning, when on proceeding to the spot we found the
young excluded. The hen bird, on this and several subsequent
occasions, executed the same manceuvres to escape detection.”
There is, in my opinion, no reason for doubt that the type
came from Cape Colony, although Swainson first described the
species in his Birds of West Africa i. p. 213, which caused
Dr. Hartlaub to enter it in his Ornithologie West-afrikas,
p. 153, as West African, on the supposed authority of Swainson,
although Swainson never mentions any locality for the type of
the species. The types of Alauwda codea and A. lagepa (Smith)
are both in the British Museum, the former is in winter
plumage, and the latter, the same species, in summer.
Mirafra gilletti. (Pl. 15, fig. 1.)
Mirafra gilletti, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. p. 29 (1895) Somali ; id. P. Z. 8.
1895, p. 472; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 205 (1896); Elliot, Field-
Columb. Mus. i. No. 2, p. 37 (1897) Hillier ; Lort Phillips, Ibis,
1898, p. 401 ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 64 Somali; Grant, Ibis, 1900
p- 138 Abyssinia; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1901, p. 302 Somat.
36 MIRAFRA SABOTA,
Adult. Above cinnamon brown, paler on the hind neck, and ashy grey
on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and mottled with brownish black shaft
stripes, which are narrow on the crown. Wings dusky brown, with no
rufous pattern; broad pale edges to the coverts, and inner secondaries
whitish, generally with a submarginal wash of rufous ; under surface dusky
ash, the inner edges of the quills narrowly washed with white, and the
under wing-coverts mottled with that colour and a little rufous buff. Tail
dark brown with narrow brownish buff edges to the feathers, and no white
pattern. A broad eyebrow, space in front and under the eye, and the cheeks
white ; ear-coverts rufous brown, with very narrow whitish streaks; three
lines of black, one from nostril to eye, a second from gape to beneath the
ear-coverts, and the third on the side of the upper throat; sides of upper
neck and the under parts generally pure white, with rufous brown shaft-
stripes on the middle and lower throat and crop. Iris light hazel; bill
brown, with the upper mandible much darker than the lower one, tarsi and
feet pale brown. ‘Total length 6:6 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3°56, tail 2°8,
tarsus 09. g, 29. 11. 97 Arabsiyo (Hawker).
Gillett’s Sabota Lark inhabits Somaliland and southern
Abyssinia.
The type was procured at Sibbe, in western Somaliland,
during Dr. Donaldson’s Smith’s journey through that country
in 1894, and was named after Mr. F. Gillett, who accompanied
the expedition. Specimens have also been collected by him
at Magog in February, 1899, by Mr. Elliot at Huillier, by Mr.
Lort Phillips at Goonban, and by Mr. Hawker at Arabsiyo.
In the Wollo Gala country of southern Abyssinia Lord Lovat
shot a specimen at Hawash Bridge in about 8° N. lat. 4° H.
long.
Mirafra sabota.
Mirafra sabota, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. App. p. 47 (1846) N. of
Latakoo ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 618 (1890) Latakoo, Orange
River Colony, Natal, Transvaal, Matabele ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No.
215 (1896); Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 514 Zululand; Stark, Faun.
S. Afr. B. i. p. 208 (1900).
Type. Above, pale rufous shaded brown with broad blackish brown
shaft-bands. Wing brown, with brownish buff edges to the feathers, broad
on the coverts and inner secondaries, and very narrow on the other quills
MIRAFRA SABOTA. 37
and primary-coverts; four inner primaries and four outer secondaries with
white terminal edges; under surface dusky ash, with partial buffy white
inner edges to the quills and the coverts, mottled with sandy buff edges
to the feathers. Tail-feathers blackish brown, with sandy buff edges of a
slightly darker shade on the centre than the outer ones, and much narrower
on all the others; outer feather with the base of the shaft and the whole
outer web pale. Hyebrow and cheeks buff, ear-coverts tawny brown
margined above by a black stripe extending to the nostril; two partial
black lines on the side of the upper throat; under surface generally buff,
mottled on the lower throat and crop with triangular spots of dark brown,
which colour forms an ill-defined dark patch on the crop next to the sides
of the neck. ‘Iris dark hazel; bill horn colour; tarsi and feet flesh
colour.” (T. HK. Buckley.) Total length 5:9 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3-4,
tail 2-2, tarsus 0-9. S. Africa (Smith).
The Sabota Lark inhabits South Africa south of the
Zambesi and east from about 25° EK. long.
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, in 1890, recorded the range of this
Species as extending into Masailand, solely because Dr.
Reichenow referred to one of Fischer’s specimens from Loeru
as M. sabota, J. f. O., 1887, p. 74. In the Vog. Deutsch. O.
Afr. p. 203 (1894) Dr. Reichenow omits the present species,
and the only Mirafra he mentions from Loeru is M. africanoides.
According to Sir Andrew Smith, who discovered the type,
“this Lark was procured on the arid Karroo plains north of
Latakoo, and was found in tolerable abundance towards the
Tropic of Capricorn. It was generally observed in localities
abounding with small shrubs, on which it was frequently
observed to perch, particularly in the early part of the morning,
when it was in the habit of practising, like its congeners,
vertical flights into the air. It whistles occasionally when
perched upon the underwood; but there is nothing in its
note to attract attention.”
In Natal Mr. T. Arnold obtained the species at Weenen,
and the Messrs. Woodwards have collected specimens in Zulu-
_ land, at Ulundi and the Black Umfolosi river.
To the north of the Vaal river there are several of Mr.
38 MIRAFRA NAVIA,
T. E Buckley’s collecting from the Transvaal and Swaziland
in the British Museum, and he writes: ‘‘ These birds are very
common north of Pretoria, sitting on bushes quite as much as
on the ground; they are mostly solitary, even a pair being
rarely seen together excepting in the breeding season. They
range as far as the Matabele country.” Mr. T. Ayres found
these Larks in the Mariqua district, frequenting the open
glades at the commencement of the thicker bush, but in the
latter he did not notice them. When disturbed they generally
flew from the ground on to the nearest shrub. It has a short
but pleasing song. He also procured specimens in the Rusten-
burg district, and found them “rather common amongst the
thorn-trees on the banks of the Limpopo, where they occur
either singly or in pairs.” To the north of that river, at
Matje Umschlope, he only met with a single specimen in
November, and the late Mr. Frank Oates obtained one at
Tati in October.
Mirafra nevia. (Pl. 15, fig. 2.)
Alauda nevia, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 152 Damara.
Mirafra neevia (Strickl.) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 617 (1890) Damara,
Great Namaqua, Griqualand, Orange River Colony; Fleck J. f. O.
1894, p. 411 Damara, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 213 (1896); Stark,
Faun. §. Afr. B. i. p. 209 (1900).
Adult. Very like M. sabota, but paler and with a larger bill. Above
sandy brown with broad dark brown shaft-bands; the pale edges to the
wing-coverts and inner secondaries very much broader than those of the
other quills and primary-coverts ; primaries with narrow white terminal
edges; no rufous on the wings, which have the under surface pale dusky
brown slightly washed with sandy buff on the inner margins of the quills
and the coverts are mottled with edges of that colour. Tail brownish black
with the centre feathers rather paler and very broadly edged with pale rufous
brown; outer feather with a buff margin extending about half way across
the outer web, and round the end, all the other feathers have buff margins,
narrower along the sides than at the ends. Har-coverts brown slightly
MIRAFRA NAZVIA. 39
streaked with buff; a dusky band in front of the eye; eyebrows and cheeks
white, the latter mottled with dusky black; two rows of dusky black spots
on the side of the upper throat; under parts generally white, of a buff shade
on the breast and under tail-coverts and a slightly more rufous shade on the
crop, which is mottled with angular brown spots, ‘‘ Iris brown; bill dark
horn ; legs flesh colour.” Total length, 6:2 inches, culmen 0-6, wing 3-4,
tail 2:2, tarsus 0°8. ¢g, 21.6.81. Orange R. (Bradshaw.)
Strickland’s Sabota Lark inhabits South-west Africa, west-
ward of about 25° H. long.
There are specimens in the British Museum from Damara,
Great Namaqua and Griqua Lands and the Orange river.
Andersson writes: “I met with this Lark at various
places north of the Omaruru river, where, although rather
local, it is abundant in some localities, and especially in
Ondonga. On April 25 I found its nest in the last-named
locality, containing three eggs of a very elongated form and
much pointed at one end. Other nests which I met with on
various occasions were empty or contained young birds. The
nest is composed of fine grasses, and is built upon the ground,
into which the lower portion of it is sunk to the depth of
two or three inches; it is placed between and resting against
two stout plants, and is round and dome-shaped, with one
large opening to the southward, the side freest from the
wind and rain. I am always delighted to hear this bird
as it makes the welkin ring with its sonorous song and call,
composed of a series of notes, which it utters either when
perched on a tree or when moving from one spot to another.
Whilst thus flymg and singing it may be seen alternately to
open and close its wings; sometimes almost bringing them to
meet over its back, when it appears for the moment to be
suspended in the air.” He also found it very common about
Otjimbinque and by no means timid, feeding upon seeds and
insects.
40 MIRAFRA PLEBEIA
Mirafra plebeia.
Alauda (Megalophonus) plebeja, Cab. J. f. O. 1875, p. 237; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1877, p. 29 Loango.
Mirafra plebeia, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 593, note (1890) ; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 208 (1896).
Type. Very similar in pattern and measurements to M. nevia; but
the upper parts are greyer with no sandy coloured edges to the feathers.
Total length 5:75 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 3°36, tail 2:08, tarsus 0°88.
Cabanis’s Sabota-Lark inhabits the Loango Coast.
This species is apparently known only by the type
specimen, which formed part of the collection made by
Falkenstein on the Loango Coast, and is now in the Berlin
Museum.
Dr. Reichenow has kindly informed me that it is nearly
allied to M. nxvia, and pointed out the characters I have used
in my description of this species.
Miratra pecilosterna. (Pl. 16, fig. 1.)
Alauda pzecilosterna, Reichen. Orn. Centralbl. 1879, p. 155; id. J.f. O.
1879, p. 353 Kibaradja.
Mirafra pecilosterna, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 612 note (1890) ;
Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 203 (1894) Pare, Arusha, Masai ;
Shelley, B. Afr. No. 210 (1896).
Megalophonus massaicus, Fisch. and Reichen. J. f. O. 1884, p. 55, Little
Arusha.
Adult. Similar to M. gilleti, from which it differs in having the upper
parts rather less mottled; a grey shade on the crown; pale portion of
sides of head cinnamon instead of white; under parts more rufous ;
feathers of the lower throat with large uniform cinnamon centres; throat,
flanks, thighs and under tail-coverts washed with cinnamon; under wing-
coverts cinnamon; inner edges of quills slightly tinted with that colour.
“Tris, feet and bill brown” (Ansorge). Total length 6-8 inches, culmen 0°6,
wing 3:4, tail 2-9, tarsus 0:95. 3, E of Kilimanjaro (Abbott).
The Masai Sabota-Lark inhabits East Africa from the
latitude of Zanzibar to the Equator.
Fischer collected the type of the species, a male, at
THE BIRDS OF AFRICA,PU.. XVI.
1.Mirafra poecilosterna.
Dy ” fischeri.
MIRAFRA APIATA 41
Kibaradja in November, and other specimens in the Pare
mountains. He found the species not uncommon amongst the
scattered acacia bushes between this range of mountains and
the Pangani river, and recognised his Megalophonus massaicus,
founded on a specimen from Little Arusha, not to be specifi-
cally distinct. In British Kast Africa Dr. Ansorge has
procured specimens at Kinani and the Tsavo river, and Dr.
Abbott others to the south and east of the Kilimanjaro
mountain.
Mirafra apiata.
Alauda apiata, Vieill. N. Dict. H. N. i. p. 343 (1816) S. Afr.
Mirafra apiata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 598 (1890) Cape Col. ; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 196 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 134, egg ; Stark,
Faun. §. Afr. B. i. p. 217 (1900).
Alauda clamosa, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 23 (1826) S. A/r.
Adult. Above rufous or brown washed with pale grey, the feathers with a
variable amount of narrow black bars and rarely any trace of shaft-stripes ;
upper tail-coverts reaching three quarters of the way down the tail and are
crossed by six black bars and have greyish buff edges. Tail with the two
centre feathers barred and very like the upper tail-coverts in colour and
pattern ; remainder blackish, partially washed with grey and surrounded by a
buff margin which extends over almost the whole of the outermost web on
each side, the other feathers with narrow grey edges. Wing with the coverts
and inner secondaries much like the back, but the latter have partial bars and
a submarginal dark line more strongly marked ; remainder of the quills and
the primary-coverts uniform brown with pale rufous shaded outer edges
to all but the first two primaries; these rufous edges are mostly notched
with the dark brown of the outer part of the feathers; under wing-coverts
pale cinnamon; under surface of quills entirely dark brown with only a
light wash of rufous buff on the inner margins. Sides of head sandy buff
strongly mottled on the cheeks and ear-coverts with blackish spots and
streaks ; under parts generally sandy buff, shaded on crop and sides of
body with rich rufous centres to the feathers and regularly spotted down
the entire throat with blackish angular shaft-marks. Total length 6°7 inches,
culmen 0°5, wing 3:3, tail 2:3, tarsus 1:0.
Two of Layard’s specimens in much worn plumage have lost almost all
trace of bars on the wings and tail-feathers, and the upper parts generally
are dusky black with narrow ashy edges to the feathers.
49 MIRAFRA APIATA.
Immature. Similar to adult first described but browner and less rufous,
innermost secondaries with two concentric black lines, the next few with
partial bars and one submarginal black line; rufous margins of outer
secondaries and the primaries broader and as nearly cross the outer web as
they do in M. fischeri. The tail differs in the barred character of the
centre feathers being reproduced on the others to a gradually diminishing
extent towards the outer feathers; a distinct white eyebrow. Iris hazel,
bill dark horn colour with the basal two-thirds of lower mandible and edges
of upper one towards the gape buff; tarsi and feet pale flesh colour.
Total length 6:1 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:2, tail 2:3, tarsus 0-99.
3, 22.1.74. Stellendorf (Shelley).
The Cape Bar-tailed Lark is apparently confined to Cape
Colony. Mr. Layard writes: ‘ This beautiful Lark, of whose
elegant colours it is impossible to convey any idea by mere
words, is common in all the western districts of the colony,
and is well known from its singular habit of rising fifteen
or thirty feet into the air, perpendicularly, making a sharp
crackling sound with its wings as it rises, uttering a long
shrill ‘phew,’ and then falling as abruptly to the earth.
This action it will repeat at intervals of a minute or two, for
an hour or more, chiefly during dull mornings, but in bright
weather it commences before and after sunset. It delights in
warm sandy soils; but we met with it on the high table-land
of the Cold Bokkeveld in considerable abundance. It is not
met with at George, according to Mr. Atmore, but extends as
far as Port Elizabeth. ‘Here,’ writes Mr. Rickard, ‘it is
common. It is most lively at sunset and sunrise, sometimes
heard when it is nearly dark. If on the ground near short
scrubby bush it will run into it and may be driven a long
distance before taking wing.’ We have seen specimens also
from Kuruman.”
The egg, according to Mr. A. Nehrkorn, is greyish yellow
with spots of violet or rufous brown evenly distributed over
the surface and measures 0°88 x 0°6.
MIRAFRA FISCHERI. 43
Mirafra fischeri. (Pl. 16, fig. 2.)
Megalophonus fischeri, Reichen. J. f. O. 1878, p. 266 Rabai; Havrtl.
Abhandl. Ver. Brem. 1891, p. 17 Usambiro.
Mirafra fischeri, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 267 Shoa ; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 600 (1890) Landana, Gaboon, Swazi, Zambesi,
Wadelai ; Reichen. J. f O. 1891, p. 159; 1892, p. 53; id. Vog. D. O.
Afr. p. 202 (1894) Pangani, Kakoma, Uniamwesi, Simiu R., Bussissi ;
Shelley, Ibis, 1894, pp. 23, 472 Nyasa; id. B. Afr. i. No. 198
(1896) ; id. Ibis, 1898, pp. 379, 553 Nyasa; Alexander, Ibis, 1899,
p. 563 Zambesi ; Hartert in Ansorge’s “ Under Afr. Sun,” p. 348
(1899) Teita ; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B.i. p. 216 (1900); Marshall,
Ibis, 1900, p. 243 Mashona; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1900, p. 2 Nyasa ;
Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 46 Torw; Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 628
S. Abyssinia.
Mirafra tigrina, Oust. Le Naturaliste, 1892, p. 231, Congo.
Adult. Very similar to MV. apiata, but most readily distinguished by the
under surface of quills showing broad pale cinnamon inner margins and their
outer webs, viewed from above, have also as much cinnamon as in the wings
of the immature of VW. apiata ; inner secondaries have little or no trace of
dark bars. Tail with the pale portion larger and pale rufous; more than
half of the outer feather and nearly the entire outer web of the penultimate
one being of that colour. “ Iris brown; bill horn colour; tarsi and feet
light brown.’ Total length 5:2 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2-9, tail 2-0, tarsus
095. 3,7. 76. Swaziland (T. E. Buckley).
Adult female. Similar to the male and scarcely smaller. 9, 11. 8. 86.
Wadelai (Emin).
Fischer's Bush-Lark ranges from the Loango coast south-
ward into Benguela and Swaziland, and throughout Central
and Eastern Africa northward to Wadelai on the White Nile
and into Southern Abyssinia.
This species is apparently abundant in the Congo district,
for in the British Museum there is a good series from Landana,
Condé and Kassongo; and from the description of M. tigrina,
Oust., from the Congo, it would appear that that bird belongs
to this species.
In Benguela, Anchieta has collected specimens at Caconda,
where it is called by the natives “ Kitianonhe.” To this
Species probably refers Chapman’s Brachyonis pyrrhonota,
44 MIRAFRA FISCHERI,
which he “only observed near the Okavango.” In eastern
South Africa Mr. T. E. Buckley shot a specimen in Swaazi-
land, which is the most southern range recorded for this
species, and is the only instance known to me of the species
having been met with beyond the limits of tropical Africa.
To the north of the Limpopo the species has been found by
Jameson and Ayres at the Umfuli river, where these birds
are known to the Matabele as “ Quatji.”. Mr. Guy Marshall
believes it to be a “fairly common species round Salisbury, its
curious crackling flight being very characteristic.” Specimens
have been collected by Bradshaw between the Limpopo and
the Zambesi, and at the latter river Mr. Boyd Alexander
found them ‘frequenting hilly woodland where the grass is
long, or where it has lately been burnt.” It appears to be
by far the commonest Lark in Nyasaland or British Central
Africa, and is apparently plentiful throughout German Hast
Africa.
Bohm met with it at Kakoma and his description of its
habits agrees closely with that given by Layard of the habits
of M. apiata, its near Cape Colony ally. Fischer has col-
lected specimens at Usaramo, Pangani, the Simiu river, and
at Mombasa, where he procured the type; he also met with
it in the Wanika and Wapokomo countries.
Amongst the most northern-known localities for this
species are Wadelai on the Upper White Nile, where Emin
has collected specimens, and the Shoa district of South
Abyssinia; here Dr. Ragazzi met with it at Ula, and Mr.
A. E. Pease obtained two specimens at Kora (8° 30’ N. lat.,
38° 30’ HE. long.), and the latter naturalist writes: ‘Fischer’s
Bush-Lark was heard in the early morning, its note being
a muffled rattle-like noise. When on the wing it soared high
out of sight, then fell rapidly to within twenty or thirty feet
of the ground, and swerved for a hundred yards or so before
MIRAFRA RUFOCINNAMOMEA. 45
alighting. It was generally seen in large, bare woods, and
we never came across it except in the edge of the Gueragué
country.”
Mirafra rufocinnamomea.
Megalophonus rufocinnamomea, Salvad. Atti. Soc. Ital. Se. Nat. 1865,
p. 378 Abyssinia. ,
Mirafra rufocinnamomea, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 600 (1890) Ugogo ;
Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 203 (1894); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 199
(1896); Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 46 Campi-ya-Simba ; Neum.
J. f. O. 1900, p. 291 Usegua.
Geocoraphus elegantissimus, Heugl. J. f. O. 1868, p. 228 Abyssinia ; id.
Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 690; App. cli. (1871).
Mirafra torrida, Shelley, P. Z. 8. 1882, p. 308, pl. 17 Ugogo.
Type of M. torrida. Above rich cinnamon with no distinct bars; crown
and mantle with blackish shaft-stripes and obsolete rufous brown ones on
the lower back and upper tail-coverts; longest tail-coverts uniform cinna-
mon. Tail uniform dark brown with a large pale rufous pattern extending
over the outer feather with the exception of a broad inner mark, and the
whole of the outer web of the next feather. Wing with the upper coyverts
and inner secondaries cinnamon, with buff edges and a few partial blackish
bars on the median and greater coverts as well as on the inner secondaries ;
the latter have partial submarginal black streaks; remainder of the quills
with broad cinnamon margins to both webs; under wing-coyerts rufous buff.
Eyebrow and sides of head rufous buff, the latter mottled with deeper
rufous ; under parts rufous buff, mottled on the lower throat and crop with
cinnamon and a few partially black shaft-stripes. ‘‘ Iris brown; bill dusky
grey, paler below; tarsi and feet pale brown”’ (Ansorge). Total length
5-7 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2°9, tail 2-0, tarsus 0:95. Ugogo (Kirk).
Salvadori’s Cinnamon Lark ranges from Ugogo into
Abyssinia.
This species is represented in the British Museum by a
single specimen, the type of M. torrida, which was procured
for me by Sir John Kirk in Ugogo, in which country, accord-
ing to Hartlaub, Emin has collected several specimens. Mr.
Oscar Neumann records two males from Majuju in Northern
Usegua, and Mr. Hartert one in Dr. W. J. Ansorge’s col-
lection from Campi-ya-Simba in British Hast Africa.
46 MIRAFRA RUFIPILEA.
The type of Megalophonus rufocinnamomea came to the
Turin Museum from the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, and accord-
ing to Heuglin was obtained by the missionary Calvi in
Abyssinia. There can, I think, be no doubt but that Alauda
elegantissima, Heugl., and M. turrida, Shelley, both belong
to this species, as they all agree well in measurements,
general colouring, and especially in the peculiar colour and
pattern of the tail.
The type of Alauda elegantissima was procured in the
snow-clad highlands to the north of Lake Tana, where
Heuglin met with these birds perched on the rocks or hover-
ing in the air, and he likens their song to that of the
Crested Lark.
Mirafra rufipilea.
Alauda rufipilea, Vieill. N. Dict. H. N. i. p. 345 (1816) S. Afr.
Mirafra rufipilea (Vieill.) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 597 (1890) Orange
River Colony, Transvaal ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 195 (1896); Stark,
Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 218 (1900).
Brachonyx pyrrhonota, Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Aves, pl. 110, fig. 2
(1847) S. Afr.
Alauda fasciolata, Sundey. CEfv. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 99.
Adult. Above rufous slightly washed with ashy buff, the feathers with
a variable amount of narrow black bars, and rarely any trace of shaft-stripes ;
upper tail-coverts, which reach quite three quarters of the way down the
tail, are crossed by six black bars, and have terminal buff fringes. Tail
with the two centre feathers barred and very like the upper tail-coverts ;
remainder of tail blackish brown, narrowly fringed at the end with buff;
the shaft, outer web and end of the outer feather cinnamon buff, and a
narrow edge of that colour along the outer edge of the penultimate feather.
Wing with the coverts and inner secondaries coloured much like the back,
but with numerous partial bars which merge into each other towards the
edges of the feathers, and form more or less distinct submarginal black
lines, which are very characteristic of a few of the nearest allied species ;
the dark bars gradually disappear, and the rufous base increases towards the
primaries, which are uniform cinnamon with the ends and the entire bastard
primary dusky brown; under surface of the wing pale cinnamon with the
MIRAFRA RUFIPILEA. A7
bastard-primary and broad ends to the other quills dusky brown. Sides of
the head sandy buff slightly mottled with brown, and shaded with rufous
on the ear-coverts ; sides of the upper neck and the under parts generally
sandy buff; the lower throat spotted with dark brown angular shaft-marks,
“Tris light hazel; bill pale with the culmen dusky brown; tarsi and feet
pale brown.”’ Total length 5-9 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3:3, tail 2-1, tarsus
10. ¢,5.10. 82. Rustenburg (T. Ayres).
The Rufous-crowned Bar-tailed Lark ranges from Bloem-
fontein to Rustenburg in South Africa.
All I know for certain regarding the range of this species
is that the British Museum contains a specimen from Bloem-
fontein obtained by Dr. Exton, and one shot by Mr. W. Lucas
near Rustenburg, both of which were formerly in my own
collection.
Sir Andrew Smith informs us that he procured only one
specimen, and having lost it, his description of Brachonyx
pyrrhonota was taken from “hasty notes made at the time it
was killed.” This hardly justified him in stating that this
species ‘‘ inhabits arid districts on both coasts of Cape Colony,
but in no locality are specimens abundant.” It appears to me
probable that this species is confined to the country which
intervenes between the range of M. apiata and M. fischeri.
The bird brought back from the Zambesi by Serpa Pinto
(M. rufipilea, Bocage Orn. Angola, p. 376) is certainly M.
Jischert.
In the Transvaal Mr. T. E. Buckley met with the true
M. rufipilea on the “ High Veldt,” and the following notes by
Mr. T. Ayres also refer to this species: ‘‘ These Larks are
only found on the open plains, extending from Potchefstroom
to the bush at Mariqua; they are generally two or three
together, and lie so exceedingly close that they can often be
knocked down with a stick.” ‘This Lark has precisely the
peculiar habits of M. apiata.”
‘Male, shot January 15. Stomach contained caterpillars,
48 MIRAFRA HYPERMETRA.
&c. This bird is called amongst the farmers the ‘ Rain-bird,’
as they consider it a sign of rain that it rises during the
breeding-season for some yards in the air with a fluttering
flight, descending with a loud whew when this action is often
repeated; but it is very certain that the same habit prevails
during a succession of dry weather; in fact, it is one way in
which the cock bird pays its addresses to the hen, the weather
has very little to do with it.”
Mirafra hypermetra. (PI. 17, fig. 2.)
Spilocorydon hypermetrus, Reichen. Orn. Centralb. 1879, p. 155,
Kibaradja ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 620 (1890) Shoa; Hartl.
Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen, 1891, p. 25, Baguera; Reichen. Vég.
D. O. Afr. p. 202 (1894) Pangani, Usaramo, Sigirari; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 218 (1896); Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 138, 1991, p. 627
S. Abyssinia.
Mirafra hypermetra, Hartert in Ansorge’s ‘‘ Under Afr. Sun,” p. 349
(1899) Vor RF.
Adult. Above mottled ashy brown with dark centres to the feathers ;
rump and upper tail-coverts with subterminal dark bars. Tail uniform dark
brown with narrow whitish edges to the feathers. Wing: inner feathers
like the back, but mostly edged with submarginal black lines; remainder
cinnamon with a few dark shaft-marks on the coverts and the ends of
the quills brown the cinnamon colour crossing entirely both webs of the
quills with the exception of the inner secondaries and the two outer
primaries ; wing-lining with the under coverts of the same shade of
cinnamon as the pale portion of the quills. Eyebrow, sides of head, and
sides of upper neck buffy white, mottled with brown and black; chin
and upper throat white; remainder of the under parts buff; crop slightly
mottled with rufous and the flanks washed with dusky ash; lower throat
and crop with angular blackish shaft-spots, most numerous on the sides,
where they form the usual fairly distinct black patch between the crop
and the side of the neck; a few indistinct shaft-stripes on the flanks and
some more sharply defined ones on the under tail-coverts. ‘‘ Iris hazel ; bill
above dark horny-brown, paler below; legs pale.’ Total length 8°5 inches,
culmen 0°7, wing 4°3, tail 3-5, tarsus 1:25. g¢,21. 1.99. Gadaburka (Lovat,
Mus. Brit.).
A specimen labelled “« g, Smara, Feb. 2, 1900 (Lord Delamere),’’ is
much more rufous on the upper parts, crop and sides of chest.
erqauedAy GZ “Tye Sspesyy'T
TAX Td VOl84V 40 SAUTE AHL
MIRAFRA SHARPEI. 49
Reichenow’s Large Red-winged Lark inhabits Kast Africa
between 5° S. lat. and 10° N. lat.
Hmin has procured five specimens at Baguera in November,
March and May, and Fischer found it distributed over Hast
Africa from the Pangani to the Tana river, and remarked its
habit of perching upon bushes to sing; he collected specimens
in German East Africa, between the Pare mountains and the
Pangani river, and at Usaramo and Sigerari, to the west of
Kilimanjaro, and in British East Africa at Lake Naiwasha, and
discovered the type at Kibaraja on the Tanariver. Dr. Ansorge
obtained a specimen at the Voi river, and Dr. Ragazzi one in
Shoa, at Soddé, which is the most northerly known range for
the species, while in about the same latitude Mr. A. E. Pease
collected specimens at Errer Gota and Katinwaha, and Lord
Lovat others at the Kassim river and Gadaburka. The latter
naturalists found the species abundant on the Hawash plain,
but it was shy, and he remarks: “ During the day it soars
occasionally to a height of ten feet or so from the ground,
where it hovers for two or three minutes at a time.” He
further remarks, “‘it sings in all weathers, and perches most
frequently on dead tree-stumps and old wood.”
Mirafra sharpei.
Mirafra sharpei, Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. Orn. i. No. 2, p. 37 (1895)
Somaliland.
“Head rufous, the feathers generally having a black spot at the tip.
Nape and sides of neck dark rufous, feathers edged with pale buff. Back
dark rufous or chestnut, feathers margined with buff and with a black sub-
terminal V-shaped bar. Rump similar to back, upper tail-coverts brownish
black with grey margins, and a black spot near the tip. Wings have the
inner secondaries like the back, outer rones ufous for two-thirds their length,
remaining portion pale brown, and a black line running parallel to the shaft
near the margin of outer web, tips white. Primaries light chestnut for two-
thirds their length on outer quills, pale brown on remaining part. The
chestnut colour increases in extent on the inner primaries, until the inner-
(January, 1902, 4
50 MIRAFRA ATHI.
most is all chestnut with a blackish brown tip; under wing-coverts deep
buff; primary-coverts rufous. Central rectrices blackish brown, mottled
with black in the middle, grading into rufous towards the outer edges of the
webs, which are margined with white, and an irregular black line runs along
the web near its margin. Remainder of rectrices blackish brown, margined
with white, but the outermost rectrix has the entire outer web pale buff.
Superciliary stripes pale buff; ear-coverts and cheeks white spotted, and
streaked with black. Throat and sides of neck white. Breast buff, streaked
and spotted with brownish black, lower parts, flanks and under tail-coverts
pale buff, inclining to white. Bill long, slender, horn colour. ‘Tarsi and
feet flesh colour; irides brown. Total length, skin 6:10 inches, wing 4,
tail 3-50, culmen :70, tarsus 1:20.”
Sharpe’s Large Red-winged Lark inhabits Somaliland.
This species resembles M. hypermetra in the length of the
tail being 3°5 inches, but differs in the more rufous colouring
of the plumage and in the entire outer webs of the lateral
tail-feather being white, as in M. africana; but this last-
mentioned species, as well as M. athi, have the tail only
2°5 inches in length.
This species being known only by the type which was
shot on the north side of the Sila Plain by Mr. Elliot, I have
quoted his description.
Mirafra athi. (PI. 17, fig. 1.)
Mirafra africana athi, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 46 Athi plain,
Nairobe'; id. Bull. B. O. C. xi. p. 63 (1901) Maw.
Mirafra africana (nec Smith), Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 260 Ukambani;
Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 624 pt. Nakuru, Naiwasha; Hinde, Ibis,
1900, p. 494, Machako’s.
Adult. Similar in general colouring to MW. hypermetra, but smaller and
differs mostly in the tail, the centre feathers of which are obscurely but
slightly more barred and with the pale margins broader and more distinctly
edged internally by a black streak, and the pale buff pattern of the outer
feather extends very nearly over the whole of the outer web; wings with
the coverts more rufous buff and are very regularly marked with dark
central spots; spots on the throat slightly smaller. ‘Iris orange; bill
MIRAFRA AFRICANA, 51
above dark grey, beneath yellowish grey”’ (Ansorge).1 Total length 7:3
inches, culmen 0°7, wing 4:0, tail 2:4, tarsus 1:2. g, 5.11. 99. Athi
river (Delamere).
Immature. ‘‘Much blacker, the crown and head almost black, the
feathers of the upper side and the wing-coverts are blackish brown with
sharply defined white edges. The spots on the crop-region are larger than
in the adult bird, the rectrices, as usual in young Larks, are narrower and
somewhat pointed. ‘The iris was brown ; feet light brown.’” (Nairobe.
31. 1.99. Ansorge) Hartert.
The Athi Lark inhabits the country between Victoria
Nyanza and Somaliland.
The species was discovered by Dr. Ansorge in January,
1899, when he collected two adult birds on the Athi plain,
and an immature bird a few days later at Nairobe. Lord
Delamere has also met with these Larks at the Athi river,
so they are apparently not rare in this district, but are
possibly rather local. Mr. Jackson has procured specimens
near Lakes Naiwasha and Nakuru. At the latter place on
April 20, 1896, he “found a nest in a tuft of grass built
entirely of fine, dry grasses. ‘Two eggs, one much paler and
with smaller spots than the other.”
This species much resembles M. hypermetra in its general
appearance, but may be most readily distinguished by its
tail, which is much shorter and has the entire outermost
web white.
Mirafra africana.
Mirafra africana, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. App. p. 47 (1836) Cape
Col.; Butler, Feilden and Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 335 Natal; Sousa,
Jorn. Lisb. 1886, p. 167 Bengwela; 1887, p. 101 Quissange ; 1889,
p- 116 Catumbella; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 607 (1890) Damara,
Natal, Transvaal, Makalaka: Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 52 Bukoba ;
id. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 202 (1894); Shelley. B. Afr. I. No. 206 (1896) ;
Rendall, Ibis, 1896, p. 174 Transvaal ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 514
1« Trig hazel ; bill brown, lower mandible horny white” g (Jackson).
52 MIRAFRA AFRICANA,
Zululand; Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 624 pt. Ntebi; Hartert in
Ansorge’s “Under Afr. Sun,’’ p. 348 (1899) Biboka R. Ukamba ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 134 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr.
B. i. p. 212 (1900); Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45; Marshall,
Ibis, 1900, p. 244 Mashona ; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 290 Lelela.
Mirafra africana africana, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45.
Alauda planicola, Licht. Verz. V6g. Kaffernl. p. 14 (1842) S. Afr.
(nom. nud.).
Megalophonus planicola, Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 137 Usaramo ; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1887, p. 74 Shashi.
Megalophonus occidentalis, Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 153 (1857) Gaboon ;
Bouvier, Cat. Ois. Marche, &c. p. 27 (1875) Gaboon.
Megalophonus rostratus, Hartl. Ibis, 1863, p. 326, pl. 9 Natal.
Mirafra africana transvaalensis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 46
Rustenburg.
Mirafra africana tropicalis, Hartert, l. c. Trop. H. Afr. and Uganda.
Adult male. Above mottled brown with broad blackish centres to the
feathers ; each feather of the crown with a large basal portion bright
cinnamon ; hind neck slightly paler than the back and the rump and upper
tail-coverts a little more uniform; lesser wing-coverts uniform cinnamon,
remainder of the coverts slightly paler rufous with blackish centres, the
inner ones and the inner secondaries more coloured like the back and with
basal buff edges, next to which is a blackish submarginal line; remainder of
the quills with the exception of the two outer ones have broad margins of
cinnamon, which colour extends entirely across both webs, but is intersected
by the dark shafts ; under wing-coverts fawn colour, slightly yellower than
the cinnamon of the quills, which have their ends dusky brown. Tail
dusky brown with sandy shaded edges; outer feather with the shaft, outer
web and a terminal border sandy buff; penultimate feather with a broad
sandy buff outer margin. A broadish eyebrow and sides of head buff with
minute dark brown spots on the cheeks and ear-coverts, the latter washed
with rufous inclining to dark brown along the upper margin; throat white ;
breast and under tail-coverts buff, washed with rufous on the front of the
chest and with angular dark brown spots on the region of the crop. ‘“ Iris
light hazel, bill dusky above fading into pale yellowish flesh colour on the
lower mandible; tarsi and feet yellowish flesh colour. Total length 6:9
inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3:7, tail 2:5, tarsus 1:2. g, 29. 5.75. Pinetown
(T. L. Ayres).
Female, Similar in plumage to the male. Total length 6-5 inches,
culmen 0:65, wing 3°3, tail 2:2, tarsus 1:15. ¢, 7. 5. 75. Pinetown
(T. L. Ayres).
Two Damara specimens, very much worn, differ in having the crown
bright cinnamon with partial blackish terminal shaft-stripes; back paler,
ha
MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 53
owing to the dark centres of the feathers being almost confined to the
shafts ; abdomen whiter; spots on crop less numerous.
Specimens from north of Limpopo. Hither like the last (crown excepted)
or with the upper parts slightly more ashy (before the moult). Colouring
of younger birds or more freshly moulted specimens, like Natal birds; but
the bill, which is somewhat variable, is on an average slightly smaller.
Transvaal specimens form a good intermediate link between the last
form and Natal birds. The few specimens I have seen from Equatorial
Africa are rather rufous, but I find no definite character by which they may
be distinguished, so I do not recognise any subspecies of M. africana, for
T look upon M. athi as a good species.
The Rufous-naped Lark inhabits Africa, south of about
Ne lat.
The habits of these Larks are well summed up by Stark
as follows: “Generally met with on open grassy plains in
pairs, feeding on the ground on small seeds and insects. If
alarmed or followed it runs along the ground with great
swiftness and frequently hides under the grass; sometimes
it takes wing at once, uttering a sharp cry as it does so. On
sunny days this Lark is fond of airing itself on the top of
a bush, constantly opening and shutting its wings as it utters
its loud note. At times it rises a few yards in the air with
a fluttering flight, during which it sings a few notes not
unmelodiously. In the North-western Transvaal these Larks
breed in numbers. The nest is well concealed and by no
means easy to find. A hollow is scratched well under shelter
of a tuft of grass and lined with fine dry grass; some grass
stems are then pulled over the nest and intertwined with long
blades of dry grass so as to form an arched bower, a small
side entrance being left on one side. Three elongated eggs
are laid about the second week in December; these are cream
coloured, spotted all over with pale brown, more thickly at
the obtuse end with dark brown and purplish brown, often
in the form of a zone. They average 0°95 x 0°60.”
I have retained the name Mirafra africana,} Smith, for
54 MIRAFRA AFRICANA.
this species, as Alauda africana, Gm., 1788, is the same as
Certhilauda capensis (Bodd., 1783), a bird I place in another
genus. The Rufous-naped Larks which I refer to, M. africana,
Smith, have been split up into five species, and although I
doubt these forms being even of subspecific value, I give the
following key to them as ornithologists are not all of one
opinion in such matters. The names M. grisescens and M.
pallidior have not been previously published. I have found
them written on the labels of some of the specimens in the
British Museum by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, which implies that
these skins should be noticed as possibly belonging to
distinct species.
a. Plumage generally less rufous, South of
Cunene and Zambesi.
a1, Plumage fresher, darker, of a less sandy
shade, and much less rufous showing on
the crown.
a? Generally: bill slightly longer; dark
centres to feathers broader.
a® Generally : less rufous and bill slightly africana, Smith;
larger. Cape Colony and Natal . latin Hartl.
b? Generally : more rufous and bill slightly
smaller. Transvaal . . . . . . transvaalensis, Hartert.
b2 Generally: more ashy and bill slightly
shorter. Between Limpopoand Zambesi grisescens, Sharpe.
61, Plumage, bill and hind claw much worn;
feathers paler and of a more sandy shade ;
much more rufous showing on the crown.
Damara) = 22 2 een epalledzor Sharpes
b. Generally more rufous. North of Cunene and occidentalis, Hartl. ;
Zambesi y= 9) 2 ee lcnopicalis,eelertort.
The type of Megalophonus occidentalis, Hartl., is one of
Verreaux’s specimens in the Bremen Museum from Gaboon,
where the species has also been procured by Marche and
de Compiégne. I have not seen the type, but it has been
carefully described and is apparently not distinguishable from
M. africana tropicalis, Hartert. This species seems to be rarer
MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 55
in Equatorial Africa than its ally, M. athi, with which it has
been sometimes confounded, for Mr. Jackson’s collections
contain only two from Ntebi; all his other specimens, and
those obtained by Dr. Hinde, referred to M. africana, from
Kakuru and Naiwasha lakes and from Machako’s, belong to
M. athi.
Specimens of the present species have been recorded as
collected by Emin at Bukoba; by Dr. Ansorge in Ukamba and
at the Biboko river; by Mr. Oscar Neumann at Lolela to the
north of Lake Manjara, and by Fischer at Usaramo and on the
Shashi mountains to the north-east of Speke’s Gulf, so it is
apparently known to occur throughout the Victoria Nyanza
district ; but as with T’ephrocorys cinerea and Corvus capensis,
there is a large intermediate tract of country from whence
none of these species have yet been recorded.
This species is apparently generally distributed over
Benguela, for according to Anchieta it is plentiful at Quil-
lengues, and known there by the name “ Kipembe” and at
Huilla as “ Kirule.” He has also collected specimens near the
towns of Benguela, Quissange and Catumbella.
It has not been recorded from German 8.W. Africa by
Chapman nor Mr. Fleck; but there are two of Andersson’s
specimens from Elephant Vley in the British Museum. On
the labels of these Dr. Bowdler Sharpe has written the name
M. pallidior, and at first sight they appear to belong to a well
marked species; but they are both in such sadly worn plumage,
that their sandy colouring and large amount of rufous exposed
on the crown may be accounted for as the result of the abrasion
of the feathers, and the dry nature of the country may have
retarded the moult. They do not agree any better with birds
from Benguela than with those from Cape Colony or the
Transvaal.
In Cape Colony the species appears to be restricted to the
56 MIRAFRA AFRICANA,
eastern portion, where Sir Andrew Smith procured the type
of his M. africana. The Messrs. Woodward met with these
Larks at Eschowe and Ulundi in Zululand, and Mr. T. Ayres
obtained the type of Megalophonus rostratus in Natal, where
they are abundant.
The Rufous-naped Larks are equally plentiful throughout
the Transvaal. To birds from this country have been given
the subspecific name of M. africana transvaalensis by Mr.
Ernst Hartert, who regards the great mountain range from
which the Vaal river rises as the boundary between this form
and the typical M. africana of Smith.
To the north of the Limpopo, in the country from which
the types of M. grisescens, Sharpe, came, Mr. T. Ayres, while in
company with the late Mr. J. S. Jameson, shot one of the
typical specimens at Kanye and writes: “This Lark is by no
means plentiful. The bird we procured was breeding. The
nest was placed ina small hollow behind a tuft of grass, and
was roughly composed of dry half-decayed grass, loosely put
together. The eggs, three in number, are white, almost entirely
covered with umber brown freckles or spots of various shades,
and milky white blotches, the obtuse end being the most
marked; they measure 0°9 inch by 0°6.” In the British
Museum there are also specimens collected by Frank Oates at
Tibakais Vley, 18° 52’ S. lat., 26° 18 E. long., and by Dr.
Bradshaw in the Makalaka country.
In Mashona, according to Mr. Guy Marshall, this Lark is
“generally distributed, though nowhere plentiful, often fre-
quenting the vicinity of houses in the town. It is a solitary
bird, fond of settling on the top of some low bush, where it
will remain for a long time, uttering its three-note call with a
perseverance worthy of a better cause. When disturbed it
goes off with a low fluttering flight, either alighting on the
next convenient bush or dropping to the ground, when it runs
MIRAFRA CORDOFANICA, 57
like a rat. One bird will sometimes frequent the same post
for many weeks.” I have failed to find any record of the
occurrence of this species between Mashonaland and the
Victoria Nyanza.
Mirafra cordofanica.
Mirafra cordofanica, Strickl. P. Z. S. 1850, p. 218, pl. 23; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 606 (1890) Kordofan; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 204 (1896).
Galerita rutila, Yon Miill. Descr. Nouv. Ois. Afr. pl. 13 (1854).
Alauda prestigiatrix, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 43 (1856).
Melanocorypha ferruginea, Brehm. J. f. O. 1857, p. 82, Kordofan.
Ammomanes cinnamomea, Bp. Notes Coll. Delattre, p, 61 (1854).
Type. Above faintly mottled, very pale cinnamon with slightly darker
cinnamon centres to the feathers and with sandy white margins to some
of the feathers of the upper back. Wings with the coverts like the back ;
quills pale cinnamon, with the inner secondaries broadly margined with buff
and a narrow submarginal blackish line; the primaries shade into more
dusky pale brown towards their ends; inner lining of the wings pale
cinnamon with most of the outer two quills and the ends of the primaries
pale dusky brown. Tail with the four centre feathers uniform sandy brown,
the remainder of the feathers dark brown with sandy buff edges and the
white pattern extending over the outer feather with the exception of a
dusky wedge-shaped mark on the inner web, and a wedge, half an inch long,
at the end of the next feather white. Eyebrow and sides of head
whitish, with the ear-coverts partially cinnamon; throat and under parts
generally, white, with a few spots of dusky cinnamon on the crop, the sides
of which as well as the flanks are faintly tinged with cinnamon. Total
length 5:4 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3:15, tail 2:1, tarsus 0-9. Kordofan
(Petherick).
The Kordofan Lark inhabits the N.E. Soudan.
The type, possibly a pale variety of the species to which
it belongs, was discovered by Petherick in Kordofan and is
now in the British Museum. This Lark has also been recorded
from Senaar, but apparently no traveller has noticed it in
life for the last forty years.
58 MIRAFRA DAMARENSIS.
Mirafra damarensis.
Mirafra damarensis, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 650, pl. 75, fig. 2 Ovampo ;
id. ed. Layard’s B. 8. Afr. p. 522 (1884); id. Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 612
(1890) Ondonga; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 209 (1896); Stark, Faun.
S. Afr. B. i. p. 211 (1900).
Type. Aboye mottled pale ashy brown, with narrow pointed blackish
shaft-stripes. Wing with the scapulars, coverts and inner secondaries much
like the back ; remainder of quills, with the exception of the two outer ones,
broadly edged with very pale cinnamon, which colour entirely crosses a
large portion of both webs, leaving only the shafts and broad ends dusky
brown ; under wing-coverts also pale cinnamon. Upper tail-coverts reaching
nearly to the tip of the tail and like the two centre tail-feathers are similar
in colouring to the mantle; remainder of tail-feathers blackish with the
outer and terminal margins white, which colour extends over the entire
webs of the side feathers. Hyebrow, sides of head and upper half of throat
white, slightly shaded with ashy brown on the ear-coverts; lower throat,
breast and under tail-coverts buff; region of crop with small angular
blackish brown spots. Total length 5:3 inches, culmen 0:55, wing 3:5, tail
2-2, tarsus 1:1. g, 14.11.66. Ondonga (Andersson).
The Damara Lark inhabits German South-west Africa.
The only two specimens known to me of this species were
collected by Andersson at Ondonga, in Ovampoland, in October
and November, and are now in the British Museum.
Mirafra africanoides.
Mirafra africanoides, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. p. 47 (1836) Cape Col. ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 616 (1890) Damara, Orange R., Maka-
laka; Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 411, Damara, Nama; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 211 (1896); Stark, Faun. §. Afr. B. i. p. 210 (1900).
Adult. Above pale cinnamon, with blackish shaft-stripes. Wing with
broad cinnamon edges to the quills, extending round the ends of the
secondaries, this cinnamon only entirely crosses both webs at the base of the
feathers, the dark brown near the shaft increases in breadth from the end of
the shortest primary covert to the tip of the quill; under wing-coverts
cinnamon, with the edge of the pinion buff. Tail blackish brown with pale
MIRAFRA AFRICANOIDES, 59
sides and terminal margins of cinnamon on the centre feathers and rufous
tinted white on the outer ones, which have nearly the entire outer web pale.
Har-coverts cinnamon; a black band in front of eye; a broad eyebrow and
the under surface generally white, a few dusky spots on sides of upper
throat ; lower throat with some angular dark spots and the sides of the crop
and fore-chest strongly mottled with cinnamon. “Iris chestnut; bill
yellowish brown; legs and feet flesh-colour.’’ Total length 5-9 and
5:7 inches, culmen 0:5 and 0:45, wing 3:5 and 3:35, tail 2°5 and 2:4,
tarsus 0-9 and 0:85. ¢, 30. 7. 85. Orange R. (Bradshaw) and ? , Hope
Town (Atmore).
The Southern Fawn-coloured Lark inhabits Western South
Africa from the south of the Cunene river into Hastern
Cape Colony.
The most northern known locality for this species is
Ondonga in Ovampoland, where a specimen was procured
by Andersson, who writes: ‘This bird is very frequent in
the neighbourhood of Otjimbinque, and is not uncommon in
various other parts of Damara and Great Namaqualand. It
is easily distinguished from most of the other Larks by its
reddish appearance. It is found in pairs and is comparatively
tame, flying but a short distance when disturbed, and settling
on the ground, or on a bush or tree; it has a kind of chirping
song.” Mr. Fleck has also met with the species in German
South-west Africa.
Sir Andrew Smith, who discovered the type of the species,
remarks: “Specimens of this bird are occasionally to be
procured to the south of the Orange river, but most readily
on the arid open plains which lie between that river and the
tropic of Capricorn.” Mr. Atmore has collected specimens
in Griqualand and at Hope Town; and Mr. Ortlepp writes
from Colesberg: “Found singly, inhabiting wooded places,
and abounding on tall camel or thorn trees, on whose topmost
twigs they are frequently to be heard pouring out a sweet,
sustained song.”
60. MIRAFRA ALOPEX,
Mirafra alopex.
Mirafra alopex, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 617 (1890) Somali; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 212 (1896).
Mirafra cordofanica (nec Strickl.), Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 407 Somali.
Type. Differs from the South African M. africanoides only in being a
trifle darker. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:2, tail 2-2, tarsus
0°85, Somali (Lort Phillips).
The Somali Fawn-coloured Lark inhabits Somaliland and
British Hast Africa.
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, in 1890, recognised this form as a
subspecies of M. africanoides. The type was shot in Somali-
land by Mr. Lort Phillips, who writes: ‘Only met with on
a few occasions, near the centre of the plateau. It perches
on the topmost boughs of the trees which it leaves with a
quivering flight, like our Wood-Larks, pouring forth a
peculiarly sweet song.”
In British Hast Africa Lord Delamere has procured two
females from Wasa Myro and a male from Likipia, all shot
in January. The season probably accounts for these speci-
mens being slightly less rufous than the type, and for their
having the dark centres to the feathers a little broader and
the crop-spots rather larger and blacker ; otherwise they agree
well with the only specimen hitherto known.
Mirafra intercedens. (Pl. 18, fig. 1.)
Mirafra intercedens, Reichen. Orn. Monatsb. 1895, p. 96 Masai ; Elliot,
Field-Columb. Mus. Orn. i. No. 2, p. 37 (1897) ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899,
p. 64 Somali, Hartert, in Ansorge’s ‘‘ Under Afr. Sun,” p. 348 (1899)
Kiboro R.; id. Nov. Zool. vii. p. 46 (1900) Campi-ya-Simba ; Neum.
J. f. O. 1900, p. 290 Ngaruka ; Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 628 S. Abyssinia.
Mirafra sabota (nec Smith), Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 74 Loeru.
Mirafra africanoides (nec Smith), Reichen. Vég. Deutsch. O. Afr. p. 203
(1894) Loeru, Masai.
Adult. Above mottled, pale tawny brown, with blackish brown centres
to the feathers, paler and more buff on the neck. Wings dark brown, with
L
3)
fiir
THE BIRDS OF AFRICA,
.Mirafra intercedens.
»
albicauda
algr
1
MIRAFRA HOVA. 61
broad buff edges to the coverts and inner secondaries; outer secondaries
and the primaries, with the exception of the two outer feathers, have broad
cinnamon margins extending entirely across the outer webs of the primaries ;
two outer primaries, like the primary coverts, are only narrowly edged with
rufous buff. Under wing-coverts and a large portion of the inner webs of
the quills cinnamon, which colour does not entirely cross the inner webs,
and is scarcely visible on the bastard-primary. Tail brownish black, with
broad, pale rufous outer edges to the centre pair of feathers ; white on tail
confined to a rather narrow outer and terminal edge of the outer feather.
Ear-coverts chestnut brown; a band of black in front of the eye; a broad
eyebrow ; cheeks, throat, and upper half of the sides of the neck white ;
breast, thighs and under tail-coverts pale buff with a rufous shade on the
crop and flanks; lower throat with a few angular dusky brown shaft spots
on the crop, which is separated from the sides of the neck by a fairly
distinct dusky black patch. ‘Iris brown; bill dark, with most of the lower
mandible pale; tarsi and feet pale brown.’”’ Total length 6:2 inches, culmen
0:55, wing 3-7, tail 2-4, tarsus 0-'9. g, 9.11.99. Athi (Delamere).
The Loeru Lark inhabits the Masai and Somali districts.
The type of the species was discovered by Fischer at Loeru
and specimens have been collected by Dr. Ansorge at the
Kiboro river in April and November; by Mr. Oscar Neumann
at Ngaruka in December, as well as by Lord Delamere at the
Athi river in November, and at Likepia in January. ‘To the
eastward in Somali it appears to be plentiful, for although
Mr. Elliot writes: “We only met with this species at
Dagahbar in Ogaden, about twenty miles south of Haud,”
Mr. Hawker was more fortunate, for from November to
January he collected six specimens from Arabseyo, Ujawaji
and Jifa Medir. In Southern Abyssinia Mr. A. HE. Pease has
procured a specimen at Melkadegaga (8° 20’ N. lat., 39° 20’ EH.
long.), where he found the Larks inhabiting thin bush in the
open country between the Hawash river and the hills.
Mirafra hova.
Mirafra hova, Hartl. J. f. O. 1860, p. 106 Madagascar; Sharpe, Cat.
B. M. xiii. p. 601 (1890); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 200 (1896);
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 134 (1899) egg.
Alauda hoya, Sibree, Ibis, 1891, p. 442.
|
62 MIRAFRA HOVA.
Adult. Above mottled, pale rufous brown with broad dark centres to
the feathers. Wings more rufous than the back; the rufous edges on the
quills extending across about half of the outer and half of the inner webs ;
under wing-coyerts and inner margins of the quills pale cinnamon. Tail
blackish brown with the pattern confined to the two outer pairs of feathers ;
the outer feather is white, with a large, rather irregularly defined dusky
wedge-shaped patch on the inner web reaching almost to its tip, the pen-
ultimate feather has a large portion of the outer web buff. A broad eyebrow
and sides of head buff, the latter mottled with brown; chin and throat white
shading into brownish buff on the sides of the upper neck; remainder of the
under parts brownish buff; lower throat and crop with boldly marked
angular blackish spots which unite into a patch between the crop and the
sides of the neck. “ Iris brown; feet rosy grey” (Grandidier). Total length
5:7 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 2°8, tail 1:8, tarsus 0:85.
The Hova Lark is confined to the island of Madagascar.
This species is the only representative of the family
Alaudide in the whole of the Madagascar subregion. It was
discovered by the late Professor Peters in the bay of
St. Augustin, on the west coast of the island. Sir Edward
Newton, while passing from the coast to the capital, found
these birds as common as our Sky-Lark in England, wherever
he crossed the open country; but they were not nearly so
plentiful in the neighbourhood of Foule Point as on the great
plain near Mangourou. He calls their song very poor, and he
likens their flight to that of our Wood-Lark.
According to M. Grandidier they not only inhabit the
plains to the east and west but are very often found in parties
of six or eight, more rarely in pairs, in the midst of the bare
arid highlands of the centre of the island. In habits they
resemble their Huropean allies, singing to the morning sun
and rising in the air they circle round for a time and then drop
rapidly to the ground, where they flit and run about in search
of seeds or in pursuit of small insects. They are pugnacious
by nature, so if two are placed in the same cage together, they
will fight until one is killed. They roost on the ground, and
their eggs are four to six in number, of a greenish yellow
MIRAFRA FRINGILLARIS, 63
dotted and freckled with reddish brown, and measure 0°8 to
0:9, by 0°55 to 0°6 inch. The specimens from the west are
generally paler than those from the east. Their Hova or
general name is “ Sorohitra,”’ and their provincial Malagasy
names are “ Vorosoy,’’ ‘‘ Boria,”’ ‘‘Sirotsy,” and ‘‘ Lolokolotany” ;
the latter, if literally translated would be, those who give all
their affection to the earth.
Mirafra fringillaris.
Mirafra fringillaris, Sundev. Gifv. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 99
Upper Limpopo ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 606 (1890) Damara,
Transvaal ; Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 411 Damara; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 202 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 214 (1900).
Adult. Above earthy brown with fairly broad blackish centres to the
feathers, which on the mantle are more lanceolate and edged internally
with buff. Wing with the cinnamon on the quills confined to the outer
edges and does not quite cross the outer webs, inner webs with narrow pale
partial edges rufous buff, of the same shade as the under wing-coverts.
Tail brownish black, the centre feathers with ashy brown edges, and a pure
white pattern extends over the shaft and two-thirds of outer feather and
nearly the whole of the outer web of the next one. Har-coverts and cheeks
pale brown mottled, with darker centres to the feathers ; a broad eyebrow ;
throat, breast and under tail-coverts white ; crop slightly shaded with rufous
and with blackish brown angular spots, larger towards the base of the
throat and a fairly well marked blackish patch separates the crop from the
sides of the lower neck. ‘Iris hazel; bill horn colour; legs reddish brown.”’
Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:4, tail 2-4, tarsus 0-9. 3,
29.11.73. Transvaal (Buckley).
The Finch-like Lark inhabits German South-west Africa
and the Transvaal.
Mr. Fleck records the species from Damara and Bastard-
land, and in the British Museum there are three of Andersson’s
specimens from Damaraland, and one of Mr. T. HE. Buckley’s
from the Transvaal. In this latter district the type was dis-
covered by Wahlberg, and according to Stark, it is a very
common resident in the North-western Transvaal, frequenting
64 MIRAFRA CANTILLANS.
open glades in the bush country, and is usually met with in
small flocks or pairs. He also informs us: “It breeds abun-
dantly in the Transvaal in the neighbourhood of the Limpopo
and Marico rivers. <A hole is scratched in the ground under
shelter of a tuft of grass, and this is lined with dry grass;
many of the surrounding grass-blades are bent over the nest
and intertwined with long pieces of dry grass, so as to shelter
it from above, a side entrance being left for the ingress and
egress of the bird. From two to four eggs are deposited about
the first week in December. These vary considerably, but are
usually of a pale bluish ground colour, mottled and speckled
all over with different shades of reddish brown and grey or
slate colour, the spots frequently forming a zone round the
greatest diameter. They average 0°80 x 0°62.
Mirafra cantillans.
Mirafra cantillans, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. xiii. p. 960 (1844) Madras ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 605 (1890); Grant, Nov. Zool. 1900,
p. 248 Arabia ; id. Ibis, 1901, p. 628 S. Abyssinia.
Geocoraphus simplex, Heugl. J. f. O. 1868, p. 226 Arabia.
Mirafra simplex, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 595, note (1890).
Mirafra marginata, Hawker, Bull. B. O.C. vii. p. 55 (1898) Ujawaji ; id.
Ibis, 1899, p. 64, pl. 2, fig. 2 Somali.
Adult. Above pale brown, with dark centres to the feathers. Wing-
coverts and inner secondaries with broad buff edges, which on the latter are
margined internally with an ill-defined line of dark brown; remainder of
the quills and the primary-coverts with broad pale cinnamon edges not
reaching across to the shafts; under surface with broad inner edges and
the under coverts buffy cimnamon. Tail brownish black with the two centre
pairs of feathers paler and more rufous; outer feather and shaft white,
with a wedge-shaped blackish patch covering about half of the inner web,
and the entire outer web of the next feather is pure white. Hyebrow, sides
of head and sides of upper neck buff, strongly mottled with dark brown on
the cheeks and ear-coverts; under parts buff with the middle and upper
throat white; lower throat, crop and sides of front chest with angular
spots of dark brown, which colour forms a large patch on sides of the
MIRAFRA CHENIANA. 65
crop next to the lower neck. ‘Iris pale brown; bill dusky brown; feet
brown.” Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:0, tail 2:0, tarsus 0-9.
?, 16.12.97. Ujawaji (Hawker).
The Singing Bush-Lark ranges from Somaliland and
Abyssinia eastward through Arabia into India.
Mr. R. McD. Hawker shot the first African specimen of
this species at Ujawaji in Somaliland, December 16, 1897, and
finding it to be distinct from all other known African Larks,
he made it the type of his M. marginata. More recently Mr.
Percival has brought to England a series of six specimens
from the neighbourhood of Lehej in Arabia, and these, together
with three skins procured by Mr. A. EH. Pease at Filwa in
Southern Abyssinia, clearly prove, as Mr. Ogilvie Grant has
already pointed out, that Mirafra marginata, Hawker, and
Geocoraphus simplex, Heuglin, belong to one species, and should
not be separated from Mirafra cantillans, Blyth, described in
1844, from a Madras specimen now in the British Museum.
The type of Geocoraphus simplex was obtained by Hemprich
and Ehrenberg at Gonfode on the Arabian coast, nearly opposite
to Suakin, and should be in the Berlin Museum. According
to Mr. Pease the species frequents places covered with long
grass, and has a rapid straight flight.
Mirafra cheniana.
Mirafra cheniana, Smith, Ill. Zool. §. Afr. Aves, pl. 89, fig. 2 (1843, err.
pro fig. 1) Latakoo ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 603 (1890) Latakoo,
Whittlesea Flats ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 201 (1896); Stark, Faun.
S. Afr. B. i. p. 215 (1900).
Adult. Above mottled, pale rufous brown, with broad dark centres to
the feathers. Wings more rufous than the back; the rufous edges on
the quills extending across about half of the outer and half of the inner
webs; under wing-coverts of a uniform pale cinnamon, like the inner
margins of the quills. Tail blackish brown with the pale pattern white and
extending on to the three outer pairs of feathers; both outer and penul
January, 1902. 5
66 MIRAFRA ALBICAUDA.
timate feathers white with a wedge-shaped blackish patch on the inner webs ;
next feather with a broad white outer margin. A broad eyebrow and sides
of head buff mottled with brown; chin and throat white, shading into
brownish buff on the sides of the upper neck, remainder of the under parts
brownish buff; lower throat and crop with boldly marked angular blackish
spots which unite into a patch between the crop and the sides of the neck.
“Tris dark hazel; bill pale; with upper mandible dusky brown except the
edges ; tarsi and feet pale reddish brown.’ Total length 5 inches, culmen
0:4, wing 3, tail 1:8, tarsus 0°8. 3, 6.1.79. Potchefstroom (T. Ayres).
The Latakoo Lark inhabits the eastern part of Cape Colony
north to the Transvaal.
The type was obtained by Sir Andrew Smith, who writes :
**Only a few individuals of this species were seen, and those
upon the extensive grassy plains to the northward and eastward
of Latakoo. It is a species which seems to prefer situations
which abound in long and rank grass, among which it runs
like a quail, and flies like it when disturbed, to a short distance,
and then suddenly descends, after which it cannot again be got
to take wing unless by the aid of dogs. It feeds upon seeds
and small insects.” In Cape Colony it has also been procured
by Mr. Atmore on the Whittlesea Flats.
In the Transvaal, these Larks have been met with by Mr.
T. Ayres, in the Marieco district, where bush and glade are
pretty equally distributed. Like our English Skylark they
rise in the early morning with the same fluttering flight,
singing sweetly all the time. He also found them on the
slopes in the open country, a mile or two from Potchefstroom.
Mirafra albicauda. (Pl. 18, fig. 2.)
Mirafra albicauda, Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 223 Gonda; id. Vég.
Deutsch. O. Afr. p. 203 (1894); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 214 (1896) ;
Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 291 Kavinjiro, Donje Ngai.
Adult. Above mottled black with the edges of the feathers dull grey,
partially inclining to butf on the centre of the mantle. Wings blackish
brown with broad pale edges to the feathers, buff on the wing-coverts,
XX Id VOIU4V AO SCHIG AHL
MIRAFRA BUCKLEYT. 67
shaded with rufous on the primary-coverts and towards the base of the
secondaries and clear cinnamon on the eight inner primaries, where this
colour extends half way across the outer webs; the outer two primaries are
narrowly edged with rufous, which passes into buff on the second primary
beyond the end of the bastard-primary; under surface of the wing with
the coverts and broad inner margins of the quills extending half way across
their inner webs, rufous buff; tail blackish with a strongly marked white
pattern extending over the outer feather with the exception of a small
wedge-shaped dusky patch on the basal half of the inner web; penultimate
feather similarly coloured but with a large dusky patch reaching nearly to
the end of the tail; the next feather has a white outer edge extending its
whole length ; eyebrows, cheeks, sides of upper half of neck and the under
parts generally white, tinted with buff on the breast; ear-coverts pale brown
shading into black on the hinder part; sides of the lower neck mottled
with ash like the hind neck; lower throat spotted with black and separated
from the sides of the lower neck by a fairly well-marked dusky black band.
“ Tris hazel ; bill dusky ; paler below; tarsi and feet horn-colour”’ (Hawker).
Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3°25, tail 2, tarsus 0:85.
3, 20. 11. 99. Althi R. (Delamere.)
The White-tailed Lark inhabits East Africa from the
Uniamwesi country to about 9° N. lat. on the Nile.
The type was discovered by Fischer at Gonda, close to
Taboro, which is the most southern-known range for the
species. From further north-east Mr. Neumann procured a
male at Kavinjiro, December 11, 1893, and five days later
a pair at Donje Ngai. Lord Delamere has also met with it
at the Athi river, and Mr. Hawker procured a fine series of
three males and four females twenty miles north of Fashoda,
April 12, 1901, and a specimen at Kaka on May 2.
Mirafra buckleyi. (PI. 19, fig. 1.)
Calendrella buckleyi, Shelley, Ibis, 1873, p. 142 Accra; Reichen. J. f. O.
1875, p. 43 Accra.
Mirafra buckleyi, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 599 Accra; Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 197 (1896) ; Hartert, Noy. Zool. 1901, p. 840 Niger.
Type. Above mottled, crown and back of neck pale tawny brown, with
rather narrow blackish shaft-stripes; mantle paler ashy brown, with large
dark centres and partially defined black shaft-stripes to the feathers, lower
68 MIRAFRA ANGOLENSIS.
back nearly uniform pale brown ; upper tail-coverts cinnamon, with blackish
shaft-stripes. Tail blackish brown, with broad rufous edges to the centre
pair of feathers, and a rufous buff pattern on the outer two pairs, extending
over two-thirds of the outer feather, the other third being a wedge-shaped
blackish patch on the inner web; penultimate feather with the outer web
rufous buff. Wing dark brown with buff edges to the feathers, which are
slightly more rufous on the middle quills; wing-linings dusky ash, with
partial rufous buff edges to the quills, and the coverts buff like the under
surface of the body. Eyebrow, sides of head, throat and sides of upper
neck sandy buff, slightly paler than the breast; cheeks and ear-coyverts
mottled with dark brown ; lower throat and crop with dark brown angular
shaft-spots. Iris brown; bill brown; darker on the upper mandible and tip
of lower one; tarsi and feet brownish flesh colour. Total length 5:3 inches,
culmen 0:5, wing 2°8, tail 1:9, tarsus 0'9. ¢, Accra, 2. 72 (Shelley).
Buckley’s Lark inhabits the Gold Coast and the Niger
district.
During my visit to the Gold Coast in company with Mr.
T. E. Buckley, we discovered this species near Accra, where
in February and March they were fairly abundant, and to
be found singly or in pairs on the sandy plain, which is much
interspersed with bushes. We never observed them to mount
in the air, but when disturbed they flew rather in a Pipit-like
manner for a short distance. Dr. Reichenow, however, who
also found the species abundant at Accra, likens it to our
Skylark in its manner of soaring in the air, and singing.
According to Mr. Hartert, these Larks are not uncommon in
the neighbourhood of Loko, and are to be met with north-
ward throughout the more open country between Kashia
and Saria.
Mirafra angolensis.
Mirafra angolensis, Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1880, pp. 59, 67 Caconda ; 1893,
p. 14 Galanga; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 593 (1890); Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 203 (1896); Hartert, Bull. B. O. C. xi. p. 64 (1901)
Caconda.
Types. ‘‘ Remarkable by the brick red colouring of the upper parts. Bill
similar in size and form to that of W. africana. The two specimens differ
ie
MIRAFRA NIGRESCENS. 69
slightly, probably owing to their age; in one the crown and upper back is
brick red, with narrow black shaft-stripes; these stripes almost disappear
on the upper neck, which contrasts in its greyish shade from the surrounding
plumage ; lower back and rump uniform brick red, and the upper tail-coverts
ashy, shading into brown on the centres of the feathers, and their shafts are
brown. In the other specimen the upper parts are more strongly mottled
with black, the dark centres to the feathers almost blending into their ashy
edges. In both specimens the quills are brownish black with rufous outer
webs, and the inner webs edged with pale isabelline ; lores and an indistinct
eyebrow dull fawn, ear-coverts of the same colour striped with brown ;
under parts fawn, brighter on the chest, fading into whitish on the middle
of the abdomen, and into pure white on the throat; the base of the latter
with a gorget of triangular brown spots; tail blackish, the centre pair of
feathers with broad chestnut edges, and the outermost ones with a large
triangular patch of white, extending over the outer web and a portion of the
inner one; penultimate feathers with the outer web white. Bill horny
brown, with the edges of the upper mandible and the base of the lower one
whitish ; feet pale. Total length 6:8 inches, culmen 0°68, wing 33°'6,. tail
2°24, tarsus 1:08” (Bocage).
The Angola Lark inhabits Benguela.
All that is known regarding this species is that the types,
a male and female, were procured at Caconda and another
specimen at Galanga.
According to the original description which I have trans-
lated, this species should be readily recognised by the
primaries, the rufous apparently entirely crossing the outer
web and the inner web being only margined with isabelline,
while the pattern of the tail is similar to that of M. cantillans
and M. frigillaris, in neither of which species does the rufous
on the outer webs of the primaries ever entirely cross that web.
Mirafra nigrescens.
Mirafra nigrescens, Reichen. Orn. Monatsb. 1900, p. 39 Kondeland.
“Upper parts black, with earthy brown sides to the feathers; rump
uniform grey, the shorter upper tail-coverts greyish brown, with blackish
terminal shaft-stripes, the longer ones black with grey-brown sides ; lores
and eyebrow clearer brown ; cheeks clear brown spotted with black ; throat
white; crop brown with black markings; breast pale brown or brownish
70 MIRAFRA COLLARIS.
white, least upper wing-coverts rufous, the middle and larger ones and the
primary coverts with blackish centres; quills blackish brown, the primaries
with bright rufous outer edges, the secondaries with smaller rufous edges,
and the inner one has a black marginal line; tail feathers blackish brown
with ashy brown outer edges, the outermost one with the outer web bright
yellowish brown. Total length 4:0 inches, culmen 0:72, wing 3:6, tail 2,
tarsus 1:32” (Reichenow).
Reichenow’s Dusky Lark inhabits German Hast Africa to
the south of Bagamoyo.
This species is known to me only by the description of
the type, which is recorded as having been procured by Dr.
Fiilleborn at ‘‘ Eltonpass nordlich des Kondelandes.”
This pass is south of Bagamoyo, between that town and
Konduchi, a name, according to Keith Johnston, ‘given to a
group of villages surrounded by cocoa-nut trees on the shores
of a shallow bay. The inhabitants are described by Captain
Elton as hard-working fishermen and cultivators.”
Mirafra collaris. (Pl. 19, fig. 2.)
Mirafra collaris, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. v. p. 24 (1896) Lake Rudolf ;
Donaldson Smith, ‘‘ Through Unknown African Countries,’ p. 126,
fig. (1897).
Type. Above rich cinnamon, with broad white sides to the feathers of
the mantle and inner portions of the wings; edges slightly more buff on the
crown and wing-coverts ; back and ides of upper neck greyish black, with
broad buff edges to the feathers like the hinder part of the eyebrow, which is
otherwise uniform buff; upper tail-coverts dusky grey, with whitish edges
and black shafts. Tail with black shafts; these shafts, like those of the
quills, have the basal portion on the under side white, centre four feathers
slaty grey with broad pale rufous edges ; remainder of the tail blacker, with
a narrowish buff edge to the outer feather. Wings: quills, inner three
secondaries excepted, dusky brownish black, with broad buff ends to most
of the secondaries and a few of the inner primaries, and buff edges to the
outer feathers ; under wing-coverts pale cinnamon, and reaching to the end
of the pale rufous patch which extends over the entire base of the quills
and the basal portion of the under surface of the shafts is white. Har-
coyerts rich cinnamon; cheeks buff mottled with black and surmounted by
a band of black beneath the eye; chin and upper throat buff, followed by
PINAROCORYS NIGRICANS. 71
a broad collar of black feathers edged with buff; crop and breast buff, the
former with broad rich cinnamon centres to the feathers, which form a large
patch of that colour on the sides next to the lower neck; flanks mottled
with rufous; under tail-coverts buff, with the largest ones slaty grey edged
with buff.” Iris brown. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3-6,
tail 2:5, tarsus 0:9. The secondaries reach 0:1 beyond the end of the
primaries.
The Collared-Lark inhabits Gallaland.
All that I know regarding this species, is that the type was
procured by Dr. Donaldson Smith during his expedition to
Lake Rudolf, and is now in the British Museum.
Genus III. PINAROCORYS.
Similar in general structure to Mirafra, from which it differs in the depth
of the angle of the wing between the longest primary and longest secondary,
the shortest secondary falling short of the tip of the wing by about 1:2
inches, or more than the length of the tarsus. This genus is further
characterised by the variable pattern of the plumage in adult birds; full
plumaged birds have the crown and back uniform brown; quills with or
without a rufous pattern, and most of the centre ones have broad pale
terminal margins, but these strongly marked variations in the colouring of
the wings are neither seasonal nor specific characters, but apparently denote
the sex.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Upper tail-coverts and tail blackish brown. nigricans.
b. Upper tail-coverts and tail cinnamon, the
latter with a dark brown triangular patch on
Eherenduhalias ss ae st CCU. CNY thropygia.
Pinarocorys nigricans.
Alauda nigricans, Sundey. Gifv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. Stockh. 1850, p. 99
Upper Limpopo.
Mirafra nigricans, Sharpe, ed. Layard’s B. S. Afr. p. 530 (1884) Humbe,
Quissangues, Limpopo ; id. Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 619 (1890) Rustenburg,
Makalaka ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 216 (1896) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897,
p. 514 Zulu; Alexander, Ibis, 1899, p. 563 Zambesi; Starke, Faun.
S. Afr. B. i. p. 207 (1900).
72, PINAROCORYS NIGRICANS.
Adult in full plumage. Above uniform blackish brown with narrow
rufous buff edges to the outer tail-feathers. Wing with incomplete narrow
buff edges to the feathers; most of the secondaries and the inner primaries
with broad terminal edges of rufous-shaded white. Sides of the head, sides
of upper neck and the under parts generally mostly white; the greater
portion of the ear-coverts and a patch in front of them, extending round the
cheeks and forming a margin to the upper throat, blackish brown; sides of
upper neck equally mottled with white and blackish brown; lower throat
and crop with large blackish brown centres to the feathers and the middle
of the chest with more lanceolate blackish centres; flanks washed with
blackish brown. Under surface of the wings dusky black, with large buff
marginal patches on the inner webs of the primaries ; under wing-coverts
white, slightly mottled with dusky black. ‘Iris hazel; bill dusky with
base of under mandible pale; tarsi and feet yellowish white”’ (T. Ayres).
Total length 7:4 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 4:7, tail 3:2, tarsus 1:15. Rho-
desia (Bradshaw).
Adult before the autumn moult. Above rufous shaded earthy brown,
mottled on the crown and upper back with a few new blackish feathers.
Wing: above nearly uniform brown with narrow margins to the feathers
of cinnamon, which colour extends nearly half way across the outer webs
of the primaries and over a large portion of the inner webs; under wing-
coverts buff. Remainder of the plumage as in the last bird described ;
but the dark parts are slightly paler brown. Total length 7-4 inches,
culmen 0:6, wing 4°5, tail 3, tarsus 1:15. g,10.1.85. Potchefstroom
(T. Ayres).
Immature male. Above blackish brown with rufous buff edges to all the
feathers; wing-coverts more broadly edged, and the secondaries as well as
the inner primaries have broad rufous tinted white terminal margins; under
surface of the wing dusky slate colour with the outermost coverts sandy
buff, and a buff patch on the inner margins of the quills; tail uniform
blackish brown, all the feathers narrowly edged with cinnamon ; remainder
of plumage as in the adult. Total length 7-3 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 4:6,
tail 3, tarsus 1:15. g,10.1.82. Rustenburg (T. Ayres).
The Dusky Lark inhabits Benguela and South Zambesia
from Zululand to the Zambesi river.
Although this species has a fairly wide range, it appears to
be rare everywhere. Professor Barboza du Bocage records
only two specimens as having been collected by Anchieta in
Benguela ; one from Humbe, the other from Quillengues, where
it is called by the natives ‘‘ Kenibange.”
The most southern known range for the species is Ulundi,
PINAROCORYS NIGRICANS. (ks)
in Zululand, 28° 30’ S. lat., 31° 30’ EH. long. ; here, the Messrs.
Woodward procured a single specimen. According to Dr.
Stark, the species is “not uncommon in the Transvaal near
Potchefstroom and Rustenburg.” ‘Two specimens from that
district were collected by Mr. ‘I’. Ayres, who writes: ‘‘ Stomach
contained locusts. This, to me, exceedingly scarce bird, was
shot amongst the hills to the north of Rustenburg, within six
miles of the Crocodile river, it was a solitary bird, running on
some flat rocks with much sheltering scrub about, and very
Pipit-like in its appearance and manners.” On the same day
of the same month, but three years later, he again procured a
specimen (January 10, 1885), and writes: ‘‘ This is the second
specimen of M. nigricans which I have met with. I found it
amongst the scrubby bush on a rocky range of hills, some
couple of miles from the banks of the Mooi river, and about
twenty from the sources of that stream. My attention was
attracted to the bird by its large size, dipping flight, and
Pipit-like appearance.” The type of the species possibly came
from this neighbourhood, as it was discovered by Wahlberg in
the Upper Limpopo district.
To the north of the Limpopo, Bradshaw obtained a specimen
which is now in the British Museum, labelled ‘‘ Makalaka
country.” On the left bank of the Zambesi, near the mouth
of the Kafue river, in about 29° K. long., Mr. Boyd Alexander
met with three of these birds together on December 26, con-
sisting of two males and a female. They “frequented open
land where the trees had been felled by the natives, and the
ground sown with grain. The feathers of the mantle of these
three individuals have almost lost their pale edgings.”
74 PINAROCORYS ERYTHROPYGIA.
Pinarocorys erythropygia.
Alauda erythropygia, Strickl. P. Z. S. 1850, p. 219, pl. 24 Kordofan.
Mirafra erythropygia, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 619 (1890) Kordofan ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 390; 1897, p. 43 Togo; Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 217 (1896); Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1899, p. 414 Gambaga.
Adults. Similar in plumage to N. nigricans, and generally have pale
terminal margins to the secondaries and inner primaries, but differ as
follows: upper tail-coverts and tail bright cinnamon, the latter with a dark
brown triangular patch, with the apex at the middle of the centre feathers,
and the base at the end of the tail; the dark marks on the crop rarely
extend on to the chest. Total length 7 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 4:1, tail
2°9, tarsus 1:0.
In three specimens labelled “‘ ¢, May, Renk Soudan; 2, juv.?
Kordofan, and ¢, May, Wagara,’’ the outer edges of the quills are narrowly
edged with buff and their inner webs are nearly of one shade of brown, the
pale portion being almost obsolete. In four other specimens labelled
‘<9, May, Mouth of Zeraf River, and g ¢ ?, May, Wagara,” the primaries
have nearly the whole of the outer web, and the greater portion of the
inner web cinnamon, of the same shade as the upper tail-coverts.
The Rufous-tailed Bush-Lark inhabits Tropical Africa
between 5° and 15° N. lat., and 5° W. and 35° H. long.
Inland from the Gold Coast Captain W. Giffard shot a
specimen at Gambaga, and the species has been met with in
Togoland, by both Dr. Buttner and Mr, Baumann. The type,
an immature bird now in the British Museum, was obtained by
Petherick in Kordofan. In this district, but on the east bank
of the Nile, in Renk Soudan, Mr. R. M. Hawker once met with
a large scattered flock of these Larks, and procured an adult
male. ‘They were very shy, and on being disturbed flew into
the trees. Further south, Heuglin met with these Larks in
the Bongo and Wau countries, feeding near cattle or perched
on the ant-hills; but they were apparently very rare or shy, as
he seems never to have procured a male specimen, and describes
the female as Alauda infuscata, believing it to be distinct from
Alauda erythropygia, Strickl.
PYRRHULAUDA. 75
Genus IV. PYRRHULAUDA.
Very similar in size and form to Callendrella, but distinguished by the
large bastard-primary, and the axillaries and most of the under wing-coverts
being black. Sexes very dissimilar in plumage; the adult males with
a large portion of the head and the entire throat black or chestnut; ear-
coverts either uniform black or white; females with no black on the head
or throat. Bill short and stout; nostrils hidden by stiff bristly plumelets ;
no crest ; bastard-primary reaching to about the end of the primary-coverts ;
outer margin of the first long primary brown; longest secondary reaches
about to the tip of the wing and the shortest one falls short of the end of
the wing by about the length of the tarsus; feet rather small, with the hind
claw slightly curved and about the same length as the hind toe.
Type.
Pyrrhulauda, Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Av. pl. 24 (1839). . P. australis.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Portion of head and the entire throat uniform
black or chocolate-brown. . . adult males.
a1. Bill smaller; entire head and Recess bls australis. °
61. Bill larger; ear-coverts white.
a*. Back with no cinnamon colour.
a’. Crown brown like the back . . . . leucoparea. 7
68. Crown not like the back.
a*. Forehead white.
. Some black feathers on the hind
mG frontalis. 7 7
b>. No black apnea on the el meck nigriceps.
b+. No white on forehead, but a large
patch of white on the crown.
c>, Dark portion of head and throat
pack ma. verticalis.
d®. Dark portion of ned and epee
chocolate brown . . . . . . signata. §
b?. Back cinnamon.
c8. A large portion of the lesser wing-
coverts black. . . leucotis.
d?, No black on the lager wing- Egtartas
which are mostly white . . . melanocephala.
b. Throat buff, sometimes mottled with black . females and wumature
males.
76 PYRRHULAUDA AUSTRALIS.
Pyrrhulauda australis.
Megalotis australis, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. App. p. 49 (1836)
Orange R.
Pyrrhulauda australis, Chapman, Tray. 5S. Afr. p. 400 (1868) Damara,
Ayres, Ibis, 1871, p. 258 Transvaal ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 651
(1890) ; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 344 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No.
229 (1896) ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 185 (1899) egg ; Stark, Faun.
S. Afr. B. i. p. 194 (1900).
Pyrrhulauda melanosoma, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 294 (1837).
Type. Entire head and neck black, with partial brown edges to the
feathers of the nape and hind neck ; back, wing-coverts and inner secondaries
dark brown, with rather indistinctly defined broad paler edges, which colour
predominates on the lower back; quills, upper tail-coverts and tail uniform
brownish black, with the centre tail-feathers slightly paler and with broad
brown margins. Under surface of wing and body uniform dull black.
‘‘Trides dark brown; bill light horn colour, darker above; tarsi and feet
flesh colour’”’ (Andersson). Total length 4-4 inches, culmen 0°4, wing 3:1,
tail 1-7, tarsus 0-6. ¢g, Orange R. (A. Smith).
Female. Above dusky brown; head and neck streaked with brownish
buff margins to the feathers, more narrowly so on the back and scapulars
and very broadly on the upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts with more sharply
defined edges than the other feathers of the wings; tail blackish brown,
with the centre pair of feathers paler and inclining to rufous buff on the
edges of the basal parts; outermost feathers fading into dusky white
towards the external terminal half; penultimate feathers with narrow partial
white edges; under surface of quills ashy brown with partial buff inner
margins; axillaries and under wing-coverts brownish-black, the latter with
a broad buff outer margin; sides of head buff with broad blackish streaks
on the ear-coverts ; throat and under surface of body sandy buff with a large
blackish brown patch down the centre of the body and over the tail-coverts.
“Tris dark hazel; bill ashy; tarsi and feet pale brown” (W. Lucas).
Total length 4:8 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 3, tail 1:7, tarsus 0°65. ?,
10. 12. 81. Rustenburg (W. Lucas).
The Black-eared Sparrow-Lark ranges from Damara
through Northern and Eastern Cape Colony into Natal and
the Transvaal.
According to Andersson, this species is not uncommon
in Damara and Great Namaqualand, where it occurs in small
flocks during the rainy season. Sir Andrew Smith, who dis-
_
PYHRRULAUDA LEUCOPARZA. 77
covered the type, observes that it extends further south than
P. verticalis, is gregarious, and flocks of several hundreds are
often to be seen upon the plains bordering the Orange river.
In its action in the air it resembles the other Larks, and like
them constructs its nest upon the ground under the shelter
of a tuft of grass or some dwarf shrub. Layard informs us
that the species. was plentiful in the country round King-
williamstown, Colesberg, and on a limited tract of country
near Nel’s Poort, Beaufort.
From the ‘Transvaal, there is a specimen in the British
Museum obtained by Mr. W. Lucas. Mr. T. Ayres states
that he found two nests of this species—one in March, near
the Hartz river, and the other in April near Bloenhoff, on
a tributary of the Vaal, and that each contained two eggs,
which in one instance were somewhat incubated. ‘The nest
of this species,” he writes: “is placed on the ground under
shelter of a clump of reed or grass. It is roughly constructed
of coarse grass, slightly lined with fine roots; both the nests
which I found were situated within twenty yards of water.
The egg is white, much spotted with sepia brown.”
Mr. Nehrkorn describes the egg as having a grey or
greyish green ground, with evenly distributed spots of pale
violet and greyish yellow, and measures 0°72 by 0°52.
Pyrrhulauda leucopars#a.
Coraphites leucopareia, Fisch. and Reichen. J. f. O. 1884, p. 55 Arusha.
Pyrrhulauda leucoparea, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 651 (1890); Reichen.
J. f. O. 1891, p. 159 Mapapwa, Taboro; Hartl. Abhandl. Brem.
1891, p. 18 Usongo, Usambiro ; Reichen. Vég. Deutsch. O. Afr.
p. 204 (1894) Masai, Igonda, Usukuma; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895,
p. 344 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 230 (1896); Hinde, Ibis, 1898,
p- 579 Machacho’s ; Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 625 Njemps ; Nehrkorn,
Kat. Hiers. p. 135 (1899) egg; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 291 Lelela ;
Hinde, Ibis, 1900, p. 494, Athi R.
78 PYRRHULAUDA LEUCOPARA.
Adult male. Crown, back and scapulars ashy brown, with broad
blackish centres to the feathers, upper tail-coverts whiter; forehead and
hind neck more uniform and with a slight rusty shade; wings dusky brown,
with pale rufous tinted buff edges to the feathers, broadest on the coverts
and inner secondaries ; under surface of quills with partial rufous buff inner
edges; axillaries and under wing-coverts black; tail-feathers dusky black
with pale ashy brown edges, the external one fading into dusky white on
the outer web and towards the end. THar-coverts white; a broad eyebrow,
fore part of face, throat, upper half of sides of neck, a narrow partition down
the centre of the breast and the under tail-coverts, dull black; sides of
crop and breast and the thighs white, with the flanks greyish and very
indistinctly streaked. ‘Iris brown, bill and legs slate colour.” Total
length 4°8 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3:1, tail 1:7, tarsus 0°65. ¢,16. 11. 99.
Athi R. (Delamere).
Adult female. Differs in having the ear-coverts broadly streaked with
brown, the eyebrow, front of face, sides of head and neck whitish, and
the throat towards the crop with rather obscure dark spots. Total length
4-4 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°9, tail 1:6, tarsus 0°6. @, 15. 11. 99.
Athi R. (Delamere).
Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark inhabits East Africa between
7° 8. lat. and the Equator.
The most southern range, known to me, for this Lark is
Ugogo, where Emin found the species abundant and collected
several specimens in Usongo and Usambiro. Fischer calls it
a common species in Arusha, to be met with in pairs or small
flocks, and he found a nest placed on the ground between a
tuft of grass and the stump of a bush, containing two eggs
of a pale ashy brown colour, thickly spotted with violet grey
and brown, chiefly towards the thick end, and measured
0°65 x 0°52 inch. He procured the type of the species in
Masailand at Nguruman in June, and others at Wambi and
Kagehi. Mr. Oscar Neumann has collected specimens at
Lalela, to the north of Majara lake, and observed it at
Umbagne and Donja Nai. Mr. Jackson has met with this
species at Machacho’s in March and at Njemps in September,
at which latter season they were in pairs in the open sandy
plains. Dr. 8. L. Hindehas found the species in June, August
a esha Pa Pe oe SNE TEL A
PYRRHULAUDA FRONTALIS. 79
and September, at Machacho’s and along the Athi river and
writes: “‘Seen in flocks at dusk, on old camp-grounds, roads,
or grassy plains.” At the Athi river, Lord Delamere collected
a fine series in October, November and February.
Pyrrhulauda frontalis.
Pyrrhulauda frontalis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 512 (1850) Nubia; Hartert,
Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 41 (1891) Kordofan.
Coraphites frontalis, Oust. Faun. and Flor. Comalis, Ois, p. 11 (1882)
Somali.
Coraphites melanauchen, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 124 (1850).
Pyrrhulauda melanauchen, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 655 (1890) Socotra,
Abyssima, S. Asia; id. P. Z. §. 1895, p. 472 Somali; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 231 (1896); Cholmley, Ibis, 1897, p. 206 Suakin ;
Witherby, Ibis, 1901, p. 245 Khartoum; Grant, t.c. p. 286 Zeila ;
Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1901, p. 303 Somal; Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 630
Somali.
Coraphites albifrons, Sundev. Gifv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. Stockh. 1850,
p. 127.
Pyrrhulauda affinis and sincipitalis, Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 185 India.
Adult male. Head and neck black, with the forehead, ear-coverts, and
a band below the nape white; back and scapulars pale sandy brown with
a few faintly marked dark shaft-stripes. Wing above dark brown with
sandy buff edges to all the feathers, broadest on the coverts and inner
secondaries; under surface dusky ash with partial buff inner edges to the
quills and the coverts black. ‘Tail blackish brown with the centre feathers
paler and broadly edged with light sandy brown, and about half of the outer
feather dusky white. Throat and under surface of body black with a large
patch of white on the sides of the crop, some white on the flanks and the
outside of the thighs mottled with that colour. ‘Iris dark brown; bill
bluish white; tarsi and feet greenish white’ (Witherby). Total length
4-6 inches, culmen 0°4, wing 3:0, tail 2-0, tarsus 0°65. 3, 26.1.68. Zoulla
(Blanford).
Adult female. Above pale sandy brown with a few dark shaft-stripes
on the crown ; back, wings and tail as in the males, only the axillaries and
under wing-coverts more dusky and the latter have a broad outer band of
buff; sides of head buff with pale brown shaft-stripes to the ear-coverts ;
throat white ; under surface of body buff with a few brown shaft-stripes
on the crop. Total length 4:3 inches, wing 2°9, tail 18. ¢@, 25. 1. 86.
Zoulla (Blanford).
80 PYRRHULAUDA FRONTALIS.
The White-fronted Sparrow-Lark inhabits North-east
Africa from Somaliland to the Tropic of Cancer and ranges
eastward to India.
The most southern known range for the species is about
10° N. lat., or the neighbourhood of Berbera in North Somali-
land; here specimens have been collected by M. Revoil and
Dr. Donaldson Smith. Between Manda and Zaila Mr. A. H.
Pease found them breeding in great numbers, in March. On
the opposite coast, near Aden, it has been met with by Lieut.
H. E. Barnes and Mr. Hawker, and is apparently abundant
along both shores of the southern half of the Red Sea, for
Riippell records it from Arabia. On Socotra, Prof. Balfour
found these Larks very common on the low-lying plains on
both sides of the island, and remarks that they have a wailing
note, which is to be heard at daybreak, and the last sound
at night. Along the African coast of the Red Sea Heuglin
generally met with it in pairs and found it on the island of
Dahlac. Mr. Cholmley shot two specimens at Berenice and
Mr. Blanford collected others at Anneley Bay in January,
at Massowa and Amba on the Samhar coast in August, and
considered them to be extremely abundant in all the sandy
country near the coast. They rarely if ever perched on bushes,
several keeping about one spot, but did not exactly associate
in flocks, and when disturbed rose one after the other, not
simultaneously, but flying off without keeping close to each
other.
At the Fifth Cataract of the Nile Galton procured a
specimen which is in the British Museum, and in Riippell’s
collection there is an example from Kordofan, its most western
known range. Along the Nile, above Khartoum, Mr. H. F.
Witherby found these Larks plentiful, in small companies,
on the grassy flats as well as among the bushes in the sandy
districts, crouching in parties of five or six in the shade.
ern “sdoeorrsiu epne
jnyask .
eae
ae
Mid VOlaavy AO S@eLa SEL
PYRRHULAUDA NIGRICEPS, 81
They allowed a near approach, and then almost invariably
took a short flight to the shade of some other bush.
This species was described under three different names in
the year 1850, first as P. frontalis, Bp. Cabanis wrongly refers
this title to P. nigriceps, Gould, the species next above his
Coraphites melanauchen, showing that Bonaparte’s name has
priority, and in neither work is Coraphites albifrons, Sundev.,
quoted; therefore this name was apparently the third in order
of priority.
Pyrrhulauda nigriceps. (PI. 20.)
Pyrrhulauda nigriceps, Gould, Voy. Beagle, B. p. 87 (1841) Cape Verde
Is. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 650 (1890); Alexander, Ibis, 1898,
pp. 85, 112, 116, 283 ; Bocage, Jorn. Lisboa, 1898, p. 146; Salvad.
Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1899, p. 295 Cape Verde Is.
Pyrrhulauda leucotis (nec Stanley), Bocage, Jorn. Lisboa, 1867, p. 142
Cape Verde Is.
Adult male. Similar to P. frontalis, but differs in having more white on
the head and no black on the back of the neck. A broad crescent-shaped
patch of black on the hinder half of the crown is connected by a band
through the eye to the black lores and cheek; chin, throat and sides of neck
black, like the breast and under tail-coverts ; remainder of the head and neck
white, shading gradually into buffy brown on the back, which latter is
slightly mottled with dark brown centres to the feathers; lesser wing-coverts
like the back; remainder of the feathers of the wing brown, with narrower
brownish buff edges, and the under wing-coverts black ; tail blackish brown,
with the centre feathers and the edges of the others paler; under parts
uniform black, with a pale patch on each side of the crop, and the thighs
buff. Iris dark hazel, bill light bluish horn colour, legs and claws flesh
colour. Total length, 4:8 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3, tail 1:6, tarsus 0°6.
g, 2.97. St. Jago (Alexander).
Adult female. Differs from the male in the black of the plumage being
confined to the axillaries and under wing-coverts; the top of the head and
back of the neck isabelline, with some angular brown centres to the
feathers, and the upper tail-coverts uniform buff; sides of head and the
under parts generally uniform buff shaded with isabelline on the ear-coverts
and crop; more buff on the tail, which colour extends over the entire outer
web and end of the outer feather. Total length 5-2 inches, culmen 0°4, wing
3, tail 1:8, tarsus 06. 9, 2.97. St. Jago (Alexander),
(May, 1902. 6
82 PYRRHULAUDA NIGRICEPS.
The Cape Verde Sparrow-Lark is confined to the group of
islands of that name.
The type was discovered during a voyage of H.M.S.
*‘ Beagle,” at the Cape Verde islands. Dr. Dohrn found this
Lark on St. Jago, where it is, according to Captain Boyd
Alexander, “locally distributed on the island, and becoming less
plentiful in its northern portion. It frequents the stretches of
the higher plain-levels near the coast, in flocks that vary greatly
in size. On one occasion we saw as many as sixty birds
together. In these flocks there is a great percentage of
females. To discover the presence of these birds puzzled us
considerably at times. On the approach of footsteps they
emit a faint, piping, ventriloquial note, like that of a young
chicken, as they sit crouched together among the stones; and
their plumage being much like the colour of the soil, it is
almost next to impossible to discover them. They generally
sit very close, and resort to flight only when absolutely obliged,
then rising up close to one’s feet to fly a few hundred yards
ahead, and alighting again. The male has rather a pleasing
little song, but somewhat monotonous; it is uttered on the
wing, and sometimes, but not often, on the topmost twig of a
tree. When singing on the wing the bird rises in concentric
circles, with a very jerky Pipit-like flight, up to a height of
not more than thirty feet, and then hangs in the air for a few
seconds, after which it stops its song, and with wings closed,
drops to the ground again. Their chief food is grass-seed, and
throughout the day the birds keep moving from one feeding-
ground to another. In February we found them moulting, the
plumage of the majority being in a poor state.’ He adds:
“Breeding commences at the beginning of October. Flat
stone-covered places near the sea are the favourite resorts,
the birds breeding together in large societies. The nests are
extremely difficult to discover. If you stand still, the male
:
PYRRHULAUDA VERTICALIS 83
birds will now and again proclaim their presence by rising up
from the ground and indulging in their jerky little songs; but
to passers-by they never betray themselves, sitting close the
whole time, and creeping very often under some large stones.
There is little variation in the song, which might be expressed
by the words ‘ All alive ho!’ constantly repeated. While on
Boavista we were fortunate to frighten a male off his nest,
containing two eggs, which were well incubated. The nest,
composed of a little dead grass, was placed underneath a large
stone. The eggs are a dirty white in ground colour, evenly
spotted and blotched all over with light brown, and with
minute underlying spots of purplish grey; they measure
08 x 0°59.” At Boavista he found them more numerous
than on any other island. They used to get up close at his
feet in clouds and fly forward a few feet above the ground.
Mr. Leonardo Fea also met with the species on this island and
Mr. Feijo procured specimens on Santo Antao, so we may
presume that it inhabits all the islands of the Cape Verde
group.
Pyrrhulauda verticalis.
Megalotis verticalis, Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr., p. 48 (1836) Orange R.
Pyrrhulauda verticalis, Sousa, Jorn. Lisb. 1889, p. 115 Catwmbella ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 656 (1890) Damara, Cape Col. Transvaal ;
Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 411 Damara ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 232
(1896) ; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 195 (1900).
Adult male. Wead and neck black, with the ear-coverts, forehead,
a patch on the centre of the back half of the crown and a band below the
nape, white; back and scapulars nearly uniform brown varying in shade
from sandy buff to dark brown, with a few faintly marked dark shaft-stripes.
Wing: above dark brown with sandy buff edges to all the feathers, broadest
on the coverts and inner secondaries; under surface of quills dusky ash with
buff partial inner edges; under wing-coverts black. Tail blackish brown
with the centre feathers paler, and broadly edged with light sandy brown,
and about half of the outer pair of feathers dusky white. Throat and under
84 PYRRHULAUDA VERTICALIS. —
surface of the body black with a large patch of white on the side of the crop;
thighs white and some white on the flanks. ‘Iris dark brown; tarsi and
feet purplish flesh colour’’ (Andersson). Total length 4:6 inches, culmen
0:45, wing 3:1, tail 1-7, tarsus 0°65. 3, 6. 11. 66 (Andersson).
Adult female. Above pale sandy brown, with a few dark shaft-stripes on
the crown; back, wings and tail as in the males; only the axillaries and
under wing-coverts are more dusky and the latter have a broad outer band
of buff, sides of head buff, with broad pale brown shaft-stripes to the ear-
coverts; throat white; under surface of body buff, with a few brown shaft-
stripes.
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark inhabits Africa south from
the Loango Coast and the Limpopo river.
The most northern known range for this species is the
Loango Coast, just north of the Congo, where Lucan and
Petit obtained a specimen. It has not yet been recorded from
the Congo or Angola, but in Benguela to the south of the
Quanza river specimens have been collected by Toulson and
Furtado d’Antas, and more recently Anchieta has found the
species abundant at Catumbella.
To the south of the Cunene, according to Andersson,
“This species is pretty commonly diffused over Damara and
Great Namaqualand, especially in the latter country, and
I generally observed it abundant in the rainy season at
Otjimbinque during my residence there. It congregates in
large flocks, and is always found on the ground, unless
disturbed, when it flies but a short distance before it again
alights, scattering widely amongst the grass in search of its
food, which consists almost entirely of seeds. Its flight is
undulating, and occasionally an individual may be seen to
soar above the rest, descending again very abruptly; it may
sometimes be heard to utter a shrill chirping cry.”
Sir Andrew Smith discovered the type at the Orange
river, and found these Larks inhabiting both sides of that
water-course, and writes: ‘This species, like Pyrrhulauda
australis, inhabits the extensive arid plains of the more
PYRRHULAUDA SIGNATA. 85
southern districts of South Africa, and, like it, congregates
in large flocks. When feeding, the numerous members of
these flocks are widely scattered; but the moment one indi-
vidual takes to flight from alarm, all the others follow the
example, and they move off in a body to another locality.
It is not their custom to fly far before they come to a halt,
and the instant they reach the ground they scatter in all
directions, and run to and fro with great rapidity. When
flying they pursue a slightly undulating course, and on these
occasions they frequently utter cries similar to what they
do when running upon the ground, and which consists of
a shrill prolonged chirp.” Mr. Ortlepp informs us that they
are plentiful near Colesberg, and, when the breeding season
is over, they are to be found on most of the extensive plains
of the neighbourhood, in large flocks. According to Stark:
“ About the middle of August the flocks break up and the
birds separate in pairs, and about a month later commence
to build their nests. Some slight hollow is chosen by the
side of a tuft of grass; this is lined with fine dry grass,
to which a few horse-hairs are occasionally added; and in
this slight nest two or three eggs are laid. These are of
a pale cream colour or dull white, somewhat thickly spotted
all over with two shades of pale umber brown. They
average 0°80 x 0°65.”
The British Museum contains a specimen from Griqualand
and two collected by W. Lucas, at Rustenberg, in December.
Pyrrhulauda signata.
Pyrrhulauda signata, Oust. Bibl. Ec. haut. Etudes, xxxi. art. x. p. 9
(1886) Somali; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 651, note (1890).
Pyrrhulauda harrisoni, Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 286, pl. 7 Lake Rudolf.
Adult male. Most nearly allied to P. verticalis, with a large patch of
white on the crown, and the white ear-coverts connected by a broad white
86 PYRRHULAUDA LEUCOTIS.
band round the hind neck, but differing mostly in the dark parts of the head
and the throat, being chocolate brown with a narrow black edging next to
the white of the crown and fore-part of ear-coverts. Lower hind neck
black, very slightly mottled with chocolate brown ; back uniform pale brown
with a few obsolete dark angular shaft-streaks, and the rump and upper
tail-coverts slightly greyer; wings dark brown with pale edges to all the
feathers ; tail with the centre feathers dark brown with paler edges, and the
other feathers brownish black with a wedge of white on the outer feather,
broadest at the end and covering about one-third of the latter. The
chocolate brown of the throat ends in a point and is followed on by a
broad band of black down the centre of the body, which includes the under
tail-coverts; sides of body white slightly shaded with dusky ash on the
flanks ; greater portion of the under wing-coverts black, the end feathers
being brown like the quills, which latter have buff inner margins. Total
length 4:6 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 3-0, tail 1°75, tarsus 0°65. 3, 21. 4.
1900. Lake Rudolf (Harrison).
Female. Above uniform dark ashy brown; wings rather darker with pale
edges to the feathers of the same shade as the back; a partially defined
whiter hind neck; sides of the head and neck, and the under parts buffy
white with the ear-coverts mostly dark brown; throat slightly mottled with
rufous buff; flanks strongly washed with brown; a broad black band down
the centre of the breast ; under tail-coverts, axillaries and most of the under
wing-coverts black. Total length 4-7 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3-0, tail 1:7,
tarsus 0°65. @, 21. 4.1900. Lake Rudolf (Harrison).
The Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark inhabits the Somali
district westward to Lake Rudolf.
The type was procured in Somaliland by M. Révoil and
little is known regarding this form, which has been recently
met with by Mr. J. J. Harrison at the south end of Lake
Rudolf, April 21, 1900, when a pair were procured and are
now in the British Museum. ‘These are the types of P.
harrisont, which have been badly figured, Ibis, 1901, pl. 7.
Pyrrhulauda leucotis.
Loxia leucotis, Stanley, in Salt’s Trav. Abyss. App. p. 60 (1814)
Abyssima.
Pyrrhulauda leucotis, Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 187 Melinda, Wapokomo ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 73 Ndutian; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii.
p. 657 (1890) Kudurma, Redjaf, Soudan, Samhar; Hartert, Kat.
Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 41 (1891) Shendy; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 233
PYRRHULAUDA LEUCOTIS. 87
(1896) ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 139 Kassiom &.; Emin, J. f. O. 1891,
p. 60 Tabora; Witherby, Ibis, 1901, p. 245 Khartowm; Grant and
Reid, Ibis, 1891, p. 629 S. Abyssinia.
Pyrrhulauda smithii, Bp. Consp. i. p. 512 (1850) S. Afr.; Sharpe, Cat.
B. M. xiii. p. 658 (1890) Damaraland, Transvaal. Zambesi, Ugogo,
Manda Is. ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 159 Tabora; id. Vig. D. O.
Afr. p. 204 (1894) Ndutian; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 234 (1896) ;
Alexander, Ibis, 1899, p. 564 Zambesi; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i.
p. 196 (1900) ; Sclat. P. Z. S. 1900, p. 2 Katunga.
Pyrrhulauda leucotis smithi, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1898, p. 72 Nyasa.
Adult male. Head and neck jet black with the ear-coverts and a band
across the hind neck pure white; upper back and scapulars cinnamon,
slightly mottled with partial buff edges to some of the feathers ; lower back
and upper tail-coverts buff, slightly shaded with ashy grey towards the
centres of the feathers. Wing: with the lesser series of coverts black and
the least ones whitish ; median and greater coverts cinnamon like the back
but with broad buff edges; quills dusky brown with some pale rufous edging
to the feathers, much broader on the inner secondaries ; under wing-coverts
black, under surface of quills dusky brown with broad partial pale rufous buff
inner edges. ‘Tail blackish brown, the centre feathers with broad pale rufous
shaded edges and the outer ones fade into dusky white on the outer webs
and towards their ends. Throat and under surface of body black with a
white and chestnut patch on the sides of the crop, and the flanks and thighs
whitish. ‘Iris hazel, bill ashy white, tarsi and feet ash colour”’ (Stark).
Total length 4:4, culmen 0:4, wing 2:9, tail 1-9, tarsus 0°68.
Female. Differs in having no black on the head, the crown being like
the mantle and the ear-coverts pale brown streaked with buff. Under parts
buff thickly mottled with black down the throat and centre of breast ;
axillaries and most of the under wing-coverts black. Total length 4-7 inches,
culmen 0°4, wing 3-05, tail 1:9, tarsus 0°65. ¢, 2, 1.7.68. Asoos (Blanford).
Immature. Differs greatly from the adult; the portions which are
uniform black in the adult males, are mottled with pale edges to the
feathers, the ear-coverts are black or mottled with black, and the mantle
is mostly black, with margins of buff or cinnamon to the feathers.
The Common Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark ranges over
South Africa generally, northward into Damaraland on the
west and over the eastern half of Tropical Africa.
In Damaraland, according to Chapman, this is the least
abundant of the allied species. In the British Museum there
is one specimen from this country procured by Andersson,
88 PYRRHULAUDA LEUCOTIS.
who writes: “I have observed this species very sparingly in
Damaraland and also to the northward, but not in Great
Namaqualand ; it is seen in small flocks, which frequent the
ground in open localities covered with grass and scanty dwarf
vegetation, amongst which they run with great rapidity, taking
flight for a short distance only when disturbed.”
Sir Andrew Smith wrote: ‘‘ The few specimens we obtained
were killed upon plains thinly covered with dwarf shrubs, near
the Tropic of Capricorn. Their flight, when occasioned by
fear, was usually but short, and they were never seen to alight
upon anything but the ground, along which they ran with
great rapidity, and then proceeded to collect their food.” Mr.
Ortlepp found the species near Colesberg in flocks of five to
ten, feeding on grass seeds.
In the Transvaal a specimen has been obtained by Mr.
W. Lucas at Rustenburg in April, and Mr. 'T. Ayres “ found
these birds frequenting the open glades along the banks of
the Limpopo, in companies consisting of sometimes as many
as fifty individuals.” Further north, at Mangwato, in December,
this was the commonest of the Larks, found in small flocks,
scattered all over the plains and more especially about the
caffer-corn fields, but appeared to be very local. In the
British Museum there are several specimens from Tete on
the Zambesi, and Mr. Boyd Alexander also met with the
species here and further up the river at Zumbo and in the
vicinity of the Kafue river, and writes: ‘It frequents flat
portions of stony ground. In the breeding-season the male
sings on the wing, rising vertically up from the ground, and
descending to earth again with hardly a beat of the wings.
The call-note, uttered on the ground, is a ventriloquial pipe.
‘* Living in colonies, these birds are continually shifting from
one locality to another, according to the supply of food. At
Zumbo they suddenly appeared on December 13, when the
PYRRHULAUDA LEUCOTIS. 89
grain had just been sown. The food consists chiefly of grass-
seed.” The species has been met with at Fort Johnston, in
the Shiré highlands by Dr. Rendall, and Mr. Alfred Sharpe
has obtained a specimen at Katunga to the west of Lake
Nyasa. In the Uniamwesi country Emin procured the species
at Tabora, and Fischer collected specimens from further north,
at Ndutian in Masailand, at Melinda on the coast, and in
Wapokomoland on the left bank of the Tana river.
In the British Museum there are specimens from Manda
Island, and from the Kassim river in Southern Abyssinia,
which agree in every detail with specimens from the Transvaal
and Zambesi district. I have not, however, yet seen the
species recorded from Somaliland. Antinori procured two of
these Larks at Daimbe in Adda Gallaland, where he considered
them to be scarce, while Ragazzi, who collected the same
number at Cialalaka, records them as common in that district,
but probably more so at Assab. Specimens have also been
obtained by Mr. Pease at Mallabella and Balchi in South
Abyssinia.
The type of Lowia leucotis, Stanley, was procured by Salt
in Abyssinia, probably in the northern part; and Pyrrhulauda
smithi, Bp., was founded on Smith’s Ill. B. S. Afr. pl. 26.
I can find no definable character for distinguishing these
forms. The latter have generally, but not always, a trifle
more black on the lesser wing-coverts, and the wing and
bill slightly larger on an average: wing, 3:0 to 3-4 inches;
culmen, 0°4 to 0°45—this would include specimens from Manda
Island and 8. Abyssinia. In the British Museum there is a
pair of Mr. Blanford’s specimens from Asoos on the Samhar
coast, and others from Nubia, the Soudan, Redjaf and
Kudurma, and, according to Heuglin, the species ranges
southward and westward from north-east Kordofan and the
Red Sea, being abundant in Nubia and southward along the
90 PYRRHULAUDA MELANOCEPHALA,
Nile valley. In Abyssinia he found these Larks most plentiful
in the highlands of Telemt, between Tigré and Semien, at an
elevation of 8,000 feet, and in January and November met
with them frequenting the sandy deserts between the forests
in the Gazelle river district. They were generally in parties
of three to six together on the barren soil, but never far from
water. Ruppell’s collection contains a pair from Shendy on
the Nile below Khartoum. Above Khartoum Mr. H. F.
Witberby found these Larks less numerous than P. frontalis,
with which they associated, and writes: “On May 11 we
found a nest of this species in a small scooped-out hollow in
the caked mud amongst some very short burnt-up grass near
the river. The nest, which was sheltered by a large lump
of mud, was a small shallow ‘cup’ composed of dry grass and
two or three bits of cotton. Round the ‘cup’ was a compact
and neatly-arranged layer of particles of wud, perhaps made
by the birds during the formation of the hollow in the caked
ground. The nest contained one egg, from which the female
flew on our approach.” Mr. Hawker has procured three
specimens during his journey up the Nile, about twenty miles
north of Fashoda, including two young birds, from which
I have taken my description of the immature plumage of
this Lark.
Pyrrhulauda melanocephala.
Alauda melanocephala, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 28 (1823) Nubia, Sene-
gambia.
Pyrrhulauda melanocephala, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, p. 340 Niger ;
Rothschild & Wollaston, Ibis, 1902, p. 8 Shendy ; Alexander, t.c.
p- 293 Gold Coast
Fringilla otoleuca, Temm. PI. Col. iii. pl. 269, figs. 2, 3 (1824) N. H. Afr.
Pyrrhulauda leucotis (nec Stanl.), Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 154 (1857)
Senegambia ; Bouvier, Cat. Ois. Marche, &c. p. 26 (1875) Daranka.
Adult male. Very similar to P. lewcotis, but differing in the cinnamon
colouring of the upper parts being paler, the white nuchal collar broader,
and in having no black on the wing-coverts; the lesser wing-coverts uniform
PYRRHULAUDA MELANOCEPHALA. 91
white, with an ashy shade towards the scapulars. Iris dark brown; bill,
tarsi and feet pale horn colour. Total length 4:4 inches, culmen 0:4, wing
3-2, tail 1-9, tarsus 0°6. g,25.1.01. Khartoum (Hawker).
Female. Similar to that of P. lewcotis, but with the upper parts paler,
wing-coverts nearly uniform buff, obscurely mottled, with the dusky centres
to the feathers; quills and tail-feathers broadly edged with rufous buff.
Total length 4:3, culmen 0-4, wing 3, tail 1:7, tarsus 0°6. ¢ juv. (?).
25. 1.01. Khartoum (Hawker). This specimen shows no signs of imma-
turity and agrees well with the typical female figured by Temminck.
The White-shouldered Sparrow-Lark inhabits West Africa
from Senegal to the Niger, and ranges eastward to Khartoum
on the Nile. It apparently entirely replaces P. leucotis to
the west of the Nile valley.
Hartlaub’s description, in 1857, of a West African Pyrr-
hulauda in the Bremen Museum, is not sufficiently good to
recognise the species he refers to; it is probably identical with
a bird he mentions from Senegambia in the Berlin Museum,
and with Verreaux’s specimen from Casamanse.
The most northern range known to me for the species is
Daranka on Cape Verde, where Marche procured an example.
Recently several specimens have been collected in the interior
of our Gold Coast Possessions at Binduri by Captain Boyd
Alexander, who kindly informs me that on December 23,
1900, he saw the species for the first time near the village of
Wale-Wale (10° 30’ N. lat. 1° W. long). Being then on horse-
back with a column of Haussas, he could only watch them as
they kept alighting on the road in front of him, or flying on to
the trees which lined the road. Among them were both adult
males and females. He did not meet with them again until
February 20, when he was at Binduri, about fifty miles north
of Gambaga. Here the country is very open in places, being
covered with mealie corn, long grass, and interspersed with
short stunted trees, and he shot five out of a flock which
had resorted to a small dried-up water course, whose sloping
92 AMMOMANES.
banks of loose stony soil were covered with short dry grass.
The flock appeared to consist entirely of males, the majority
being immature birds. They were very shy and difficult to
procure; and finally, with an erratic, dancing flight, they dis-
appeared in ever-increasing circles out of sight, but the next
morning they would be back again in the same place. The
note was a tiny “ twit twit.’ They were evidently in breeding
condition at the end of February, and this possibly accounted
for the absence of females, which were probably on their
nests, while the immature birds most lkely belonged to the
first broods. Their food consisted of grass seeds.
Mr. Hartert, during his exploration of the valley of the
Niger, met with the species in February and March at Sokoto
and Wurno, where he found it not uncommon; but I cannot
trace its range further south.
The types of the species came from Senegambia and Nubia,
but the only specimens I have seen from North-east Africa
were shot by Mr. Hawker at Khartoum, on January 25,
1901; these are two adult males, and an apparently adult
female, although labelled ‘‘ young male.” They agree per-
fectly with the figures of Temminck’s Fringilla otoleuca, the
white lesser wing-coverts being an extremely well-marked
character; and I have been informed by Mr. Ogilvie Grant
that the types of Alauda melanocephala, Licht., belong to this
species.
Genus V. AMMOMANHES.
Sexes alike in plumage; upper parts uniform, mostly of a sandy shade.
Bill moderate ; nostrils hidden. Wings with a large bastard-primary.
Type.
Ammomanes, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 125 (1850) . . . . . A. deserti.
AMMOMANES,.
KEY TO THE
a. No white ends to any of the quills and tail-
feathers, excepting the outer pair of the
latter.
a, Dark portion of tail not confined to a trian-
gular pattern, restricted to the end half of
the tail.
a?, Crown, back and centre tail-feathers
throughout their length, rich cinnamon
or chestnut. Wing 4:1 inches.
b2. Much paler above; lower throat and
chest less spotted.
a’. Above, including the entire centre tail-
feathers, bright pale cinnamon ; outer
web and tip of outer tail-feather white ;
under parts white, with the crop
strongly spotted ; under wing-coverts
white and ashy brown.
68, Above paler and more ashy or isabel:
line ; tail with the centre feathers of
two colours and with no pure white
on the outer rectrices.
a*, Pale edges of primaries narrower,
never crossing the entire outer web
of any of these feathers; crop more
spotted . a os
b4. Pale edges of primaries based,
crossing the centre of the outer
webs of some of these feathers;
crop less spotted.
a>. Upper parts more ashy; less
rufous on the tail, where there is
no sign of a dark triangular
pattern.
a°, Paler; ashy shade on crown
and mantle very slight .
Darker; crown and mantle
strongly washed with dusky
grey ; rufous on quills and tail
darker.
bs,
93
SPECIES.
ferruginea.
erythrochlamys.
phenicuroides.
deserti.
samharensis.
94 AMMOMANES FERRUGINEA
b®. Upper parts bright sandy isabel-
line, with no grey shade ; a fairly
distinct dark angular pattern on
the tail, this dark shade reaching
nearly to the base of the centre
HEDIS Gg oc lusitana, / 2-0
b1. Dark portion of tail confined a a ample
pattern on the terminal half; breast pale
buff.
c*, Darker; above pale cinnamon. . . . cinctwra. '° '
d?. Paler ; above sandy buff. . . arenwcolor. | o >
b. White ends to the eight middle ass Sail all
the tail-feathers. . . grayt. )o =
Ammomanes ferruginea.
Alauda ferruginea, Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 29 (1839) Bushman
Flats.
Ammomanes ferruginea, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 649 (1890) S. of
Orange R.; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 228 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat.
Hiers. p. 135 (1899) egg ; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 200 (1900).
Type. Above uniform rich cinnamon, the lesser upper wing-coverts like
the back ; remainder of wing dark brown, with broad cinnamon edges to the
median coverts, inner greater coverts and secondaries ; the dark portion of
the innermost secondary reduced to an angular shaft-band, the margins
on the outer greater secondaries gradually decreasing and fading into buff
and are almost entirely absent from the primaries; under surface of the
wings uniform brown, with the coverts slightly mottled with buff edges.
Tail blackish brown, with the centre pair of feathers cinnamon, the latter
scarcely paler than the back and with narrow blackish shaft-stripes; the
next pair with broad rufous edges ; penultimate feathers with partial narrow
edges of tawny buff, and the outer pair with nearly the whole outer web
tawny buff. Har-coverts cinnamon like the back ; remainder of the face buff
mottled with black; throat, sides of neck, and under surface of body, and
under tail-coverts white, with the lower throat and front of chest boldly
spotted with dark brown. “Iris dark brown; bill dark yellowish brown,
passing into dusky yellow towards the base of the lower mandible; feet and
claws light yellowish brown” (Sir A. Smith). Total length 7:5 inches,
culmen 0:55, wing 4:0, tail 3:1, tarsus 1°15.
The Ferruginous Desert-Lark inhabits the open country
to the south of the Orange river.
AMMOMANES ERYTHROCHLAMYS. 95
This species is known to me only by the type, which was
discovered by Sir Andrew Smith, who writes: “ The extensive
arid plains immediately to the southward of the Orange river,
commonly called Bushman Flats, form the favourite habitat
of this Lark. It is a wild bird, manifesting considerable
suspicion at the appearance of man, and except in the morning
rarely permits him to approach so near as to enable him to
shoot. It soars very frequently, particularly in the early part
of the day, and about sunrise whistles delightfully, being,
while so occupied, generally perched upon the summit of the
highest bush which exists in the locality.”
The egg, according to Mr. A. Nehrkorn, resembles that
of Galerita cristata, but is paler and measures 0°88 x 0°66.
Ammomanes erythrochlamys.
Alauda erythrochlamys, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 151 Damara.
Ammomanes erythrochlamys, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 648 (1890)
Damara ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 227 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr.
B. i. p. 199 (1900).
Adult. Above bright pale cinnamon, the feathers with obsolete chestnut
shaft-streaks ; wing-coverts and inner secondaries like the back; nearly the
whole of the outer webs of the quills rufous buff, only slightly paler than the
back; remainder of the quills and a portion of the under wing-coverts pale
ashy brown ; the rest of the under wing-coverts and the narrow inner edges
to the quills buff (in immature birds the edges are broader and rufous buff).
Tail with the centre-feathers entirely bright pale cinnamon like the back;
remainder of the tail gradually shading into blackish brown towards the
three outer pairs of feathers, which have white edges, extremely narrow,
excepting on the outermost ones, which have the whole outer webs and an
equally broad end white. Ear-coverts rufous like the mantle; a broad eye-
brow, remainder of face and the under parts generally white, with some
rather strongly marked dusky brown angular spots at the base of the throat
and some pale chestnut streaks on the sides of the crop. “Iris light dusky
hazel ; bill dusky, under mandible paler; tarsi and feet brown”’ (T. Ayres).
Total length 6-2 inches, culmen 0:65, wing 3:3, tail 2°7, tarsus 1:05. 9, 18.
11. 54. Damara (Andersson).
The Red-backed Desert-Lark inhabits Damaraland and
the Transvaal.
96 AMMOMANES PH@NICUROIDES.
The type of the species came from the former country and
is now in the Cambridge Museum. Chapman found this Lark
in but one locality, viz., in the neighbourhood of Walfisch
bay. The species has been met with in Damara by Wahl-
berg, Andersson and Mr. A. Hrickson in May and November,
and all their specimens were obtained at Walfisch bay.
These western birds are slightly paler than the Transvaal
specimens examined by me, which latter were killed in June
and November. This may be due to the season, but is more
probably the effect of the climate, which differs greatly in
these two countries, being much dryer in the former than in
the latter district.
The specimen figured (Ibis, 1874, pl. 3, fig. 2) is a female,
shot by Mr. T. Ayres, who found it “amongst some rocks and
stones in the range of low hills some three or four miles from
Potchefstroom ; it had a peculiar knack of hiding itself by
creeping over and about the bits of rock.” All his speci-
mens were procured near Potchefstroom on June 20 and
November 2.
Ammomanes pheenicuroides.
Mirafra pheenicuroides, Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. xxii. p. 583 (1853).
Ammomanes phcenicuroides, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 647 (1890) S.
Arabia to Afghanistan ; Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 41 (1891)
Caspian Sea.
Ammomanes lusitanica parvirostris, Hartert, J. f. O. 1890, p. 156,
Caspian Sea.
Ammomanes akeleyi, Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. No. 17, Orn. No. 2.
p. 39 (1897) Somali; Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 401; Hawker,
Ibis, 1899, p. 65 Somali; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1901, p. 303 Somali ;
Grant and Reid, Ibis, 1901, p. 629 Somalz.
Adult. Similar in general appearance to A. deserti, but readily distin-
guished by the dull, browner, and less rufous shade of the plumage, especially
of the wings, tail-coverts and tail, also in the crop being rather more
strongly spotted; the pale edges to the outer webs of the primaries never
AMMOMANES PH@NICUROIDES 97
extending across to the shaft. This latter character distinguishes the
Asiatic from the purely African species of Ammomanes. Total length 6:3
inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3°8 and 3°65, tail 2°6 and 2:3, tarsus 0°85 and 0:80.
3, Somali (Hawker).
Blyth’s Desert- Lark ranges from Somaliland into
Afghanistan and N.W. India.
This species was already known to range from India to
the Arabian coast, so that one cannot be much surprised to
find it invading the Somali country; but it remained for Mr.
Hlliot to first record the species from the African continent,
which he did under the name of A. akeleyi. He remarks:
*“T do not remember seeing it beyond Hillier on the plateau,
and we first met with it at our second camp from Berbera.”
About the same place Mr. Lort Phillips obtained a specimen in
January ; Mr. Hawker has collected three others at Laferug and
Mandera in November, and Mr. A. EK. Pease shot one of these
Larks in the latter month at Somado and another at Lasmaru
in April, so that it cannot be considered as a mere straggler
to Africa. On comparing four of these skins from Somaliland
with the fine series of specimens from India in the British
Museum, there remains no doubt in my mind that 4. akeleyi
is the same species as A. phanicuroides (Blyth).
This Lark may be readily distinguished from all its African
allies, not only by its pale ashy brown colouring, but also by
the pale portions of the primaries never extending entirely
across the outer web of any of them.
The two males from which I have taken my description,
one from India and the other from Somaliland, are identical
in colouring and show no appreciable difference in the
measurements.
May, 1902. 7
98 AMMOMANES DESERTI
Ammomanes deserti.
Alauda deserti, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 28 (1825) Upper Egypt.
Ammomanes deserti, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 646 (1890); Shelley, B.
Afr. I. No. 226 (1896); Cholmley, Ibis, 1897, p. 206 Hrba Mt. ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 135 (1899) egg; Rothschild & Wollaston,
Ibis, 1902, p. 7 Shendy.
Alauda isabellina, Temm. Pl. Col. iii. pl. 244, fig. 2 (1825).
Adult. Above uniform vinous-shaded sandy buff, of a slightly more
cinnamon shade on the upper tail-coverts ; wings pale brown, with the edges
of the coverts and outer margins of the secondaries like the back; the
entire basal portion of the outer webs of all but the two outer primaries,
rufous buff; under wing-coverts and broad partial inner of the quills,
rufous buff; tail brown, with the outer edges of the feathers and the
external webs of the outer two pairs, rufous buff; ear-coverts like the
crown; remainder of sides of head, sides of upper neck and the throat
white ; breast and under tail-coverts sandy buff, with a few faintly marked
brown spots on the crop. Iris dusky brown; bill, tarsi and feet dusky
flesh colour. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 3-85, tail 2°6, tarsus
0-9. 3, Korosko (Shelley).
Females very slightly smaller.
Lichtenstein’s Desert-Lark inhabits North Arabia and
Egypt to as far south as Suakin.
According to Heuglin, these Larks are resident in Egypt,
N. Arabia, and range southward along the Red Sea coast,
avoiding the mountains, and are generally to be met with in
pairs along the borders of the cultivated land and the desert,
often frequenting the caravan tracks and feeding on insects,
corn, and the seeds of the desert plants. Their note is very
insignificant, and they keep to the ground, only occasionally
perching on low bushes.
The type of A. deserti (Licht.) came from Upper Egypt,
and this is the species which I found distributed over Egypt
in suitable localities, but most abundant above the First
Cataract. They construct a neatly formed nest of grass, placed
in a slight depression and sheltered by a tuft of grass or a
large stone, and lay four eggs. These are of an ashy cream
colour, obscurely marked with purplish grey and more dis-
tinctly so with brown. They measure 0°9 inch by 0°6.
‘Ipdojuetgq sXr00024de] ‘7
STSUdTEY UWE f SOUBULOULULY 7 I
KX “Id VJIG4V HO SQGia FHI
AMMOMANES SAMHARENSIS 99
The exact range of this species is somewhat doubtful, as it
seems to be entirely replaced in the Abyssinian highlands by
A. samharensis.
Whether the Samhar Desert-Lark is the southern repre-
sentative of A. deserti, as I believe it to be, or a local mountain
form, I am unable to say, for no species of Ammomanes have
been recorded from Shoa, and all those I have seen from
Somaliland belong to A. lusitana and A. phenicuroides. A.
deserti, recorded by Mr. A. J. Cholmley from the Hrba
Mountains near Suakin, has, I believe, been rightly determined,
and this is the most southern range, known to me, for the
species.
Ammomanes samharensis. (PI. 21, fig. 1.)
Ammomanes deserti (nec Licht.), Finsch. Trans. Z. 8. vii. p. 272 (1870) ;
Blanf. Geol. and Zool. Abyss. p. 390 (1870).
Type. Very similar to A. deserti, from which it differs in being darker,
with the crown and mantle brown, of an ashy grey shade. Total length
5:75, culmen 0-5, wing 3:5, tail 2°4, tarsus 0°8. ¢@, 22. 8. 68. Amba
(Blanford).
The Samhar Desert-Lark inhabits Abyssinia.
The type was shot at Amba, in the highlands, on August
92, 1868, by Dr. Blanford, while in company with Mr.
Jesse, who collected two other similar specimens at the
same place, and all these are now in the British Museum.
Referring to these specimens under the name of Ammomanes
deserti, Dr. Blanford wrote: ‘‘ Not rare to the west and north
west of Massowa, in rocky and stony ground, amongst thin
bushes.”
A. samharensis is intermediate in the colouring of the
upper parts between typical A. deserti from Upper Egypt, and
the type of A. saturata from Southern Arabia, but belongs to
the A. deserti group in having the rufous of the quills extended
100 AMMOMANES LUSITANA.
across the outer webs of some of the primaries, and will pro-
bably be called by some ornithologists A. deserti samharensis.
Ammomanes lusitana.
Alauda lusitana, Gm. S. N. i. p. 798 (1788); Degl. Orn. Eur. i. p. 405
(1849).
Ammomanes lusitana, Shelley, B. Egypt, p. 136 (1872).
Ammomanes algeriensis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 645 (1890) Nubia ;
Koenig, J. f. O. 1895, p. 441, pl. 8; 1896, p. 216, pl. 7, fig. 6 egg ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 135 (1899) egg.
Ammomanes deserti (nec Licht.), Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 472 Somalz.
Adult. Above uniform bright sandy buff, with a shade of cinnamon on
the upper tail-coverts ; wings pale brown, with paler edges to the feathers,
the coverts and outer edges of the secondaries sandy buff like the back ;
all but the two outer primaries, with the entire basal portion of the outer
webs, rufous buff; under wing-coverts and the broad partial inner margins
to the quills rufous buff; tail, with the entire basal quarter and broad
edges to the feathers rufous buff, and the remainder dark brown, which
latter colour forms a fairly well-defined large triangular pattern. ar-
coverts sandy buff; remainder of the head, sides of upper neck and the
throat buffy white; under surface of body pale sandy buff, with a few very
faintly marked brown spots near the crop. Total length 6:2 inches, culmen
0:55, wing 3:9, tail 2-5, tarsus 0°85. Somali (Lort Phillips).
The Pale Desert-Lark ranges from Somaliland over N.
Africa.
This species may be most readily distinguished from its
nearest ally, A. deserti, by its brighter, paler and more sandy
colouring, and especially by this colour extending over the
basal quarter of the tail.
Very little is known with roeaed: to these Larks in eastern
Africa. In the British Museum there are three specimens,
labelled “ Somaliland (Lort Phillips);” 3, ‘‘ Ardeh, 14. 7. 94
(Dr. A. Donaldson Smith),” and ¢, “ Nubia (Dr. A. Leith
Adams).” All these belong to rather a pale form compared
with those from Algeria.
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, in 1890, proposed to call this species
| oe.
AMMOMANES CINCTURA. 101
A. algeriensis, as the name of Alauda lusitana was not clearly
defined by Gmelin; but that objection was removed by Degland
in 1849, when he assigned Gmelin’s name to this species.
The eggs, according to Mr. A. Nehrkorn, have the ground
cream-colour, with clouded violet blotches over which are
reddish grey spots. They measure 0°96 x 0°66, and have
been figured in the Journal fiir Ornithologie, 1896.
Ammomanes cinctura,
Melanocorypha cinctura, Gould, Voy. ‘‘ Beagle” Birds, p. 87 (1841) Cape
Verde Is.
Ammomanes cinctura, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 644 (1890); Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 225 (1896); Alexander, Ibis, 1898, pp. 85, 110, 112,
116; Bocage, Jorn. Lisbon, 1898, p. 146; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genov.
1899, p. 294 Cape Verde Is.
Alauda cinctura, Dohrn, J. f. O. 1871, p. 5 Cape Verde Is.
Adult. Above uniform pale cinnamon, slightly darker on the quills and
tail; many of the primaries with blackish terminal marks; axillaries and
under wing-coverts rufous buff; under surface of quills pale cinnamon.
Tail with a terminal triangular blackish patch reaching down about one-
third of the tail; ear-coverts pale cinnamon like the back; eyebrow, fore
part of face and under parts generally buff, slightly more rufous on the crop,
where there are some very obscure dusky spots; flanks also slightly washed
with rufous. Iris brown, bill and legs ashy. Total length 5:2 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 3:5, tail 2, tarsus 0°8. ¢@, 25. 2. 97. San Iago (Boyd
Alexander).
Gould’s Desert-Lark inhabits the Cape Verde Islands.
The type of the species was discovered by Darwin during
the voyage of the “ Beagle,” and is now in the British Museum
along with other specimens from these islands.
Mr. Keulemans, while in company with Dr. Dohrn, met
with the species and writes :—‘‘It is very common in the
plains near the town of Porto Praya, in Santiago, and also
on the mountains in the interior of the island; but I never
observed it in any cultivated district. It seems to avoid
vegetation as much as it does water, and occurs nowhere save
102 AMMOMANES CINCTURA
in desert sandy localities. It is usually met with in flocks of
from three to seven individuals, or in company with another
small Lark (Pyrrhulauda nigriceps, Gld.). During my sojourn
in the island I collected about twenty-five specimens, all of
which differed somewhat in tint of plumage. In March I
obtained several young birds, which resembled the old ones,
but had a tendency to become spotted on the breast and
sides of the head. The breeding season is from December to
March, but I never succeeded in finding a nest. It feeds on
seeds and insects, and in the stomachs of most of those I
examined I found seeds, the remains of termites, and small
coleoptera. The song is weak, and resembles rather the
warbling of the Whitethroat than the notes of a true Lark.
Like the latter, it rises to some elevation in the air, though
rarely above about thirty or forty feet. Its native name is
Pastor. On the other islands I never met with it.”
Regarding this species in Santiago, Mr. Boyd Alexander
writes: “By no means plentiful, and locally distributed on
the stretches of high table land near the sea. More than a
week elapsed before we noticed this species, and then only
two birds, on a piece of loose gravelly land near Praya. This
pair had a nest containing one young bird, almost fledged.
On approaching the nest the two old birds, which were not
far off, ran at a rapid rate towards their young one, the male
bird uttering the whole time a plaintive ‘wheet. Though we
discovered more of this species later on, I never heard them
utter more than this one note. They were always seen either
singly or in pairs. Seven specimens were obtained.” While
at Sal, the most north-eastern island of the group, he found
this Lark on the flat stony portions in considerable numbers,
and two nests were discovered, each containing one young one.
He also found the species plentiful at Boavista.
AMMOMANES ARENICOLOR. 103
Ammomanes arenicolor.
Alauda arenicolor, Sundey. Gifv. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 128.
Ammomanes pallida, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 125 note (1850) Arabia.
Melanocoryphaha elegans, Brehm. Vogelf. p. 122 (1855) Nubia.
? Ammomanes regulus, Bp. C. R. xliv. p. 1066 (1847) Sahara.
Ammomanes cinctura (nec Gould) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xi. p. 644 (1890)
pt. Red Sea; Koenig, J. f. O. 1895, p. 448, pl. 9; 1896, p. 216, pl.
7, fig. 7 egg, Algeria ; Cholmley, Ibis, 1897, p. 206 Red Sea.
Ammomanes cinctura arenicolor, Rothschild & Wollaston, Ibis, 1902,
p. 7 Shendy.
Adult. Similar .to A. cinctwra, but very much paler, the upper parts
being sandy buff with a very faint ashy shade on the upper back. Total
length 5:2 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3:55, tail 2:1, tarsus 0°85. Second
Cataract of Nile (A. L. Adams).
The Pale Spotted-tailed Desert-Lark ranges from Persia
and the Red Sea over North Africa, and has even occurred in
Malta.
According to Heuglin it is to be found along the
confines of the cultivated parts of Kordofan and Sennaar, and
ranges into Arabia. In the British Museum there are speci-
mens from Persia and the Second Cataract of the Nile, the
latter shot by Dr. Leith Adams, who wrote :—“ Is not uncom-
mon on the deserts of Nubia and usually seen in small flocks.
It runs at great speed and, like the other Sand-larks, stops
at every few steps. It has a call-note very like that of the
Trumpeter Bullfinch, which it resembles in its flight.”’ On the
west coast of the Red Sea Mr. A. J. Cholmley found the species
quite common, and obtained an example at Berenice.
Ammomanes grayi.
Alauda grayi, Wahlb. Cifv. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1855, p. 213
Damara.
Ammomanes grayi, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 643 (1890) Damara ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 224 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 135
(1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 198 (1900).
Adult male. Above sandy buff; upper wing-coverts and innermost
secondaries like the back; quills very pale dusky brown, inclining to white
104 BOTHA.
on the primaries, the latter having dark brown ends, excepting the inner
four, which have rather broad white tips like all the outer secondaries ;
secondaries with broad, and the primaries with narrow, buff outer edges ;
under wing-coverts and inner margins of the quills white; remainder of quills
whitish ash. Tail: centre-feathers with the basal half rufous buff and the
terminal half pale brown, broadly edged and tipped with sandy white ;
remainder of the tail white and dark brown, the latter forming a triangular
pattern with the apex about half way down the centre-feathers; all the
feathers with white ends, broadest on the inner webs. A narrow frontal
band, sides of head and entire under parts white, with a sandy shade on
the ear-coverts. Total length 5:4 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:25, tail 2-0,
tarsus 0'8. g, 29. 5.64. Wilson’s Fountain (Andersson).
Gray’s Desert-Lark inhabits Damaraland.
The type was discovered by Wahlberg on the sandy desert
between the Swakop and Kaisip rivers near Walfisch bay.
Chapman also met with this species “fon the barren plains in
the neighbourhood of Walfisch bay, as well as for a short dis-
tance inland, but not so far inland at Otjimbinque. A few
individuals were generally found in company.” According to
Andersson, ‘‘it feeds on seeds and insects and is comparatively
tame, but where grass abounds it is difficult to secure.”
There are seven of Andersson’s specimens in the British
Museum, all from Damaraland, so the range of the species
appears to be extremely limited, and I am not aware of any
others having been procured since Andersson’s time.
The egg is described by Mr. A. Nehrkorn as white,
with small violet and greyish yellow spots, and measuring
0°88 x 0°6.
Genus VI. BOTHA.
Bill apparently pink in life, conical, with the culmen very nearly straight ;
nostrils hidden. Wing of ten primaries; bastard primary long, similar to
that of Galerita; tarsi and feet also as in Galerita, and the hind claw
slightly curved and longer than the hind toe. Tail half white and half
blackish brown, the dark portion forming a triangle with the base at the
end of the tail and the apex at the base of the two centre-feathers.
‘TI87e IS) E ‘Tyteqs eT[salpuere)'z
Se taiele Ale ia cae
IXX Id VOIUAV 40 SCHIE AHL }
BOTHA DIFFICILIS. 105
Botha difficilis, Sp. n. (PI. 22, fig. 1.)
Immature. Above blackish brown, with a few narrow white edges to the
feathers. Wing, with the outer edges of most of the quills cinnamon buff and
their inner webs with broad partial edges of that colour; under wing-coverts
buff, with a few blackish streaks. Tail with the base of all but the centre-
feathers white, which colour increases in extent towards the outer feathers,
which are uniform pure white with a broad blackish inner margin ; thus the
dark portion of the tail is restricted to a triangle with the apex at the base
of the centre pair of feathers. Sides of head dark brown mottled with buff;
under parts generally buff, strongly marked with blackish spots on the lower
throat; flanks with some broad blackish stripes. Total length 4-5 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 2-95, tail 1-6, tarsus 0-7. Middle toe with claw 0:6;
hind toe with claw 0°65, hind claw 0-4. Orange River Colony (T. E.
Buckley).
Botha’s Lark inhabits the Orange River Colony.
The only specimen of this species known to me is an
immature bird procured by Mr. T. E. Buckley in the above-
mentioned country: it passed with my collection into that of
the British Museum.
The following four characters combined readily distinguish
this species: (1) Bill conical ; (2) bastard-primary large;
(3) hind claw long and nearly straight; (4) pattern of tail.
There is no other Lark in which more than two of these
four characters are ever combined.
Genus VII. GALHRITA.
Bill somewhat elongated and decidedly not Finch-like ; nostrils hidden ;
feathers of the posterior half of crown much elongated, forming a very
distinct crest; secondaries reaching nearly or quite to the tip of the wing;
bastard primary large, more than half-an-inch in length, and generally
distinctly longer than the exposed culmen; tarsi and feet pale, of moderate
size; hind claw long and very slightly curved. Plumage of upper parts
mottled brown or sandy buff with dark centres to the feathers; pale pattern
of tail confined to the two pairs of outer feathers.
106 GALERITA.
Type.
Galerida, Boie, Ibis, 1828, p.321 . . . . G. cristata.
Spizalauda, Blyth, J. A. S. tae Xxiv. p. “958 (1855). . . G. deva.
Ptilocorys, Madarasz, Magyar Mad. Fuz. ii. p. 48 (1899) . G. cristata.
The genus Galerita is closely allied to Alawda and forms a good con-
necting link between the foregoing genera and those that follow. The
Galerite are most readily distinguished from the Alaud@ by their longer
bastard primary, and their habit of perching at times on bushes.
The “G. cristata” group is represented in the Ethiopian
Region by G. senegalensis, which I here treat as specifically
distinct from G. cristata, the more northern form, which has
not to my knowledge been met with to the south of the
Tropic of Cancer. (. abyssinica may be only a subspecies of
G. senegalensis, for I have seen intermediate forms from Tani,
near Khartoum, and from Fao on the Persian Gulf.
It also appears to me that G. ellioti and G. pretermissa are
scarcely more than subspecies of (. theckle, for in the British
Museum there are two specimens of G. cristata pallida,
Whitaker, very similar to Somali specimens of (. ellivtz,
and specimens of (ft. theckle from Cadiz (J. Osborne), and
G. pretermissa, 3, 22. 1. 99, Jifadensa (Lord Lovat), are
remarkable for their likeness to each other.
KEY TO THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CRESTED-
LARKS.
a. Bill more slender; pale pattern of tail sandy
buff, extending over half of the outer feather
and nearly the whole of the outer web of the
next.
at Larger; wing not less than 3:5 inches;
crest strongly developed. (GALERITA.)
GALERITA., 107
a?, Bastard primary shorter and distinctly
falls short of end of primary-coverts ;
bill generally longer, exposed portion of
culmen not less than 0°6 inch and about
equal to bastard primary. (G. cristata
ee )
. Dark portion of feathers blackish
LOWEN Tn ae. |. ee ae a 1 SCTLCO MCN SIS Hm: Ol
63, Dark portion of feathers of wings, four
centre tail-feathers and crop pale
bronzyibrowil e414. =| « abyssumcus, IVE
)
b?, Bastard primary longer and reaching to
or beyond the end of primary-coverts ;
bill generally shorter, exposed portion of
culmen not more than 06 inch and
shorter than the bastard primary. (G.
theckle group.)
c®, Breast whiter ; feathers of upper parts
with narrower sharply defined blackish
centres and pale sandy brown edges ;
bastard primary just reaches to end of
primary coverts; exposed culmen 0:5. ellioti. '\'
d*. Breast buff; feathers of upper parts
less sandy and with broader, less
sharply defined, blackish centres ;
bastard primary reaches beyond the
primary coverts; exposed culmen 0°6 pretermissa. |) 2
b+. Smaller; wing less than 3-5 (about 3:2);
crown only slightly crested. (HrLiocorys).
2, Slightly paler and smaller; wing 3:1 to
3:20 conten . modesta. \) 3
2, Slightly darker ea angers wing 3:1 to
Bp ea - bucolica. |\ 3
b. Bill stouter; pale eine of tail buffy white
and confined to the outer webs and terminal
margin on the outer two pairs of feathers ;
crown yery slightly crested; exposed culmen
0-7, wing about 3-8. (CaLENDULA). . . . crassirostris. |) \~
108 GALERITA SENEGALENSIS.
Galerita senegalensis.
Alauda senegalensis, P. L. S. Mill. S. N. Suppl. p. 137 (1776); Reichen.
J. f. O. 1875, p. 42 Accra.
Ptilocorys senegalensis, Madarasz, Mag. Madar. ii. p. 50, pl. 1 (1899).
Alauda cristata (nee Linn.), Blanf. Geol. and Zool. Abyss. p. 387 (1870)
Abyssinia ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893 Aden.
Galerita cristata, Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 680 (1870 pt.) ; Oust. Bibl.
Ec. Hautes Et. xxxi. art. 10, p. 8 (1886) Somali; Sharpe, Cat. Birds
B. M. xiii. p. 626 (1890 pt.) Senegambia, Sierra Leone, Abyssima ;
Rendall, Ibis, 1892, p. 221 Gambia ; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 472
Somali; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 219 (1896); Lort Phillips, Ibis,
1898, p. 401 Somali; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 65 Somali; Sharpe,
P. Z. 8. 1901, p. 302 Somali ; Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 629 Somalz.
Galerida cristata senegalensis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, p. 340 Nigeria.
Adult. Above mottled ; sandy brown, with blackish brown centres to the
feathers; crest-feathers long, with very sharply marked blackish shaft-stripes ;
upper tail-coverts strongly washed with pale cinnamon. Tail: centre feathers
dark brown, with a rufous shade on the basal half; outer pair of feathers
bright sandy buff, with a dusky wedge-shaped portion occupying half of the
inner web ; penultimate feather with the outer edge and the end sandy buff.
Wings: above brown, with pale sandy edges to the feathers, inclining to rufous
on the primary coverts and primaries; under surface paler and more dusky,
with the coverts and broad inner edges of the quills buff. Sides of head
buff, mottled with brown on the hinder part of the ear-coverts and along the
sides of the upper throat; sides of the upper neck and the under parts
generally buffy white ; lower throat and crop spotted with blackish brown,
and separated from the side of the neck by a fairly distinct patch of black ;
flanks slightly shaded with sandy brown and with some rather obscure
brown shaft-stripes. ‘Iris brown; bill with the upper mandible dark
brown and the lower one pale brown; tarsi and feet pale yellowish brown ”’
(Reichenow). ‘Total length 6:8 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 3:9, tail 2:4, tarsus
0:95. Gambia (Sir A. Moloney).
Compared with the typical European G. cristata, G. senegalensis differs
in having the upper parts of a paler sandy shade, with the upper tail-coverts
and centre tail-feathers more sandy rufous; the crest-feathers longer, and
with the dark shaft-stripes more sharply marked ; pale pattern of the two
outer pairs of tail-feathers larger and of a bright sandy-shaded buff.
The Senegal Crested-Lark ranges from the Mediterranean
coast southward to the Niger and Somaliland, and eastward
to China.
GALERITA SENEGALENSIS. 109
The type of the species came from Senegambia. From
this district there are seven specimens in the British Museum.
The late Sir E. Sabine procured the species at Sierra Leone;
and Dr. Reichenow, during his visit to Accra, on the Gold
Coast, found the species generally distributed over the sur-
rounding plains. In the Niger district, which is about the
most southern range known for these Larks, Mr. Hartert found
them frequenting the northern highlands from December to
March, after which month they apparently migrated north-
ward.
To the eastward, in nearly the same latitude, specimens
have been collected by Mr. Lort Phillips on the Berbera plains
in Somaliland in January, at Gedais in February, and at
Sogsoda in March, and he writes: ‘‘ We found the Crested
Lark both on the plateau and on the Maritime plain. At
Berbera itself it frequents the cattle market, where it may
always be seen on the rubbish heaps.” Mr. Pease records
it as very common throughout Somaliland, and he collected
specimens at Somadu in November, and at Las Man in April.
Other specimens have been obtained by Mr. Hawker at
Ujawaji, and by Dr. Donaldson Smith at Biji and Magog.
Mr. Blanford found the species common along the coast
at Massowa, and in the British Museum there is one obtained
by Mr. Jesse at Amba, and a fine series from Asia, including
the type of Alauda leautungensis, Swinhoe, from China, which
in no way differs from Senegambian specimens; and I think
that we may refer to this species Dr. Sharpe’s “ Rufous-tailed ”
and ‘‘Sandy-coloured” races of (. cristata (Cat. B. M. xiii.
pp- 630, 631).
As this Lark is apparently common in both West and
North-east Africa, it is strange that it has not been procured
in Central Africa: it is known to me from the Nile valley
by only two specimens recently collected by Mr. Hawker at
110 GALERITA ABYSSINICA.
Khartoum, and one shot by my friend, Colonel W. Verner,
at Tani, in the Soudan, April 9, 1885. Colonel Verner’s
specimen, and another obtained by Mr. W. D. Cumming at
Fao, in Turkish Arabia, are so nearly intermediate in colour
between the true G. senegalensis and G. abyssinica, that Dr.
Sharpe (Cat. xii. pp. 631, 635) refers the latter to his
‘“‘ sandy-coloured ” race of (G. cristata, and the former to
G. isabellina.
Galerita abyssinica.
Galerida abyssinica, Bp. Consp. i. p. 245 (1850) Abyssinia.
Galerita isabellina (nec Bp.), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 635 (1890, pt.)
Zoulla, Fazogloa ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 221 (1896).
Galerita flava, Brehm, J. f. O. 1854, p. 77 H. Soudan ; Witherby, Ibis,
1901, p. 244 Khartowm.
Adult. Most nearly allied to G. senegalensis, but paler, and with the
dark parts of the wings of a sandy bronze shade ; the darker portion of the
under surface of the quills dusky shaded sandy pink, very slightly contrast-
ing with the rufous buff of the edges of the quills, and the under wing-
coverts; sides of head paler than in G. senegalensis and with only a few
faintly defined small dark marks; throat and body white with a sandy buff
shade on the crop, flanks, and under tail-coverts; lower throat with
elongated brown spots. ‘‘ Iris brown ; bill horn colour; legs and feet pale
straw colour” (H. F. Witherby). Total length 6:7 inches, culmen 0°65,
wing 3:9, tail 2°5, tarsus 1:0. Abyssinia (Verreaux).
The Abyssinian Pale Crested-Lark inhabits the Abyssinian
district.
In the British Museum the only specimens I should refer
to this species are: the example from Fazogloa; an albino
procured by Mr. Blanford at Zoulla, in Annesley Bay, and
four specimens labelled ‘ Abyssinia.” I can find no other
reliable information regarding this form, which would appear
to be confined to Abyssinia.
Dr. Sharpe (Cat. B.M. xiii. p. 635, note) writes: ‘I believe
G. abyssinica and G. isabellina of Bonaparte’s ‘ Conspectus’
GALERITA ELLIOTT, 111
(p. 245) to be the same bird. Of the two names published on
the same page I prefer that of isabellina, as abyssinica might
infer that it is strictly Abyssinian, which is not the case.”
The accuracy of this final remark is open to discussion when
we find that Mr. Hartert (Nov. Zool. 1897, pp. 142-147)
divides G. cristata, Auct., into seventeen or eighteen sub-
species ; two of which he calls G. cristata isabellina, Bp., and
G. cristata flava (C. L. Brehm, 1854). I do not agree with
Mr. Hartert that the name G. flava has any right to supplant
that of G. abyssinica, which is described as differing from G.
cristata in its “ colore deserti,’” and resembling G. isabellina in
colour; but is supposed to be larger, and to be a native of
Abyssinia. The G. isabellina, Bp., would appear to refer to
a more northern race, probably the G. cristata pallida of
Whitaker (Ibis, 1895, p. 100).
Galerita ellioti.
Galerita ellioti, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1897, p. 144 Somali.
Galerita pallida (nec Whitaker), Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. i. No. 2, p.
38 (1897) Somalz.
Adult. General plumage very similar to that of G. senegalensis, but with
the upper parts of a more sandy rufous shade and the dark centres to the
feathers rather narrower and more sharply defined. Most readily distin-
guished from G. senegalensis by its smaller and shorter bill and longer
bastard-primary, the latter reaching just to the tip of the primary-coverts.
Tvis brown ; bill horn colour passing into flesh colour at the base of the
lower mandible; tarsi and feet flesh colour (Elliot). Total length 6-6
inches, culmen 0:5, wing 4, tail 2°5, tarsus 0°85. g, 14. 12. 97. Ujawaji
(Hawker).
Elliot's Crested-Lark inhabits Somaliland.
Mr. Elliot procured two male specimens of this Lark, one
at Hagahbar and the other at Hersi Barri in Ogaden, and
named it G. pallida; but as that name had been previously
given toa Tunisian bird by Mr. J. J. 8. Whitaker, Ibis, 1895,
112 GALERITA PRAETERMISSA.
p- 100, Mr. Hartert very rightly re-named the Somali form
G. ellioti.
Besides the specimen I have described, there are two others
from Somaliland in the British Museum, collected by Mr. Lort
Phillips, in February and March, 1897. This species is a pale,
desert form of the G. theckle group. Mr. Elliot, when he
described the species as new, did not compare it with G.
theckle, but fortunately gave a very accurate description of the
plumage :—“ Its back is so light coloured as to render the bird
somewhat difficult to see on the sandy soil, and the under-parts
strongly incline to white. The crest is rather long and slender,
but the length varies, I imagine, among individuals, as those of
the two specimens obtained are not equal in this respect. They
also vary in the colour of the upper parts, the Hersi Barri
specimen being the lighter, which is surprising as Bagahbur is
a much more sandy and open locality.”
Galerita pretermissa.
Alauda preetermissa, Blanford, Geol. and Zool. Abyss. p. 388, pl. 6 (1870)
Senafé ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 579 (1890) Shoa, Abyssinia ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 191 (1896); Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 138; 1901,
p. 627 S. Abyssinia.
Alauda (Galerita) arenicola var. fusca, Blanf. Geol. and Zool. Abyss. p.
387 (1870) Lake Ashanghi.
Galerita riippelli, Hartert, J. f. O. 1890, p. 102 Abyssinia ; id. Kat. Vog.
Mus. Senck. p. 40 (1891) Simien.
Type. Similar to G. senegalensis ; but darker above and with a shade of
yellowish buff on the under parts. It may be most readily distinguished by
the longer bastard-primary, which reaches to the end of the primary-coverts.
‘Tris and legs brown; bill dark horn colour.’’ Total length 6:1 inches,
culmen 0-6, wing 3:8, tail 2:3, tarsus 0:95. 9, 10. 3. 68. Senafé
(Blanford).
The Dark Crested-Lark inhabits the Abyssinian area.
At Jeffi Dunsa, in Shoa, Lord Lovat and Mr. A. E. Pease
shot specimens in December and January, and found these
HELIOCORYS. 113
Larks very common on the highlands, in small flocks. Harris
obtained a specimen at Angollala. Antinori collected others
at Licce and Tuor Hamesh, and Ragazzi at Antoto. An egg,
obtained by Antinori, much resembled that of Alauda arvensis,
and according to his observations, this Lark lays only one egg
in a nest. He also met with the species in Northern Abyssinia,
at Adghelghel. The type was discovered at Senafé by Mr.
Blanford, who found the species to be common there as well
as at Adigrat, and he procured the type of his Alauda
arenicola var. fusca at Lake Ashangi. A Semien specimen,
from Riippell’s collection in the Frankfort Museum, is the
type of Galerida réppelli, Hartert.
Genus VIII. HHLIOCORYS.
Similar to Galerita, but differs in the crest feathers being shorter. The
members of this genus are of small size: wing 3:1 to 3:3 inches, and the
bastard-primary extends well beyond the end of the primary-coverts.
Type.
Heliocorys, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 623 (1890) . . . H. bucolica.
Heliocorys modesta.
Galerita modesta, Heugl. J. f. O. 1864, p. 274 Bongo; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 222 (1896); Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 294 Gold Coast.
Heliocorys modesta, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 623 (1890) Kuderma,
Tomaja, Redjaf, Tobbo.
Mirafra bucolica, Hartl. Zool. Jahrb. 1886, p. 327 Fadjuli, Tomaja, Kaba-
gendi, Kuderma.
Heliocorys modesta giffardi, Hartert, Bull. B. O. C, x. p. 5 (1899) ; id. Nov.
Zool. 1899, p. 415 Gambaga.
Adult male. Similar in colouring to G. senegalensis, but darker; the dark
centres to the feathers of the crown and mantle being broad and the edges
tawny-shaded earthy brown ; crest short; hind neck paler than the back ;
upper tail-coverts uniform deep rufous brown. Wing: with a long bastard
primary extending beyond the primary-coverts ; under surface dusky brown,
with the inner edges of the quills and broad edges to the coverts deep rufous
(May, 1902, 8
114 HELIOCORYS MODESTA.
buff. Tail: blackish brown with rather narrow ashy edges; outer feather
with nearly the whole of the external web rufous buff and a tinge of that
colour towards the end of the inner web; the penultimate feather with
a very narrow buff edge to the outer web. Sides of head and the upper
throat white; ear-coverts mostly brown; a black band from the nostril
to the eye, and a blackish brown patch along the top and in front of the
ear-coverts passing into scattered spots on the sides of the upper throat ;
lower throat, under surface of body and under tail-coverts buff; lower throat
and crop with broad black shaft stripes, and a patch of that colour separating
the crop from the side of the lower neck, the latter buffy brown with
rather narrow black shaft-stripes; flanks narrowly streaked and partially
shaded with rufous brown. ‘Iris brown; bill dusky brown fading into
flesh colour towards the base; tarsi and feet flesh colour” (Emin). Total
length in the flesh 6 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3°3, tail 1:9, tarsus 0°8. 3,
14. 11. 82. Kudurma (Emin).
Adult female. Upper parts slightly paler and more rufous buff on the
tail; outer feather with the exterior web and a large terminal portion of the
inner web rufous buff, which colour extends over quite half of the outer web
of the penultimate feather ; lower throat and crop with very small narrow
shaft-spots. Total length in the flesh 5-5 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:1, tail
1:9, tarsus 0°8. 9,17.1.88. Redjaf (Emin).
Heuglin’s Little Crested-Lark inhabits the Sudan from
Gambaga (10° 30’ N. lat., 1° W. long.), to the Upper White
Nile district.
The members of this genus have been divided into three
races: Galerita modesta, Heugl., Mirafra bucolica, Hartl., and
Heliocorys modesta giffardi, Hartert; but I fail to find any
definite characters for distinguishing them.
The type of G. modesta, Heugl., was discovered in the
Bongo country of the White Nile, near the Kasanga river,
where these Larks were found frequenting the sunny openings
in this wooded district; they were generally to be seen
perched on stones or ant-hills and more rarely on the tops
of grass-tufts, and in song and habits reminded Heuglin of
the Short-toed Larks. The type measured: wing 3°12 inches,
tail 1°6, tarsus 0°72, culmen 0°4. Owing to the specimens
procured by Emin Pasha, some 400 miles further up the
Nile, being slightly darker and on an average larger, Hartlaub
CALENDULA. 115
proposed for them the name of Mirafra bucolica, and
remarks that, although these forms are very similar, they are
positively distinct.
The specimens agreeing best with the description given
by Heuglin, of Galerita modesta, I have seen, appear to be
the types of Heliocorys modesta giffardi, Hartert. These
were collected by Captain W. Giffard at Gambaga, and were
separated as a distinct subspecies solely from a comparison
of the types with the specimens in the British Museum
labelled ‘* H. modesta,” which after all belong to the true
Mirafra bucolica, Hartl. Yet, as I have already remarked,
I can find no definable character for their separation.
The late Dr. Stark was led into the error of including
this species in the Fauna of South Africa owing to an im-
mature Lark from Clan William having the name “ Heliocorys
modesta’’ written on the label. This specimen I have seen,
and describe below as the immature of Calendula crassirostris.
Genus IX. CALHNDULA.
Very similar to Galerita, but differs in the bill being much stouter,
with the basal half of the lower mandible buff and sharply defined, and the
crest-feathers shorter and broader; secondaries reaching to the tip of the
wing ; bastard-primary more than half an inch in length, but falling short
of the tip of the primary-coverts; tarsi and feet of moderate size, the hind
claw long and very slightly curved. Plumage of upper parts brown, mottled
with dark centres to the feathers.
Type.
Calendula, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 292 (1837). . . . C. crassirostris.
Calendula crassirostris.
Alauda erassirostris, Vieill. N. Dict. i. p. 373 (1816) Cape Col.
Calendula crassirostris, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 639 (1890) Lt. Namagqua,
Cape Col. Orange R. Col.; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 344, egg ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 223 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Biers. p. 134
(1899) egg ; Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 202 (1900).
116 CALENDULA CRASSIROSTRIS.
Alauda magnirostris, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 27 (1826) S. Afr.
Galerita modesta (nec Heugl.) Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B.i. p. 204 (1900)
Clan William.
Adult. Very similar in general appearance to Galerita cristata, but with
a very much thicker bill, of which the basal half of the lower mandible is
buff and sharply defined; the crest is much shorter, and the abdomen has
a faint tinge of yellow. Upper parts mottled, ashy brown with blackish
centres to the feathers; tail blackish brown, slightly paler, and more ashy
on the centre feathers; outer feather with a narrow buff external and
terminal edge, and a very narrow whitish outer edge to the penultimate
feather ; under surface of the wing dusky ash, with partial, rather narrow,
rufous butf inner margins to the quills and the under wing-coverts mostly
buff, the feathers being broadly edged with that colour. Sides of the head
with a broad eyebrow, space under the eye and the cheeks buff; the
remainder blackish brown, mottled, with buff edges to the feathers. Under
parts buff, with a slight yellow shade on the abdomen; an imperfect black
band down the sides of the throat, widening out somewhat between the crop
and sides of the lower neck; lower throat, front of chest and flanks boldly
marked with blackish brown centres to the feathers. Iris brown; upper
mandible dark horn colour, lower one buff with the end half dark horn
colour. Total length in the flesh 7 inches, culmen 0:65, wing 3:7, tail 2:3,
tarsus 1:1. 9,23.1.74. Stellendorf (Shelley). A male labelled ‘ 29. 7. 62,
Little Namaqualand (Andersson),” is slightly larger: culmen 0-7, wing 3:8,
tail 2:4.
Immature. Differs in the plumage of the upper parts being mottled
with partial white edges to the feathers inclining to spots, most strongly
marked on the middle of the crown and nape; the buff on the outer pair
of tail-feathers extends over nearly the whole of the outer webs; bill more
uniform dark brown. Wing 3:8 inches. Clan William (Cape Mus.).
The Thick-billed Crested-Lark inhabits western South
Africa, south of the Cunene river.
According to Andersson, this species is pretty generally
diffused over Damara and Great Namaqua-lands ; it frequents
localities covered with grass and dwarf vegetation, and
frequently those which are of a rocky character. Mr. Layard
writes: ‘* This fine Lark frequents equally the cultivated and
bush-covered lands. It feeds on insects and seeds, and
makes a rough nest in September in a depression of the soil
under the shelter of a low bush, or large clod of earth, and
lays four or five eggs of a very pale cream colour, profusely
ALAUDA 117
dotted throughout with small light brown and purple spots.
Axis 0°9 inch, diameter 0°65.” He found the species plentiful
near Cape Town, and very evenly distributed throughout the
Colony.
In the British Museum there are specimens from Little
Namaqualand, Ceres, Stellendorf, Colesberg, Hopetown, and
the Orange River Colony.
I have had some doubt as to the advisability of placing
the last two species in genera by themselves, for Heliocorys
modesta and Calendula crassirostris are scarcely more than
somewhat abnormal forms of (falerita.
Genus X. ATLAUDA.
Bill moderate ; culmen shorter than the middle toe with claw; nostrils
hidden by bristly feathers. Wing of ten primaries, the first a small bastard-
primary less than half an inch in length; the next three primaries about
equal and the longest; secondaries reaching nearly or quite to the end of
the wing. ‘Tarsi and feet pale and of moderate size ; hind claw long, rarely
shorter than the hind toe and very slightly curved. Plumage above brown
or ashy, with blackish centres to the feathers ; no elongated crest feathers.
Type.
Alauda, Linn. §. N. i. p. 287 (1766)... . . . . . A. arvensis.
Aéthocorys, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. xii., p. 62 (1902) . . A. personata.
Alauda arvensis and its nearest allies or subspecies, some
half a dozen in number, range over the greater part of
Europe, Asia and North Africa, and are apparently confined
to the Palxarctic region. One less typical form, A. personata,
inhabits Somaliland. Until quite recently this latter species
has been placed in the genus Spizocorys, to which it does
not belong; it can be distinguished from Alauda, as defined
by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 513), in having
a shorter hind claw.
118 ALAUDA PERSONATA
Alauda personata.
Spizocorys personata, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1895, p. 471 Somali; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 190 (1896); Donaldson Smith, ‘“‘ Through Unknown
Afr.”’ p. 126, fig. (1897).
Aéthocorys personata, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. xii. p. 62 (1902).
Type. Upper parts pale brown, with very narrow angular dark shaft-
stripes on the crown and much broader ones on the upper back; lesser
wing-coverts uniform pale brown; remainder of the wing-coverts and the
secondaries dark brown with broad edges of pale brown; primaries more
uniform dark brown, with the outer web of the first long one white; outer
tail-feather white with a large wedge-shaped dusky patch on the inner web ;
penultimate feather with nearly the whole of the outer web white, remainder
of tail blackish brown ; sides of head black, with an incomplete eyebrow and
fore part of cheeks and ear-coverts white ; remainder of ear-coverts and the
sides of the neck ashy brown; chin and upper throat white; lower throat,
crop and flanks pale ashy brown, blending into rufous buff on the remainder
of the breast and thighs; abdomen and under tail-coverts slightly paler
rufous buff; under surface of the wings dusky ash, the coverts shading into
rufous buff along the bend of the wing, and the inner margins of the quills
narrowly washed with that colour. Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°49,
wing 3:35, tail 2-0, tarsus 08. ¢, 3.8.94. Sassabana (Dr. A. Donaldson
Smith).
The Masked Sky-Lark inhabits Somaliland.
This species is known to me only from the type in the
British Museum. It was discovered by Dr. Donaldson Smith
at Sassabana, on August 3, 1894. The specimen is not in full
plumage, but may be readily distinguished from all the
known Larks from Tropical Africa, of a similar size and
appearance, by its having a distinct small bastard primary.
Genus XI. PSHUDALAIMON.
Bill long and stout; culmen longer than the middle toe with claw;
nostrils hidden. Wing of ten primaries; bastard primary small, scarcely
more than half the length of the culmen and shorter than the inner toe with
claw; longest secondary reaching nearly to the tip of the wing; no white
edge to the first long primary. Tail very short, not extending beyond the
upper tail-coverts by more than the length of the culmen. A black patch on
each side of the crop; tarsi and feet pale ; toes and hind claw short.
Type.
Pseudalzemon, Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p.400 . . . P. fremantlei.
PSEUDALAMON FREMANTLEI. 119
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Sandy rufous ; breast and flanks less striped . fremantlet.
6. Ashy grey; breast and flanks more striped. . delamerei.
Pseudalemon fremantlei.
Calendula fremantlii, Lort Phillips, Bull. B. O. C. vi. p. 46 (1897) ; id.
Ibis, 1897, p. 448 Goolis Mts.
Pseudalemon fremantlii, Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 400, pl. 9, fig. 2
Somali.
Adult male. Above pale sandy brown, whiter on the hind neck, with
dark centres to the feathers, narrower on the crown and neck than on the
back, and absent on the upper tail-coverts; wings brown with fairly broad
sandy brown edges to the feathers ; tail short and square, dark brown with
very narrow sandy edges, and the greater part of the outer web of the tail
and a portion of the outer webs of the penultimate feathers white ; sides of
the head, with the cheek, space under the eye and a broad eyebrow white,
beneath which is a blackish band through the eye and uppermost ear-
coverts, branching off downwards round the fore part of the ear-coverts; the
remainder of the ear-coverts deep chestnut, with the front lower quarter
white; throat white, the lower portion flanked on each side by a large patch
of black ; under surface of the body white, shaded with tawny buff on the
crop and flanks; a few brown spots on the lower throat and many of the
feathers of the crop and flanks with tawny centres or shaft-stripes to the
feathers ; under surface of the wing dusky with the coverts and partial inner
edges of the quills rufous buff. Ivis light hazel; bill pale horn brown ; tarsi
and feet flesh colour. Total length 5-5 inches, culmen 0:7, wing 3:4, tail 1:9,
tarsus 0°85. 3g, 18. 2. 97.
Adult female (type). Similar in plumage to the adult male. Total length
in the flesh 5:7 inches, culmen 0°75, wing 3:3, tail 1°7, tarsus 0°75. 2,
16. 2.97. Gedais (Lort Phillips).
Freemantle’s Short-tailed Lark inhabits Somaliland.
I cannot find anything recorded regarding the habits of
this peculiar species, although it is apparently plentiful in
Somaliland, at least in certain localities.
It is the type of Pseudalemon, a genus which belongs to the
120 PSEUDALZMON DELAMEREI.
section of Larks in which the nostrils are hidden by plumelets,
the bastard primary short and the secondaries reaching nearly
to the tip of the wing; but the genus is strongly characterised
by the long stout bill and short tail, and should, I consider, be
placed between Alauda and Melanocorypha.
Pseudaleemon delamerei.
Pseudaleemon delamerei, Sharpe, B. O. C. x. p. 102 (1900) Athi River.
Type. Above buff, whiter on the hind neck, with broad blackish centres
to the feathers, narrower on the crown and neck than on the back, and not
extending on to the upper tail-coverts, which are uniform; wings blackish
brown with fairly broad sandy buff edges to the feathers; tail short, square,
dark brown, with very narrow white edges, and having the greater part of the
outer webs of the tail and a portion of the outer web of the penultimate
feathers white ; sides of the head, with the cheeks, space under the eye and
a broad eyebrow white, beneath which is a blackish band through the eye
and the uppermost ear-coverts, branching off downwards round the front
half of the ear-coverts; the remainder of the ear-coverts blackish brown,
with the front lower quarter ashy white; throat white, the lower portion
flanked on each side by a large patch of black; under surface of the body
white, shaded with tawny buff on the crop and flanks; several blackish spots
on the lower throat and sides of the crop, and a few of the feathers of the
flanks streaked with black and a few with pale rufous; under surface of the
wings dusky with the coverts and partial inner edges of the quills rufous
buff. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 3°45, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°75.
3,17.11. 99. Athi river (Lord Delamere).
Delamere’s Short-tailed Lark is known, I believe, only by
the type, which was shot by Lord Delamere at the Athi river,
in British East Africa, on November 17, 1899.
This Lark closely resembles P. fremantlet in structure, size,
and general pattern of the plumage, and as the latter is known
only from specimens killed in February, I should not be
surprised if these prove to be seasonal plumages of one species.
Mirafra nivosa is known to be subject to a very similar change
in the spring and autumn of the year.
MELANOCORY PHA 121
Genus XII. MBLANOCORYPHA.
Bill large and stout; culmen shorter than the middle toe with claw;
nostrils hidden by stiff plumelets ; wing of ten primaries, the first or bastard
primary very small; secondaries fall short of tip of wing by not less than
the length of the tarsus.
Type.
Melanocorypha, Boie, Isis, 1828, p.322. . . . . . M. calandra.
Calandrina, Blyth, Journ. A. 8. Beng. xxiv. p. 265 (1859) M. bimaculata.
This is essentially a Palearctic genus, of which only one species occurs
during its winter migration in the north-eastern portion of the Hthiopian
Region.
Melanocorypha bimaculata.
Alauda bimaculata, Ménetr. Cat. Rais. Canc. p. 37 (1832).
Melanocorypha bimaculata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 555 (1890)
Abyssima ; Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 39 (1891) Dongola ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 184 (1896).
Adult male. Above pale brown, with fairly broad blackish brown shaft-
bands on the crown, mantle, and middle back; lower back and upper
tail-coverts uniform; wings brown, with paler buffy brown edges to the
feathers; tail square, blackish brown, with the sides of the feathers edged
with tawny buff, very broadly on the centre pair; all the other tail-feathers
with large terminal white spots, mostly confined to the inner webs; sides of
the head, with the cheeks and a broad eyebrow white, beneath which is a
blackish band through the eye; ear coverts brown ; throat white, ending in
a broad black collar which is divided in two by white feathers ; under surface
of the body white, washed with pale brown on the crop and flanks; sides of
crop mottled with dark centres to the feathers; under surface of the wing
ashy brown, with a narrow line of coverts next to the bend of the wing
broadly edged with brownish buff. Iris hazel; bill horn colour, paler on
the lower mandible; tarsi and feet flesh colour. Total length 7 inches,
culmen 0-7, wing 4°6, tail 2:2, tarsus 1:05.
Adult female. Similar in plumage to the male. Total length 6:8
inches, culmen 0:7, wing 4°6, tail 2:2, tarsus 1:0.
The Eastern Calandra Lark ranges from the Blue Nile to
North-western India.
In the British Museum there is a specimen from Abyssinia.
According to Heuglin, it appears in North-east Africa, south-
Le TEPHROCORYS.
ward to the Blue Nile, and in Abyssinia, as a winter visitor,
when it is to be met with in flocks in the fields and waste land,
and is very shy. Riippell’s specimens came from Dongola.
Mr. Hawker has recently procured a male and two females, at
Wad Thali, on February 2, 1901, during his excursion up the
Nile, and I have taken my descriptions from these specimens.
Genus XIII. THPHROCORYS.
Bill somewhat Finch-like in form ; nostrils hidden by plumelets. Wing
of nine primaries only; the first three the longest and nearly equal ; first
primary with a pure white outer edge; secondaries reaching nearly or quite
to the end of the wing. Tarsi and feet moderate; the hind claw shorter
than the hind toe. Sexes similar in plumage. Adults with the crown
nearly uniform bright rufous, and generally with a large uniform rufous or
black patch on each side of the throat. Young with the crown and sides
of crop blackish.
Type.
Tephrocorys, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1874, p.633 . . . . . . T. cinerea.
This genus is confined to the African continent, and is
represented by two well marked species, 7. cinerea and
T. vuficeps, to which I have added a new species, 7. blanfordi,
founded upon a specimen procured by Dr. Blanford, at Senafé,
in Northern Abyssinia.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Crown rufous (Adults).
a1. Forehead bright rufous like the crown; a
patch of uniform bright rufous on the
sidesofthe crop... . . « « « « Gmered.
a*, Less rufous on the flanks ; (?) adults after
the first moult.
a’. Darker. Winter plumage . typical cinerea.
b’. Paler. Breeding plumage faded.
type of spleniata.
TEPHROCORYS CINEREA. 123
62. More rufous on the flanks. Autumn
moult, possibly the first moult . typeof anderssoni.
61, Forehead more dusky brown, contrasting
with the crown; a patch of black on the
sides of the lower throat.
c?, Larger and darker; wing 3°55, tarsus
0:8; black neck-patch larger and well
marked ; edges of feathers of back and
wings not sandy buff. . . . ruficeps.
d?, Smaller and paler; wing 3:2, tarsus 0: 15;
black neck-patch hardly distinguishable ;
edges of feathers of the back and wings
sandy buff . . : . blanfordi.
b. Crown and sides of crop blackish ; apper ee
with numerous white spots (Young).
Tephrocorys cinerea.
Alauda cinerea, Gm. 8. N. i. p. 798 (1788).
Tephrocorys cinerea, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 633; Biittik. Notes Leyd.
Mus. 1888, p. 241 Humpata ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 561 (1890)
Little Namaqualand, Cape Town, Natal, Transvaal ; id. Ibis, 1891,
p- 260 Kikuyu ; Distant, Naturl. Transvaal, p. 168 (1892) Pretoria ;
Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1893, p. 164 Galanga; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895,
p. 344 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 185 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat.
Hiers. p. 132 (1899) egg; Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 624 Naiwasha ;
Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 222 (1900); Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 243
Mashona ; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 47 Athi River.
Alauda spleniata, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 152 Damara.
Tephrocorys spleniata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 563 (1890); Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 186 (1896); Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 223 (1900).
Megalophonus anderssoni, Tristram, Ibis, 1869, p. 434 Otjimbinque ;
Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 634.
Tephrocorys anderssoni, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 564 (1890) Otjim-
binque ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 188 (1896) ; Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B.i.
p- 224 (1900).
Megalophonus ruficeps (nec Riipp.), Fisch. J. £. O. 1885, p. 137 Naiwasha.
Adult male. Crown uniform bright chestnut, a few of the feathers
narrowly edged with buff; back mottled with pale rufous tinted ashy brown
and broad dark centres to the feathers; lower back nearly uniform and
shading into cinnamon on the upper tail-coverts, the larger ones of which
have dark brown angular centres ; wing dark brown, with the least coverts
pale brown and the other feathers edged with pale rufous-shaded brown,
124 TEPHROCORYS CINEREA.
broadest on the coverts and secondaries and with the outer web of the first
primary white; tail brownish black, the centre pair of feathers with broad
pale edges, the outer pair having a white outer margin extending round the
end of the feathers, and the penultimate pair having narrow white outer
margins; a broad eyebrow and the cheeks white, the latter shading into
pale ashy brown on the ear-coverts and sides of neck; a small dusky band
in front of the eye; under parts white, slightly washed with rufous brown
on the lower throat and on the flanks; a large patch of chestnut on each
side of the crop; under surface of wings ashy brown, with narrow rufous
buff inner edges to the quills; outer under wing-coverts with broad buff
edges. ‘‘Ivis dark hazel ; bill black with the base brown ; legs dark brown”
(T. E. Buckley). Total length 6:6 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:7, tail 2:7,
tarsus 0:85. ¢, 3.6.81. Newcastle (A. EH. Butler).
Adult female. Like the male, but the feathers on the back of the crown
have black shaft-stripes. Wing 3:6, tail2°5. 9,5. 7.81. Newcastle.
Type of Alauda spleniata, Strickl. Similar to the last, but much paler,
with the rufous portions of the plumage light cinnamon. Total length 5:8
inches, culmen 0:55, wing 3:6 (moulting), tail 2:1, tarsus 0°8 (Cambridge
Mus.).
Type of Megalophonus anderssoni, Tristr. Darker and brighter, with the
rufous on the sides of the breast extending back to the sides of the under
tail-coverts. Total length 5 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3°15, tail 2-15 (moult-
ing), tarsus 0°8. 13.38.65. Otjimbinque (Liverpool Mus.). A very similar
specimen, procured at the same place three days earlier, also by Andersson,
measures: total length 5:6 inches, culmen 0:55, wing 3:5 (moulting),
tail 2°1, tarsus 0°8.
Young. Very much darker than the adults; crown, ear-coverts and dark
patch on sides of crop blackish brown like the upper parts generally, and
with terminal white spots to the feathers placed in the middle of the broad
edges. ?, juv., 30.9. 76. British Kaffraria (F. Barratt).
The Southern Red-capped Lark ranges from the Cape of
Good Hope into Benguela and northward to the Equator in
Eastern Africa.
Anchieta has collected specimens at Benguela, Ambaca and
Galanga, where they are known to the natives as the ‘‘ Tioco,”
and Van der Kellen has met with others at Humpata, on the
Cunene.
Professor Barboza du Bocage (Orn. Angola, p. 374)
remarks: ‘ Two females procured by Anchieta, one at
Benguela and the other at Ambaca, are scarcely distinguish-
TEPHROCORYS CINEREA, 125
able from specimens obtained in Cape Colony, Natal and
Damaraland, being only slightly smaller and having the shade
of the plumage darker and brighter; they apparently agree
well with the type of Megalophonus anderssoni, Tristram.”
Regarding these Larks in South-Western Africa, Chap-
man writes: ‘ Alauda spleniata (Strickland). Common in
Damara and Great Namaqualand, as also at the Cape, and
Andersson found them very abundant in Damara and Great
Namaqua, where they breed. 1’. cinerea is a common species
throughout Cape Colony, and towards the end of August the
flocks break up for the pairing season. From Natal Messrs.
Butler, Feilden and Reid write: “Found in abundance
throughout the Cape Colony, though somewhat local and
attaching itself to particular spots. These neat little birds are
found on the roads or broad tracts, over the sandy portions of
the veldt. They are wonderfully tame, and frequently crouch
on the approach of a horse, man or waggon, instead of taking
flight. The Kaffirs occasionally knock them over with their
whips. The nest is a neat structure, not unlike that of our
Sky Lark, composed of dry grass, and concealed under a
tussock of grass on the open veldt. The eggs are three,
frequently only two, in number, pale greenish white, freckled
and blotched with brown. In a nest taken by Butler they
measured 0°95 by 0°55 inch, but these are doubtless unusually
elongated, for in three nests taken by Reid the average size is
0°85 by 0°6 inch. A young bird, obtained by Butler, which
had just left the nest, was beautifully variegated about with
dark brown and buff, not the least like the old bird that was
feeding it.” Mr. T. E. Buckley came across a scattered flock
of them near Pietermaritzburg in May, and observes: ‘ They
run fast and are extremely difficult to see.” Mr. T. Ayres,
writing from Potchefstroom, remarks: “These Larks are
easily distinguished when in the field by the chirrupmg note
126 TEPHROCORYS RUFICEPS.
they utter on rising; one winter they were much more
plentiful than usual and outnumbered all the other Larks.”
Near Pretoria the species has been obtained by Mr. Distant.
In Mashonaland, according to Mr. Guy Marshall, this Lark
is “everywhere abundant in open country. It is a fearless
little bird, frequenting the open spaces in the town and readily
permitting a very close approach. During the courting season
the male has a very pretty way of rising; after first flying up
he will swoop downward a short distance, then rise abruptly
straight upwards for several feet with closed wings, turning
gently over and swooping down and up again several times
in succession, then fluttering away skyward, singing sweetly
all the while. In the end of winter these birds congregate
in flocks, which sometimes contain as many as 200 or 300
individuals.”’
The distance between Salisbury, in Mashona, and Naiwasha
Lake is about 1,100 miles, and throughout this vast territory
the species has not yet been recorded, but at the latter place,
Mr. Jackson has collected specimens in April and August
and further north in the Kikuyu country in September, show-
ing that this species is neither rare nor migratory in British
East Africa. Dr. Ansorge has also met with it on the Athi
plains, and I have examined several specimens from this
district in Lord Delamere’s collection and find that they
agree perfectly with examples from Natal.
Tephrocorys ruficeps.
Alauda ruficeps, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 102, pl. 38, fig. 1 (1835) Stmien.
Tephrocorys ruficeps, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 563 (1890) Shoa,
Abyssinia; id. P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 471 Somali ; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 187 (1896); Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 137; 1901, p. 627 S. Abyssinia.
Adult. Very similar to T. cinerea, but with less pale edges to the
feathers, giving the back and wings a blacker appearance; the chestnut
TEPHROCORYS RUFICEPS. 127
crown inclining to dusky blackish towards the forehead, and narrowly edged
at the sides with black, while on the back of the crown are some strongly
marked black shaft-stripes ; ear-coverts dusky ; under parts with the throat,
sides of neck, centre of breast and the under tail-coverts white ; a jet black
patch on each side of the base of the throat passing into pale rufous, with
which colour the whole crop, sides of body and the thighs are washed.
“Tris brown, bill and legs dark.” Total length 5-9 and 6:1 inches, culmen
0:5 and 0:45, wing 3°55, tail 2°3, tarsus 0.8. g and 9, 22.1.99. Jifadensa
(Lovat).
Young. Similar, but darker than the young of T. cinerea already
described, the crown and mantle nearly black and almost spotless.
The Abyssinian Red-capped Lark inhabits Somaliland and
Abyssinia.
Dr. Donaldson Smith collected two specimens at Sheik
Mahomed in November, which have been referred to this
species, the range of which I cannot trace further south, for
I believe that Megalophonus ruficeps, Fischer (J. f. O. 1885, p.
137), from Naiwasha, is referable to the southern 7’. cinerea.
Lord Lovat met with the present species at Jeffi Dunsa
and Balti in January, during his journey from Berbera to the
Blue Nile, and writes: ‘It is common at all elevations of
Shoan Abyssinia.” Dr. Ragazzi has collected specimens of this
Lark at Fallé in December and January, and found it frequent-
ing the vicinity of native habitations. Antinori met with the
species in this country at Lice and the valley of Waddeccia in
June and November, and further north he obtained a specimen
‘at Matacrur in January. Riippell records the species as
abundant in Abyssinia, where he first discovered it. Accord-
ing to Heuglin this Lark is most plentiful in the highlands,
from 6,000 to 11,000 feet. He met with the species as far
north as Hamasien, but not further west than Lake Tana.
128 TEPHROCORYS BLANFORDL
Tephrocorys blanfordi nu. sp. (Pl. 21, fig. 2).
Calandrella anderssoni (nec Tristr.) Blanford, Geol. and Zool. Abyss.
p. 389 (1870) Senafé ; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 634.
Tephrocorys ruficeps, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 563 (1890) part, spec.
c., Senafe.
Type. Upper parts much paler than in the adult of 7. ruficeps, all the
feathers being broadly edged with sandy brown; the forehead very slightly
duller than the crown; a few black shaft-stripes at the back of the
crown ; ear-coyerts pale brown, with only a trace of a black patch on the
sides of the neck ; crop, sides of the body, and the thighs tawny buff. Total
length 5:0 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3:2, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°75. 9, 24. 2. 68.
Senafé (Blanford).
Blanford’s Red-capped Lark inhabits Northern Abyssinia.
It is known to me only from the type, which was shot
by Dr. Blanford at Senafé in the Tigré district of Abyssinia
on February 24, 1868. Here he found these small Larks
abundant on stony ground, keeping much in large companies,
and highly social, precisely like Calandrella brachydactyla. I
have named this bird after Dr. Blanford, who first regarded
it as distinct from 1’. ruficeps. Itis certainly more sharply
characterised than 1. spleniata (Strickl.) and 1’. anderssoni
(Tristr.) which are entered as subspecies (Cat. B. M. xiii.
pp. 563, 564). In 1874 (P. Z. 8. p. 634) Dr. Bowdler Sharpe
remarked that this specimen seemed to him to be 7’. ruficeps in
winter plumage. I find, however, that it differs to the same
extent from two males and a female shot by Lord Lovat in
January, as it does from all the other specimens I have seen of
T’. ruficeps.
Genus XIV. CALANDRELLA.
Bill somewhat variable in form, but generally Finch-like ; nostrils hidden
by plumelets. Wing of nine primaries; the first three the longest and
nearly equal; first primary with a pure white outer edge; secondaries
reaching nearly or quite to the tip of the wing. Crown like the mantle,
pale brown with dark centres to the feathers. Sexes similar, and plumage
of the young very like that of the adults in colouring.
CALANDRELLA BRACHYDACTYLA. 129
Type.
Calandrella, Kaup. Natiirl. Syst. p. 39 (1829) . . . C.brachydactyla.
Spizocorys, Sundey. Av. Meth, Tent. p. 55 (1873) . . C. conirostris.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Throat with few or no spots.
. Bill stouter and shorter; pale pattern of
outer tail-feather sandy ‘buff Sarak brachydactyla. | » «
b2, Billlonger and more slender; pale pattern
of outer tail-feather white . . . . . acwtirostris. ||
b+. Lower throat much spotted.
c®. Bill shorter and stouter; culmen much
curved.
a’, Larger; wing 3:3 to 3:55.
a*, Upper parts mostly ashy grey . . athensis. |?*
b+. Upper parts mostly sandy brown . somalica. | °
b% Smaller; wing 3:0 to 3:2.
c*. Bill smaller; plumage darker and
less sandy; nocrest . . : conirostris. |?
d*, Bill larger; general plumage above
sandy buff, beneath nearly par
a distinct crest . . c stark, n. sp.
. Bill longer ; culmen less curved.
a Bill more wedge-shaped . . . . . sclateri, n. sp.
d’, Billless wedge-shaped. . . . . . Tdz@ 2
Calandrella brachydactyla.
Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler, Wetterau Gesellsch. Ann. iii. pp. 807-359
(1814).
Calandrella brachydactyla, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 580 (1890)
Abyssinia ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 192 (1896).
Adult. Above mottled sandy brown, with blackish brown centres to the
feathers of the crown, mantle and upper tail-coverts; rump uniform rufous
tinted pale brown; wing dark brown, with sandy brown edges to the
feathers, broad on the coyerts and secondaries and narrow on the primaries,
excepting the first long quill, which has the outer web white ; under surface
of the wing with the coverts and inner edges of the quills white. Tail
blackish brown, the centre pair of feathers broadly edged with sandy brown ;
[May, 1902. 9
130 CALANDRELLA BRACHYDACTYLA.
buff pattern extending in a wedge-shape over half the outer feather from
across the end to a point near the base of the outer edge; penultimate
feather with half the outer web buff, which colour borders the end. Sides of
head with a broad eyebrow, front of the eye and the cheeks buff; ear-
coverts uniform pale brown; a few dusky markings behind the gape and on
the sides of the upper throat. Sides of the upper neck and the under parts
generally buffy white ; sides of the lower throat separated from the sides of
the neck by a patch of black; crop with faintly marked tawny shaft-stripes
and a slight rufous buff shade on the sides; flank rather more rufous. Ivis
brown; bill pale whitish brown, darkest on the culmen; legs pale yellowish
brown. Total length 5-3 and 5-7 inches; culmen 0:4; wing 3°3 and 3:6;
tail 2:0 and 2:3; tarsus 0°75 and 0°80. ¢, 27.12.67. Zoulla (Blanford).
3,7. 3.68. Egypt (Shelley).
Young. Like the adults but with the crown and mantle mottled with
sandy white tips to the feathers and subterminal blackish bars; crop and
flanks with a very few obscure dusky spots.
The common Short-toed Lark inhabits North-east Africa,
Southern Europe, and ranges eastward into Turkestan and
India.
This species occurs in North-east Africa during its winter
migration, and I fail to trace its range further south than
Kordofan. Dr. Blanford found these Larks not rare on the
shores of Annesley bay, but never met with them in the
highlands, and according to Heuglin they frequent the open
country, appearing in North-east Africa early in September,
and during the winter collect in enormous flocks in Kordofan,
Sennaar and Taka, and migrate again northward in February
and March, singly or in scattered parties. With regard to the
migration, Dr. A. E. Brehm observed these Larks travelling
northward through Upper Egypt from March 17th to 20th,
and met with them again at Khartoum on November 13th, on
their return journey, and in the following year found them
in immense numbers at Kamlin on the Blue Nile, 15° N. lat.
on March 3rd and 4th, 1851, starting on their migration down
the Nile for their breeding haunts in Europe.
CALANDRELLA ACUTIROSTRIS. 131
Calandrella acutirostris.
Calandrella acutirostris, Hume, Lahore to Yark. p. 265 (1873); Sharpe,
Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 585 (1890) ; id. Bull, B. O. C. xii. p. (1902).
Adult. Upper parts mottled, pale brown with blackish centres to the
feathers, these dark centres less strongly marked on the hind neck and
absent from the upper tail-coverts, which are of a slightly more rufous shade ;
margins of primary-coverts, of some of the greater-coverts and the outer web
of the first primary white. Tail blackish; the outer feather half blackish
and half white, these colours meeting along a diagonal straight line; pen-
ultimate feather with a narrow white outer margin. LHar-coverts uniform
brown ; a dusky patch in front of the eye ; remainder of sides of head, upper
half of sides of neck and the under surface generally, white; crop slightly
tinted with brown, most strongly so towards the sides, where it passes into
the pale brown of the lower half of the sides of the neck; lower throat with
a few, almost obsolete, dusky brown spots; flanks slightly shaded with
brown ; under surface of wings dusky with rufous buff inner margins to the
quills; under wing-coverts mostly pure white. ‘Iris brown; bill dusky on
culmen, and yellowish horn at the sides and below ; tarsi and feet brownish
flesh colour” (Scully). Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 3:4,
tail 2:2, tarsus 0°85. ¢, 14.11.99. Athi R. (Delamere).
Hume’s Short-toed Lark ranges from Turkestan and India
to the Athi river in British Hast Africa.
The occurrence of this species in Africa is known to me
only by the specimen I have described, which was shot by
Lord Delamere, November 14th, 1899, at the Athi river on the
same day as he shot the type of Spizocorys athensis, Sharpe.
This species much resembles C. brachydactyla, from which
it may be most readily distinguished by its bill being longer
and slighter.
It is very probable that the Short-toed Larks, when they
pass in large flocks on migration, as is their custom, are joined
by scattered individuals of the allied species they meet by the
way, and this may account for more than one species being met
with in the same flock: for such is known to be of common
occurrence with the Yellow-Wagtails, and we have good
132 CALANDRELLA ATHENSIS.
reason to believe that the Short-toed Larks have the same
sociable habits.
Calandrella athensis.
Spizocorys athensis, Sharpe, B. O. C. x. p. 101 (1900) Athi R.
Type. In colouring and pattern of plumage this species is exactly like
Alaudula betica, but it differs in being slightly larger, in having the bill
decidedly stronger, the secondaries half an inch longer and reaching to the
tip of the wing. Above mottled blackish brown with pale ashy edges, very
slightly tinted with rufous on some of the wing-coverts ; outer margin of the
first long primary white; tail with the outer feather white or buff with a
dusky wedge-shaped patch on the inner web (not reaching to the end of the
feather) ; penultimate feather with the outer web almost entirely white
and the next feather partially edged with white ; sides of head with a broad
eyebrow and cheeks white; in front of eye a small dusky line; a band of
dusky brown formed by the lower ear-coverts extending forward to the gape,
from which a mottling of a few dusky spots extend down the sides of the
upper half of the throat; under-parts generally white; sides of neck white,
with a black patch between it and the crop; crop strongly marked with
elongated blackish spots inclining to narrow shaft-stripes on the flanks ;
both slightly washed with brownish buff; under surface of the wings dusky
brown with narrow whitish inner margins to the quills; the under wing-
coyerts slightly tinted with buff. Total length 5-5 inches, culmen 0°45,
wing 3:55, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°85. g, 14.11.99. Athi R. (Delamere).
The Athi Short-toed Lark inhabits British East Africa.
The only specimens known to me of this Lark are the
typical examples which were discovered by Lord Delamere at
the Athi river, November 14th, 1899, on the same day that he
shot the only African specimen yet known of Calandrella
acutirostris.
Calandrella somalica.
if
Alauda somalica, Sharpe, P. Z. $8. 1895, p. 472 Somali; Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 194 (1896) ; Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. i. No. 2, p. 27 (1897)
Silo Plain.
Type. Above mottled, tawny shaded sandy brown, with dark brown
centres to the feathers ; outer edge of first long primary white ; tail with the
CALANDRELLA CONIROSTRIS. 133
outer feather sandy white, with a dusky wedge-shaped patch on the inner
web ; penultimate feather with the white confined to the outer web; eye-
brow, feathers under the eye, and the ear-coverts sandy buff, with a blackish
mark in front of the eye and on the cheeks; ear-coverts and sides of the
upper throat with a few dark shaft-streaks; sides of neck sandy brown with
dark brown shaft-stripes ; under surface generally white, shaded with sandy
brown on the crop and flanks ; lower throat with dark brown angular spots ;
flanks slightly streaked with rufous shaded brown; under wing-coverts and
inner margins of the quills rufous buff, with the remainder of the quills
dusky. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:55, tail 2:1, tarsus 0-85.
3, 23. 7.94. The Haud (Donaldson Smith).
The Somali Short-toed Lark inhabits Somaliland.
In the British Museum there is the type, procured by Dr.
A. Donaldson Smith in The Haud, July 23rd, 1894, and two
specimens collected by Mr. C. V. A. Peel, at Eyk. Mr. Elliot
also met with the species on the Silo Plain. It would appear
to have a very restricted range, for I do not find it recorded
from beyond the limits of the Somali country. It is a typical
Calandrelia, with the longest secondaries reaching to the tip of
the wing and the shortest falling short of the-end of the wing
by one inch.
Calandrella conirostris.
Alauda conirostris, Sundey. (fy. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 99
Magaliesberg.
Spizocorys conirostris, T. Ayres, Ibis, 1884, p. 231 Potchefstroom ; Sharpe,
Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 564, 1890 pt. Ondonga, Gt. Namaqua,
Transvaal ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 189 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr.
B. i. p. 220 (1900).
Adult. Above mottled with broad brownish black centres and pale
brown edges to the feathers ; outer web of the first long primary white ; tail
with terminal white ends to the feathers, the white pattern extending over
rather more than the outer webs of the outer pair of feathers, diminishing in
amount on the penultimate ones but extending down the whole length and
down about two-thirds of the outer web of the next feather; sides of the head,
with a broad eye-brow and a patch under the eye to the bill white, with a
black band in front of the eye; a black line from the gape margining the white
beneath the eye and losing itself in the blackish brown of the ear-coverts,
134 CALANDRELLA CONIROSTRIS.
which latter gradually fade towards the cheeks; upper half of the throat
white, mottled with black on the sides and across the middle of this white
patch ; remainder of the under surface tawny buff, fading into pale buff on
the abdomen; crop thickly spotted with brownish black, and a few less
distinct brown streaks occurring here and on the flanks; under surface of
the wings dusky brown washed with rufous buff on the coverts and inner
margins of the quills. ‘Iris light hazel; bill light red brown; tarsi
and feet pale” (I. Ayres). Total length 4:7 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 2:9,
tail 2°7, tarsus 0°75. ¢@, 28.10.44. Magaliesberg (Wahlberg).
Young. Similar to the adult but rather darker, and the upper parts
more shaded with rufous excepting on the crown, which is black; wing-
coverts and crop with pale terminal edges inclining to white shaft-spots.
3, juv., 31. 1. 78. Potchefstroom ('T. Ayres).
The colouring of Wahlberg’s specimen is intermediate between the
dark specimens collected by Mr. T. Ayres at Potchefstroom, in June and
October, and the pale ones obtained by Andersson in Ovampoland and Great
Namaqualand in June and November.
The Red-billed, Short-toed Larks inhabit German South-
west Africa and the Transvaal.
Andersson writes: ‘“ This Lark is not uncommon in
Ondonga; before the breeding season they are seen in small
flocks, but are less observable after they are paired. A pair
which I watched occupied about eight days in constructing
their nest and in the female laying her eggs, which I took on
March 31st, after they had been incubated about three days.
The nest is formed in a hole excavated to the depth of about
two and a half inches, and thickly lined with decomposed
grasses.” He obtained a specimen at Ondonga in November,
and several in Great Namaqualand in May and June; _ besides
these there are in the British Museum two specimens from
Potchefstroom and the neighbouring Magaliesberg range, the
latter being one of the types from Wahlberg’s collection, so
that the most eastern range known for this species is about
29° H. long. All Mr. T. Ayres’ specimens came from the
Potchefstroom district, where he procured them in June and
August ; he writes: ‘‘ During the month of August, 1881, these
CALANDRELLA STARKI. 135
Larks were much more plentiful than usual; on the open flats
near Potchefstroom one put them up at almost every step.”
I have come to the same conclusion as Dr. Sharpe did
(P.Z.8., 1874, p.631) that C. conirostris is subject to consider-
able seasonal change in the plumage, but this does not account
for the different size and form of the bills, and I may cite as
a very similar case, Mirafra nevia and M. sabota.
In my opinion two allied but distinct species have been
referred to Spizocoris conirostiis in the British Museum collec-
tion, and I cannot do better than name them after my two
friends, the late Dr. A. C. Stark and Mr. W. L. Sclater, in
acknowledgment of the services to science rendered by them in
their joint work on the Avifauna of South Africa.
Calandrella starki, sp. nov. (PI. 22, fig. 2.)
Alauda conirostris, Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam,-Ld. (note) p. 193 (1872)
Otjimbinque.
Spizocorys conirostris, pt. Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 564 (1890).
Adult. Very similar to the pale form of C. conirostris, but with a larger
bill. Above mottled, sandy buff with brown centres to the feathers, the
shaft-bands rather narrower and darker on the crown, which is somewhat
crested ; outer edge of the first primary buff; tail as in C. conirostris, outer
feather creamy white, with a large dusky patch on the inner web reaching
nearly to the end of the feather; penultimate feather with the outer web
and end white, next feather with a partial narrow outer edge white ; sides
of head white, shading into pale brown on the ear-coverts and slightly
mottled with brown on the cheeks; under parts white, faintly washed with
sandy brown on the crop and flanks; a few brown spots and streaks on the
crop and some faintly indicated streaks on the flanks; under surface of
quills dusky with the inner edges and the under wing-coverts rufous tinted
white. ‘‘ Iris hazel; bill pale ashy with the culmen light brown ; tarsi and
feet pale flesh-colour” (T. Ayres). Total length 4:7 inches, culmen 0°45,
wing 3:1, tail 1:9, tarsus 0°7. 24. 5. 64. Wilson’s Fountain, Great
Namaqua (Andersson).
Stark’s Short-toed Lark inhabits Damara and Great
Namaqualands, and the 'l'ransvaal.
136 CALANDRELLA SCLATERI.
The present species has been previously confounded with
CO. conirostris, owing to its size, the sandy shade of the upper
parts and the colouring of the tail being very similar to the
winter plumage of that bird; but it may be safely distinguished
by its larger bill, which has no pink or red shade, the broad
lengthened feathers of the crown and the under tail-coverts
and most of the breast being pure white.
This species is known to me not only by the type
described, but by two others in the British Museum, labelled
* g, 20. 6. 66. Otjimbinque (Andersson)” and “ 6,
14. 11. 77. Potchefstroom (T. Ayres).”
Calandrella sclateri, sp. nov. (Pl. 22, fig. 3.)
Spizocorys conirostris (nec Sundey.) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 565
(1890) pt. spec. c. e.
Adult. Differs from C. conirostris and C. starki in having the bill much
longer and more wedge-shaped, and decidedly not Finch-like in form; the
white on the tail is confined to the outer webs only of the three outer pairs
of feathers; no trace of a crest; upper parts of a more earthy brown shade ;
throat white; breast tawny buff with the centre of the abdomen and the
under tail-coverts whitish buff; crop faintly marked with dark brown spots,
and the flanks slightly streaked with that colour. Apparently the bill is
horn colour and the tarsi and feet pale brown. ‘Total length 4:5 inches,
culmen 0:55, wing 3:3, tail 1:7, tarsus 0:6. 3,6. 6. 62. Hountop R. in
Great Namaqua (Andersson).
Young. Very similar in colouring to the adult, but with white spots on
the upper parts, and the white on the outer tail feather just extending on to
the base of the inner web; bill slightly shorter and the culmen straight.
3, 27. 5.62. Hountop R. (Andersson).
Sclater’s Short-toed Lark is a native of Great Namaqua-
land.
This appears to me to be an extremely well-marked
species, so readily distinguished —not only by the very
peculiar form of the bill, but also by the white pattern of
the tail, which is very different to that of C. conirostris and
CALANDRELLA RAZZ. 137
C. starki, with which it has up to the present time been
associated. It is known to me only by the two specimens I
have described.
Callandrella raze.
Spizocorys raze, Alexander, Ibis, 1898, pp. 107, 282, pl. 3, Raza Is. ;
Boeage Jorn. Lisboa, 1898, p. 146; Fea. Boll. Soc. Geog. Ital. (3)
xii. pp. 309, 310 (1899); Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1899, p. 295.
Adult male (type.) Above mottled, pale ashy brown with broad dusky
black centres to the feathers; wings slightly browner than the back with the
outer web of the first primary white ; outer tail-feather white, with a rather
small dusky wedge-shaped patch on the inner web; penultimate tail-feather
with the entire outer web white ; sides of head mottled white and dusky ash ;
sides of neck white ; throat and under surface of the body white with sharply
marked blackish shaft-stripes on the crop and less distinct stripes on the
flanks ; crop, flanks and thighs slightly tinted with brown; under wing-
coverts ashy white ; under surface of the quills dusky ash, with indistinct,
partial, narrow buff inner edges. ‘Iris dark hazel; bill blackish horn,
whitish towards the base of the lower mandible; tarsi and feet brownish
flesh-colour ; claws blackish horn.’ Total length 5°9 inches, culmen 0°55,
wing 3°25, tail 2-0, tarsus 0°85.
Adult female (type). Exactly like the male in plumage. Total length
5:0 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 3:0, tail 1-7, tarsus 0°8. ¢g, 2, 28. 4. 97.
Raza Is. (Boyd Alexander).
The Raza Island Short-toed Lark is confined, apparently,
to the small desert island of Raza, one of the Cape Verde
Group, in about 16° 40’ N. lat. 24° 40’ EK. long.
This island, on which Captain Boyd Alexander discovered
this Lark, has an area of about three square miles and is
one of the Desertas, having no fresh water, and no inhabitants.
An interesting description of this island is given by Captain
Alexander (Ibis, 1898, p. 105) and he further writes (é. c.
p- 282): “On October 7th we approached Raza for the
second time within the year, and we discovered the males
of this very local species all busy in courting their mates.
With wings drooping and scraping along the ground, a male
138 ALAUDULA.
would approach and circumvent a female, and then rise above
her head and pour out his song as he ascended vertically with
a gentle beat of wings, and not in the spiral circles that
characterise the impetuous singing flight of our Sky-Lark.
The song, uttered both on the wing and when stationary,
consists of the call-notes constantly repeated. In the early
morning, when numbers of these Larks were singing over-
head, it was not unusual to find some singing in chorus, and
this tended to lessen the somewhat monotonous character of
their songs. When on the ground a ventriloquial call-note was
constantly uttered, becoming very persistent just towards dusk.
The nest is placed in a small depression in the loose stony
soil, either among a patch of grass or underneath a boulder
or a small creeping plant common on the island. It is a frail
structure of dry grass, and if any attempt be made to detach
it from its surroundings it falls to pieces in the hand. Incu-
bation lasts for a period of thirteen days, both sexes sharing
in the task. The eggs, three in number, resemble both in
colouration and dimensions those of the Wood-Lark (Alauda
arborea), from which, if they were to be mixed up, there
would be a great difficulty in picking them out again. As
Sig. Fea has killed over thirty specimens on this one small
island, I can only hope that the species may not become
extinct.”
Genus XV. ALAUDULA.
Very similar to Calandrella, but differing in the secondaries being much
shorter, the ends falling short of the tip of the wing by about 0:75 inch, or
by three-quarters of the length of the tarsus.
Type.
Alaudula, Horsf..and Moore, Cat. B. M. E. I. Co. iii. p. 471
(1856) Sean eee meri A. raytal.
a
ALAUDULA MINOR. 139
Alaudula minor.
Calandritis minor, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 123 (1850) N.H. Afr.
Alaudula minor, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 588 (1890); Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 193 (1896).
Adult. Above mottled sandy brown, with dark brown centres to the
feathers ; outer edge of the first long primary white; tail with the outer
feather white, with a dusky wedge-shaped patch on the inner web; penul-
timate feather with the white confined to the outer web; eyebrow, feathers
under the eye, and the ear-coverts sandy buff; a blackish mark in front of the
eye, and a few dark shaft-stripes on the cheeks, ear-coyverts, and sides of the
throat, the white of the throat extending on to the sides of the neck to
behind the ear-coyerts ; remainder of the sides of the neck like the back, and
separated from the lower throat by a fairly well marked dusky band; lower
half of the throat closely marked with elongated spots of dusky brown;
flanks with more faintly marked streaks; under wing-coverts and inner
margins of the quills rufous buff, with the remainder of the quills dusky.
Tris dark brown; bill dull horn colour; tarsi and feet pale brown. Total
length 5°3 and 4:9 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3:5 and 3:2, tail 2-2 and 2:0,
tarsus 0°8. ¢, 2,7.4.97. Central Tunis (J. F. 5. Whitaker).
The lesser Short-toed Lark ranges from the Canary Islands
eastward through Egypt and Nubia into Palestine and the
countries bordering the Persian Gulf.
The type specimen came from North-east Africa, and
Heuglin, in his work on the birds of that sub-region, records
the species as a migrant in Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, where
it occurs in small flocks near the deserts.
It is not improbable that the large flocks referred to
C. brachydactyla by Brehm and Heuglin may have included
some of the present species, as they have both much the same
habits and distribution, excepting that OC. minor apparently
entirely replaces C. brachydactyla in the Canary Islands.
Genus XVI. OTOCORYS.
Bill moderate ; nostrils hidden by stiff plumelets. Wing of only nine
primaries, long and pointed; secondaries falling decidedly short of tip of
wing by more than the length of the tarsus ; first three primaries about
140 OTOCORYS BERLEPSCHI,
equal and the longest; tarsi and feet dusky slate colour. Adults have the
head ornamented with a black horn-like tuft of feathers on each side, and
the crop uniform black. In the single Ethiopian species the entire front
half of both the head and neck are black.
Type.
Otocorys, Bp. Nuovi Ann. Sc. Nat. Bologna ii. p. 407 (1833). O. alpestris.
Otocorys berlepschi.
Otocorys berlepschi, Hartert, J. f. O. 1890, p. 103; id. Cat. B. Senckenb.
Mus. p. 37 (1891) ; id. Ibis, 1892, p. 523, pl. 13, Kaffraria; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 183 (1896) ; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 226 (1900).
Type. ‘‘Top and sides of the head, chin, throat, and upper breast black,
with a faint purplish gloss; ear-coverts tipped with pale brown; occiput,
hind neck, interscapular region, smaller upper wing-coverts and tail-coverts
bright vinaceous cinnamon; outer and inner webs of all the quills brown,
faintly margined and tipped with brownish grey; tail dark brown, centre
pair and outer webs of lateral rectrices pale brown ; lower parts pale vinaceous
cinnamon, spotted with brown on the breast and whitish along the middle
of the abdomen. Total length about 6:5 inches, wing 4:15, tail 2-8, culmen
0:16, tarsus 0°8. The bill is of the somewhat acute form of Otocorys
bilopha”’ (Hartert).
The Black-masked Shore-Lark has been recorded from
South Africa only. All that I can find regarding this species
is that the type is a mounted specimen in the Senckenberg
Museum at Frankfurt, and that on a slip of paper attached
to the stand of the specimen are the words “ Alauda ?
Caffraria.” I cannot help doubting the accuracy of Kaffraria
for the habitat of this Lark, for with the exception of this
very remarkably coloured species, the genus Otocoiys has never
been recorded from south of the Tropic of Cancer.
Section III. FRINGILLA.
Bill stout and somewhat conical, in other words Finch-like ; rictal
bristles absent or obsolete. Wing of nine or ten primaries; secondaries
never abnormally elongated, but falling short of tip of wing by about the
length of the tarsus. Tail of twelve feathers. Tarsus scutellated in front
and plain behind.
FRINGILLID 2. 141
The section Fringille is represented in the Hthiopian Region by about
360 known species, a few of which are migratory; most are gregarious, and
all are seed-eaters, generally, however, feeding their young upon insects
and thus repairing the damage they do in the autumn months to the crops
by clearing them of insects in the spring. They are mostly good songsters,
are of a hardy disposition, and bear captivity well.
The natural position for this group in a list of African birds is, in my
opinion, between the Alaudide@ and the Oriolide.
KEY TO THE FAMILIES.
a. Wing of nine primaries only ; the first primary
about the same length as the second . . . Fringillide.
b. Wing of ten primaries; the first a bastard-
primary, not nearly so long as the second . Ploceide.
Family Il. FRINGILULIDA.
Bill somewhat variable ; nostrils pierced close to the forehead and near
to the culmen. Wing of nine primaries, the first and second nearly equal
in length. ‘Tail nearly square. Tarsi, feet and claws moderate.
All the Ethiopian species have the wing and tail about equal in length ;
the nostrils hidden by small bristly plumes excepting in Petronia; nest cup-
shaped excepting in Passer and Petronia.
According to Dr. Bowdler Sharpe’s estimate, in the ‘ Catalogue of
Birds,” this family comprises 502 species; but only 79 have been recorded
from Tropical and South Africa, and none are indigenous to the Madagascar
subregion.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES.
a. Cutting-edges of the mandibles not coter-
minous, leaving a gap in the outline of the
closed bill; mandibular angle at chin very
HOUT TCO 4 6s i «i « mnberizine:
b. Cutting-edges of the mandibles coterminous
or nearly so; mandibular angle at chin very
slightly indicated . ..... =. =. =. Fringilline.
142 EMBERIZA.
Subfamily I. EMBERIZINA.
The Buntings, which constitute this subfamily, may be easily recognised
by the form of the bill. They usually place their cup-shaped nests on or
near the ground, and their eggs are generally characterised by some hair-
like streaks.
This subfamily is only represented in the Ethiopian Region by two
genera comprising 15 species, a small proportion of the 224 species referred
to this group in the “ Catalogue of Birds.”
KEY TO THE GENERA.
a. Tail with a white pattern on the outer feathers Hmberiza.
b. Tail without any white pattern. . . . . . Fringillaria.
GenusI. HMBEHRIZA.
The genus is found in Africa, Europe and Asia, and out of the two dozen
species known, seven occur on the African continent, of which two, H.
hortulana and HE. ce@sia, leave that country in summer.
Type.
Emberiza, Briss. Orn. iil. p. 257 (1760) . ee becrmimellas
Glycispina, Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 128 scat . . &. hortulana.
Polymitra, Cab. t.c.p.129. . . . . . HE. flaviventris.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Some bright yellow on the chest; under tail-
coverts white.
at, Back more uniform; mantle cinnamon.
a?, Some white on the wing-coverts.
a’, No dark streaks on the mantle. . . flaviventris, ad. *
b%, Some dark streaks on the mantle . . flaviventris, juv. :
b2. No white on the wing-coverts . . . . affinis. Ing
bt. ERGE strongly mottled.
. Sides of the breast white. . . poliopleura. '¥ 9
as, 2. Sides of the breast yellow or ce on
c®, Pale portion of crown grey; upper
half of throat white. . . . cabanisi. /<
d®, Pale portion of crown white ; less white
Greideey lene FG np 6 5 a w 6 Wein is;
Bu
EMBERIZA FLAVIVENTRIS 143
b. No bright yellow on the chest; under tail-
coverts buff or tawny.
c1, No streaks on the under parts.
e2. Upper throat yellow; crop and most of
lnanel OME: 5 oa dg se es GO ae Wedodieno net Ra Rie!
f?. Upper throat pale rufous; crop and most
Ouhead crcy ee ee cl eas + © CeStA, Gd.
di. Throat streaked . . . .. =. =. . «. hortulana,juv., cesia, juv.
Emberiza flaviventris.
Passerina flaviventris, Vieill. Ene. Méth. iii. p. 929 (1823) Cape.
Emberiza flaviventris, Bohm, J. f. O. 1883, p. 202 Kakoma; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1887, p. 73 Soboro ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 499 (1888)
Congo, S. Afr. Abyssima ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 367 Useri R. ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1889, p. 284 Usegua, Rufu R.; 1891, p. 159
Mpapwa, Tabora; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 259 Kamassia ; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1892, p. 50 Uganda; Shelley, Ibis, 1893, p. 27; 1894, p. 23
Zomba; Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 194 (1894); Fleck, J. f. O.
1894, p. 409 Damaraland; Shelley, B. Afr. I, No. 285 (1896);
Rendall, Ibis, 1896, p. 174 Transvaal ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 514
Zululand ; Alexander, Ibis, 1899, p. 564 Zambesi; Jackson, t. c.
p. 623 Ravine; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 112 (1899) egg; Stark,
Faun. §. Afr. B. i. p. 184 (1900); Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 239
Mashona; Neum. J. f. 0. 1900, p. 287 Massai, Ulu; Ivy, Ibis, 1901,
p. 19 nest.
Fringillaria flaviventris, Ayres, Ibis, 1880, p. 105 Transvaal ; Dubois,
Bull. Mus. R. Belg. 1886, p. 149 Tanganyika; Buttik. Notes Leyd.
Mus. 1889, p. 75 Cunene R.; Emin, J. f. O. 1891, p. 60 Ugogo ;
Hartl. Abhandl. nat. ver Brem. 1891, p. 25 Usambiro.
Polymitra flaviventris, Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 309 Kibondo.
Emberiza xanthogaster, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 18 (1826) S. Afr. ;
Hartert, Kat. Vogels, Senck. Mus. p. 51 (1891; nom. emend. pro
HH. flavigasta, Riipp.).
Emberiza flavigaster, Ritpp. Cretzschm in Riipp. Atlas, p. 38, pl. 25
(1826) Kordofan ; Reichen. J. f. O, 1887, p. 73 Soboro; 1889, p. 284
Usegua ; Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 51 (1891) Kordofan ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 237 (1896); Witherby, Ibis, 1891, p. 246
Kawa.
Polymitra flavigastra, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 228 Ndi; Fisch, J. f. O.
1885, p. 136 Usaramo, Pangani, Maurwi, Arusha, Ngaruka,
Naiwasha, Wapokomo, Barawa.
Adult male. Sides and upper part of head black, with five white
longitudinal bands, one down the centre of the crown to the neck, and two
144 EMBERIZA FLAVIVENTRIS.
on each side of the head, above and below the eye and ear-coverts; sides
and back of neck greyish ash, inclining to white on the sides near the black
ear-coverts ; upper back and scapulars deep cinnamon, with or without
buff edges to the feathers; middle and lower back and upper tail-coverts
pale ashy grey. Wing blackish brown with the least coverts grey ; median
coverts white; greater coverts and quills with pale brownish buff edges,
broadest on the inner secondaries and greater coverts, the latter with rather
broad white ends; wing-lining dusky brown, with the axillaries and most
of the coverts white. ‘Tail blackish brown with a large white pattern on
the three outer pairs of feathers and a small white spot at the end of the
inner web of the next ; shafts entirely black; the white pattern increasing
in size towards the outer feather, where it extends over nearly half of the
inner web and the whole of the outer one, with the exception of a wedge-
shaped blackish patch near the end. Chin, abdomen and under tail-coverts
white; throat and centre of breast yellow, with the crop and front of the
chest shaded with rufous, and the sides of the body isabelline. “Iris
brown; upper mandible dark brown ; lower mandible and legs flesh colour.”
Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:2, tail 2:7, tarsus 0°7. 3o,1.9.
75. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres).
Female. Similar to the male but with the mantle more mottled, the
dark portion of the head slightly browner and the pale band on the crown
partially tinted with rufous. Total length 5.8 inches, wing 3:1, tail 2:8,
tarsus 0'7. @. Transvaal (T. Ayres).
The Common Golden-breasted Bunting ranges over southern
and tropical Africa generally, northward to the Congo and
Abyssinia.
E. flaviventris has been met with in West Africa as far north
as Leopoldsville on the Congo, where Bohndorff procured a
specimen which is in the British Museum. He also obtained
the species at Kibondo to the west of Lake Tanganyika, and it
is probably in this latter district that Captain Storms met with
it. Professor Barboza du Bocage observes: ‘‘'This species is
plentiful from Benguela to the Cunene River, but apparently
keeps to the high plateau land of the interior. The native
names, according to Anchieta, are ‘ Kianja’ at Biballa, ‘ Ben-
dabalamba’ at Caconda, and ‘Sapauzola’ in the Humbe
district. Andersson found the species fairly common in
northern Damaraland, frequenting well-wooded localities and
going to drink in the morning and evening. With respect to
.
EMBERIZA FLAVIVENTRIS. 145
its occurrence in Cape Colony, where the type was obtained,
Dr. Sharpe writes: ‘“‘Mr. W. Atmore procured this pretty
species at Kykoe and Meiring’s Poort, where he met with it
‘in small flocks of four or five individuals,’ probably family
parties. Mr. Rickard tells us that he only once fell in with
it at Hast London, and Captain Trevelyan records it as scarce
near Kingwilliamstown. Mr. T. C. Atmore obtained it near
Grahamstown and Eland’s Post.” According to Stark, these
Buntings “are usually met with during autumn and winter
in small flocks of ten or adozen. They are extremely tame
and fearless in their habits, like all the South African Buntings
I have met with; feed much on the ground in open bush
country, but are sometimes found in thickly wooded localities,
and if disturbed only fly for a few yards before settling again
on the ground. Only occasionally do they perch on low bushes
or trees, much oftener on stones or rocks. They feed largely
upon insects, especially upon small beetles, less frequently
upon seeds. In spring the brilliant cocks sing their simple
Bunting-like notes from the summit of low bushes or stones,
a monotonous and oft-repeated ‘ zizi-zizi-zee,’ with the stress
on the last syllable. About the month of October the female
proceeds to build her nest of dry grass-stalks, lined with finer
grass and hair, in a low bush at the foot of a rock, or among
the roots of herbage on a ledge, and towards the beginning of
November lays four or five eggs. These are smaller than
those of the Cape Bunting (Fringillaria capensis) and differ
completely in colour. They are white, thickly marked all over
with scrawls and hair-like zig-zag lines of very dark purplish
brown or black. They measure 0°75 X 0°58.”
From Grahamstown in Cape Colony Mr. R. H. Ivy writes:
“T have never found the nest of this bird in a low bush or on
the ground, though I have seen many hundreds of them.
Those I have seen have usually been placed on the outer
[May, 1902. 10
146 EMBERIZA FLAVIVENTRIS.
branches of an acacia-tree, from 6 to 10 feet above the ground.
The nest is cup-shaped, about 2} inches across, and is com-
posed of fine twigs and roots, and lined with finer material of
the same description. The eggs, four or five in number, are
never merely spotted, but are scrolled round the obtuse end
with purplish brown on a white ground.”
In Natal I shot a specimen at Pinetown in the open
country where the grass had been recently burnt, and Colonel
Savile Reid, while at Ladysmith in August, found a good
number frequenting the bush at the base of the hills. In
Zululand, the Messrs. Woodward collected four specimens at
Eschowe. Mr. T. EK. Buckley writes: ‘‘ Met with sparingly
in the bush veldt north of Pretoria into the Bamangwato
district; but not found in any great abundance. It seems
to be rather solitary in its habits.’’ He also procured speci-
mens in Swaziland. In the Barberton district, according to
Dr. Rendall, it is called by the colonial Dutch ‘‘ Strep-kopji.”
This name, according to Stark, is applied to Fringillaria
capensis in Cape Colony. Mr. T. Ayres records it as very
common throughout the wooded parts of the Magaliesbergen
and plentiful in some parts adjoining the Limpopo. Mr.
Guy Marshall found it by no means uncommon in Mashona-
land, and the late Mr. Frank Oates collected specimens at
many places during his journey from the Limpopo to the
Victoria falls of the Zambesi. In the British Museum is
a specimen from Tete on the Zambesi. Further up the
latter river Captain Boyd Alexander procured a specimen
between Chicowa and Zumbo, and writes: “ Inhabits high
ground, and especially where the wood is composed of
Capaifere mopane.” This Bunting is distributed very
generally throughout the Lake district of Central Africa
and Hastern Africa to about 17° N. ‘lat., but is apparently
outnumbered in Nyassaland by H. major, and is replaced
EMBERIZA FLAVIVENTRIS. 147
in Somaliland by ZL. poliopleura. There is a fair series
from Zomba in the British Museum. In German East
Africa specimens have been collected by Bohm at Kakoma
and Simbaveni, where he found a nest on April 23, con-
taining two eggs; these were greyish white with a zone of
sepia brown streaks and freckles: native name ‘‘ Kassongur.”
Emin met with it in Ugogo, and Fischer’s collections contain
specimens from many places, including the Pangani river,
Wapokomoland, and Barawa on the south Somali coast.
In British East Africa Mr. Hunter procured a specimen
at the Useri river, Fischer records it from Naiwasha lake,
Mr. Jackson found it at the Eldoma ravine and at Kamassia,
and on August 23, 1896, he discovered its nest in a thorn
bush, three feet from the ground. It was ‘made of grass,
lined with fine fibrous roots. Eggs two, white, with circle
of black bunting marks at basal end.” In Uganda Dr.
Stuhlmann obtained a specimen at Manjonjo.
The type of H. jlavigaster was procured by Riippell in
Kordofan, where he found the species, during the winter
months, frequenting the low scrub. According to Heuglin
these Buntings arrive, during the early summer, in Bogos,
Abyssinia and Kordofan, and breed there in November and
December, and are generally to be seen singly or in pairs,
perched on the scattered trees and roosting near water.
He questions whether the immense flocks seen by Hartmann
in 8. Sennaar about the middle of June, were rightly identified
as the present species. In the British Museum there are
specimens collected by Mr. Jesse at Senafé in Abyssinia, in
May, and at Rairo in Bogosland, in August, and Dr. Blanford
found the species to be rare in the Anseba valley; he met
with it also in Habab at about 3,000 feet above the sea
level. Antinori procured specimens on the Anseba in May
and June, and at Sciotel in July they were breeding, and
148 EMBERIZA AFFINIS
he considered it to be a resident species. Mr. Witherby
during his expedition up the White Nile obtained a specimen
at Kawa, the only one he saw.
He suggests that H. jflavigastra, Rupp., can be separated
from H. flaviventris. From an examination of the specimens
in the British Museum, I have come to the opposite conclusion,
and I cannot imagine where he would draw the boundary line
between the ranges and the characters of the two races.
Emberiza affinis.
‘« Hmberiza affinis, Wiirt.” Heugl, J. f. O. 1867, p. 297; Finsch and
Hartl. Vog. O. Afr. p. 460 (1870) Sennaar; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No.
238 (1896); Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 295 Gambaga.
Fringillaria affinis, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, pp. 270, 271 Gazelle R.
Fringillaria forbesi, Hartl. J. f. O. 1882, p. 324 Upper White Nile ;
Shelley, P. Z. 8. 1888, p. 37 Kuterma.
Emberiza forbesi, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 502 (1888); Hartert, Nov.
Zool. 1899, p. 414 Gambaga.
Fringillaria capensis (nec Linn.) Swains B. W. Afr. i. p. 211, pl. 18
(1837) Senegal.
Adult male. Exactly like H. flaviventris in the colouring of the head,
neck and mantle; but differing in the lower back being washed with the
same shade of rufous as the mantle; and in the entire absence of white on
the wing-coverts, which, like the quills, are dark brown, with paler brown
edges; under surface of body yellow with only the under tail-coverts white.
“Tris brown; bill blackish, paler beneath; legs greyish horn colour.’
Total length 5:3 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°75, tail 2°4, tarsus 0°7. 3, 26,
5. 83. Kuterma (Emin).
Swainson’s Golden-breasted Bunting inhabits Senegambia,
the White Nile and Sennaar.
Swainson first recorded and figured this species from a
Senegambian example; but believing it to be a female of a
previously described 8. African Bunting he called it Frin-
gillaria capensis. Specimens have also been collected in this
country at Casamanse and Bissao. Inland from the Gold Coast
Captain Gifford procured a specimen at Gambaga, July 20,
THE BIRDS OF AFRICA, PL. Xx.
l.Emberiza poliopleura.
2 -Fringillaria impetuani.
a
a
EMBERIZA POLIOPLEURA 149
1898, and Capt. Boyd Alexander met with the species at the
same place, February 2, 1901.
In the Upper White Nile district Emin obtained the type
of Fringillaria forbesi at Langomeri (3° 30’ N. lat. 31° 5’ E.
long.) and one of his specimens is now in the British Museum,
from Kuterma. Antinori also met with the species near the
Gazelle river.
Heuglin described the type of Hmberiza affinis, from Sennaar,
in the collection of Prince Paul of Wiirttemburg, as distin-
guished from its alles by the absence of white on the wing-
coverts.
Emberiza poliopleura. (PI. 23, fig. i.)
Fringillaria poliopleura, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, pp. 269, 537
Shoa.
Emberiza poliopleura, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 471 Somali; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 236 (1896) ; Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. Orn. i. No. 2,
p. 36 (1897) Somali; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 64 Somali; Grant,
Ibis, 1900, p. 1386 Somali, S. Abyssinia; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1901,
p- 802 Somali ; Grant & Reid, Ibis, 1901, p. 626 S. Abyssinia.
Adults. Exactly like H. flaviventris in the colouring of the entire head
and neck ; but differs in the back and lesser wing-coverts being much more
mottled, these feathers having broad edges of rufous buff or ashy white
and having also some partially hidden black centres; white pattern of tail
almost confined to the terminal quarter but extending on to the ends of the
five outer pairs of feathers; sides of body mostly white, the flanks grey,
often with blackish streaks or spots. ‘Iris brown; bill pale brown, darker
on the culmén; legs flesh colour.’ Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0:45,
wing 3:0, tail 2:6, tarsus 0°65. g,16.1.99. Hawash (Lord Lovat).
The Somali Golden-breasted Bunting inhabits Somaliland,
Shoa, and Southern Abyssinia.
In Somaliland Mr. Elliot found it not uncommon, especially
about Hiller. There are, in the British Museum, specimens
collected by Mr. Hawker at Godgat, Daboloc and Jifa Medir.
Lord Lovat also shot specimens at Acabsiyo in Somali, and a
month later at Hawash in Southern Abyssinia, January 16,
150 EMBERIZA CABANISI.
1899, at no great distance from Soddé in Shoa, where Dr.
Ragazzi discovered the type in August, 1886: he considered it
to be a rare bird in that district, though he afterwards found
the species to be abundant at Gherba, where he collected five
specimens in July, 1887. In Southern Abyssinia, according
to Mr. Pease, it conceals itself in the lower parts of thick
bushes.
Emberiza cabanisi.
Polymitra (Fringillaria) cabanisi, Reichen. J. f. O. 1875, p. 233, pl. 2,
figs. 2, 3 Camaroons.
Emberiza cabanisi, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 503 (1888) Tingasi ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 390; 1897, p. 42 Togo; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 241 (1896); Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1899, p. 414 Gambaga;
Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 295 Gambaga.
Fringillaria cabanisi, Reichen. J. f. O. 1890, p. 124 Camaroons ; Hartl.
Abhandl. nat. ver. Brem. 1891, p. 25 Nyangabo.
Fringillaria orientalis (nec Shelley) Shelley, P. Z. 8. 1888, p. 37 Tingasi.
Adult male. Upper parts dusky-grey with blackish centres to the
feathers of the crown and mantle; forehead and crown shading into black
on the sides leaving an ill-defined grey central band; lower back and upper
tail-coverts more uniform. Wing dusky black, with paler greyish edges to
the feathers and broad white ends to many of the outer, median, and greater
coverts, forming two partial bands on the wing; inner lining of wing dusky
ash, inclining to white on the inner edges of the quills; under coverts
strongly mottled with white. Tail dusky black, with white ends to the four
outer pairs of feathers, the white extending over half of the outer feather
and confined to terminal spots on the next three pairs. Sides of head black,
with a white eyebrow; chin and upper half of throat white, which extends
onto the sides of the upper neck behind the ear-coverts ; remainder of sides
of neck grey; lower throat and breast bright yellow; under tail-coverts
white, with the base of the feathers dusky. Iris brown; bill with the upper
mandible black and the lower one yellowish white; tarsi and feet brown.
Total length 6:5 inches, culmen 0-5, wing 3:4, tail 3, tarsus 0°75. 9,1.1.1.
Gambaga (Alexander).
Cabanis’ Golden-breasted Bunting ranges over Western
and Central Africa from about 10° N. lat. to 1° S. lat.
The most northern and western range yet known for this
EMBERIZA MAJOR. 151
species is Gambaga, which is about 300 miles due north of
Cape Coast Castle. Here Captain W. Giffard procured
specimens in January, July and August. Captain Boyd
Alexander has also met with the species at the same locality.
In the German territory of Togoland four specimens have
been collected by Dr. Bittner and Mr. Ernst Baumann, so that
apparently this Bunting is not rare in the country to the east
of the Volta river, the waters of which, at present, form the
western boundary of its known range.
Although the species has not yet been recorded from the
Niger district, we are informed by Dr. Reichenew, who first
described it from a Camaroons specimen, that it is common in
the lowlands of the latter country and much resembles, in song
and habits, our European Yellow-Hammer. The species ranges
into Equatorial Africa, for Emin procured an immature female
at Tingasi, and according to Hartlaub he also met with it at
Njangabo to the west of the Victoria Nyanza.
Emberiza major.
Polymitra (Fringillaria) major, Cab. J. f. O. 1880, p. 349, pl. 2, fig. 2
Angola.
Emberiza major, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 502 (1888) ; Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 239 (1896) ; id. Ibis, 1901, p. 586 Angoniland.
Fringillaria major, Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, pp. 301, 305 Congo; Sousa,
Jorn. Lisb. 1889, p. 49 Quindumbo ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1890, p. 76;
Emin, J. f. O. 1891, p. 60 Ugogo.
Fringillaria orientalis, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 308 Mamboto.
Emberiza orientalis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 502 (1888) Congo ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1889, p. 284 Usambara; Shelley, Ibis, 1893,
p- 27; 1894, pp. 23, 473 Zomba, Fort Lister; Reichen. Vog.
D. O. Afr. p. 195 (1894); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 240 (1896) ; id.
Ibis, 1897, p. 527 Nyika, Fort Hill ; 1898, pp. 379, 553 Chiradzulu ;
1899, p. 867 Ikawa ; Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 289 Mashona.
Emberiza major orientalis, Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 186 (1900).
Fringillaria cabanisi (nec Reichen.) Sousa, Jorn. Lisb. 1887, p. 47
Cape Delgada.
152 EMBERIZA MAJOR.
Adult male. Sides and upper part of head jet black, intersected by three
white bands, one down the centre of the crown and the others as elongated
eyebrows ; sides, back of neck and back ashy grey, inclining to white next
to the black ear-coverts, and strongly mottled with black centres to the
feathers of the hind neck and mantle. Wings blackish brown, the least
coverts partially edged with grey; median coyerts white; greater coverts
and quills with pale ashy edges, broadest on the inner secondaries and
greater coverts, the latter with rather broad white ends; wing-lining dusky
brown with the axillaries and most of the coverts white. Tail blackish
brown with a large white pattern on the three outer pairs of feathers and
a large white spot at the end of the inner web of the next ; shafts generally
entirely black ; the white pattern increasing rapidly towards the outermost
feather where it extends over quite half of the inner web, and the whole of
the outer one, with the exception of a wedge-shaped blackish patch near
the end. Under parts uniform bright yellow, with the chin, portion of
upper throat, sides of throat and the under tail-coverts, white; thighs
ashy white; flanks washed with grey. ‘‘ Iris brown, upper mandible and
end of lower one blackish, remainder of lower mandible flesh-colour ”
(Marshall). Total length 6:5 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:4, tail 2-9, tarsus
075. g, Aug. Zomba (A. Whyte).
Female. Differs in the dark portion of the head being rufous shaded
brown ; crown obscurely mottled with dark centres to the feathers and
the central pale band only partially developed; pale edges to the feathers
of the mantle and inner portion of wings, rufous shaded brown. Total
length 6:4 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:2, tail 2°9, tarsus 0°75. 92, 6. 97.
Chiradzulu (A. Whyte).
Immature. Differs in the crown having no trace of the pale central
band, this being brown like the mantle with blackish centres to the
feathers ; lower back of the same colour but with less defined dark centres ;
median wing-coverts with broad buff ends and with rufous buff terminal
margins to the greater coverts. Zomba (A. Whyte).
With a series of twenty-five specimens from Zomba and the surround-
ing district before me, it is evident that the dark portion of the head varies
from jet black, in full plumaged males, to brown in females and young
birds. The variation in the amount of the pale central band on the crown
depends both on sex and age, and is entirely absent in full grown young
birds. The amount of white on the wing-coverts also depends solely upon
age; in full grown young birds the white on the wing is entirely absent and
in these the upper parts are much more rufous, and the wings measure
from 2:8 to 3:4 inches.
There can, I think, be no doubt that Fringillaria orientalis, and F.
major, are identical.
The Greater Golden-breasted Bunting ranges over Southern
Tropical Africa between about 4° and 18° S. lat.
EMBERIZA MAJOR. 153
The most northern known range for this species in West
Africa is the Lower Congo river, where specimens have been
collected by Bohndorff at Manyanga and Leopoldsville. <A
little further south, in the Talla Magungo district of Angola,
Schiitt procured the type of the species. In Benguela,
Anchieta records the species as abundant at Quindumbe and
known to the natives there as the “ Bindabalamba.” He also
met with it at Caconda, but I cannot trace its range any
further south in Western Africa.
The only specimen yet received to the south of the
Zambesi, is a male procured in September on the Hanyani
river (4,500 feet) by Mr. Guy Marshall, who considers these
birds to be scarce in Mashonaland, as he has seen the species
on only one other occasion, when he met with a flock of about
a dozen in May. He writes: “It appears to seek its food
entirely on the ground, in open bush, and is somewhat fearless
in its habits, allowing one to approach within a few yards
before rising, when it only flew for a short distance, settling
again abruptly at the base of a small tree or bush; they seem
to perch rarely, and then only on low shrubs.”
To the north of the Zambesi these Buntings are very
abundant and generally distributed over British Central Africa,
as specimens have been received in seven separate collections
from that country. On the Mozambique coast the species has
been obtained by Sir Augusto Cardosa at Cape Delgado.
Along the coast of German Hast Africa Sir John Kirk pro-
cured for me the type of Fringillaria orientalis at Mamboio,
and Dr. Stuhlmann has met with the species as far north as
the Usambara country on the left bank of the Pangani river.
In the interior Emin has collected specimens in Ugogo.
154 EMBERIZA HORTULANA.
Emberiza hortulana.
Emberiza hortulana, Linn. 8. N. I. p. 309 (1766); Sharpe, Cat. B. M.
xii. p. 530 (1888); Gig]. Ann. Mus. Geney. 1888, p. 34; Salvad. t. c.
p. 268 Shoa; Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 51 (1891) Semien ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 242 (1896); Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 136, Balti ;
id. and Reid, 1901, p. 626, S. Abyssinia.
Adult male. Head, neck and crop uniform pale ashy olive, with the
fore part of the sides of the head, chin, middle throat and a band beneath
the ear-coyerts pale yellow; back pale rufous-tinted-brown, the mantle only
with broad blackish shaft-stripes. Wings brown, slightly greyer on the
least and median coverts; ends of the greater coverts and the inner
secondaries with broad tawny-buff edges; remainder of the quills and the
primary-coverts with very narrow buff margins; wing-lining brown, with
narrow whitish inner edges to the quills and the coverts mostly white, par-
tially tinted with yellow. Tail brown with tawny buff edges much broader
on the centre feathers; the two outer pairs of feathers with rather more
than the terminal third of their inner webs white. Chest, abdomen and
under tail-coverts rufous-buff, with the thighs yellowish. Iris brown; bill
and legs flesh colour. Total length 6:2 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 3:6,
tail 2°9, tarsus 0°75. g, 23. 1.99. Balti (Lord Lovat).
Female. Differs only in haying the crown and crop streaked.
The Ortolan ranges over the greater part of Hurope
eastwards into Afghanistan. In winter it visits Abyssinia.
I have examined specimens shot by Mr. A. H. Pease in
Southern Abyssinia, at the Akaki river, Mount Sequala and
Roquecha in December and February. Lord Lovat writes:
“The Ortolan inhabits the high plateau of Central Abyssinia,
where a few trees are to be found.” In Shoa Dr. Ragazzi
found them frequently in February, 1885, in the mornings
and evenings, near water. According to Heuglin, they are
abundant in Abyssinia from September till April, when they
migrate northward down the Nile; but possibly a few pairs
are left behind to breed. They frequent mostly the highland
pasture country up to 10,000 feet, where they are to be met
with singly or in pairs on the scattered bushes; he never
observed them to congregate in flocks.
ings wy
EMBERIZA CZSIA. Gs:
Emberiza cesia.
Emberiza cxsia, Cretzschm. in Riipp. Atlas, p. 17, pl. 10, fig. b. (1826)
Abyssinia ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds, B. M. xii. p. 535 (1888); Hartert,
Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 51 (1891) Sennaar; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 248 (1896) ; Cholmley, Ibis, 1897, p. 206, Hrba Mt.; Rothschild
and Wollaston, Ibis, 1902, p. 9 Shendi.
Adult male. Head, neck and crop uniform bluish grey with the fore part
of the sides of the head, chin, middle throat, and a band beneath the ear-
coverts very pale cinnamon; back, wings and tail as in H. hortulana, only
with no trace of yellow on the under wing-coverts. Chest, abdomen, thighs
and under tail-coverts pale cinnamon, generally slightly darker than the
centre of the throat. Iris brown; bill pale reddish brown; legs brownish
flesh colour. Total length 6:0 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3:2, tail 2°6,
tarsus 0°7. Abyssinia (Shelley, Coll.).
Adult female. Differs from the male in the grey of the head and neck
being duller and browner and there being dark streaks on the crown, back
of neck and crop. Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 3:0, tail 2°6,
tarsus 0°7. 9, Mt. Carmel (Tristram).
Cretzschmar’s Ortolan ranges from Abyssinia into Hurope
and Arabia. Rtippell, who discovered the species, procured a
specimen in Sennaar and met with it in the Abyssinian high-
lands and on Kurgos island in 17° N. lat. I am not aware of
the species having been found further south than the Blue
Nile, where Brehm records it as very common in November.
Heuglin informs us that they arrive in ‘Abyssinia and Arabia,
generally in flocks, at the beginning of September and breed
occasionally near Cairo.
Genus Il. PFRINGILLARTIA.
The members of this genus closely resemble those of Hmberiza, and
may be best distinguished by their having no white ends to the tail-feathers,
the absence of yellow on the plumage being also characteristic, as this
colour is generally strongly pronounced in Ethiopian members of the genus
Emberiza.
Fringillaria ranges through south and tropical Africa to India, and an
aberrant member of the genus is an inhabitant of Japan. There are nine
species, of which four are confined to the African continent, and one to the
island of Socotra.
156
KEY
a. No white on lower back; crop not more
rufous than the abdomen.
at. No rufous on the under surface of wings.
a2, Under parts paler and more ashy;
throat white.
a’. No dusky streaks on crop or flanks
b3, Some dusky streaks on crop or flanks .
. Under parts darker and es ; throat
sandy yellow.
pee rufous on under are a when,
gale white or black on head or throat.
. South Africa .
as. Northern Africa. . .
d?. Head striped with black and Cie in
adults.
e3. Crop black like the throat, with hoary
white or pale brown ee to the
feathers
f°. Crop cinnamon, like thes eee aa
under tail-coverts.
a*. More rufous on quills, this colour
extending entirely across the inner
web of the first primary
b+. Less rufous on quills; this colour
(when present) never entirely
crossing the inner web of the first
primary .
. Some white on lower pace crop strongly
washed with rufous; isting upper throat,
abdomen and under tail-coverts buffy white .
FRINGILLARIA CAPENSIS.
TO THE SPECIES
capensis, ad. 'Y¢
capensis, Juv.
reidi. N.Sp. |§ %
impetuani, ad. | \~9
striolata, juv. | (
I
striolata, ad. |,
septemstriata. \ |. +
tahapisi. | 6%
socotrana. !6%
Fringillaria capensis.
Emberiza capensis, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 310 (1766) Cape.
Fringillaria capensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xii. p. 565 (1888) pt.
Damara, Cape Town, Mossel Bay ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 244
(1896) ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 113 egg ; Stark, Faun. 8S. Afr. B.
i. p. 187 (1900).
Emberiza caffrariensis, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 18 (1826) S. Afr.
Fringillaria vittata, Swains. An. in Menag. p. 315 (1837) S. Afr.
FRINGILLARIA CAPENSIS. 157
Adult male. Crown and mantle mottled, with blackish centres to the
feathers ; a band down the centre of the crown, edges of the other feathers
of the crown and nearly the whole of the sides and back of neck ashy
brown shading into rufous brown on the mantle; lower back, upper tail-
coverts and tail uniform brown, the latter with narrow partial rufous buff
edges to the feathers. Wings dark brown with the least and median coverts
entirely cinnamon and haying broad cinnamon edges to the greater coverts
and inner secondaries, the latter gradually passing into narrow buff margins
on the primaries; primary-coyverts with very narrow partial buff edges ;
inner lining of wing dusky brown, with the under coverts buffy white and
the inner edges of the quills washed with that colour. Sides of head and
throat buffy white, with a broad black band through the eye and another
black band from the gape passing under the cheeks, round the back of the
ear-coverts and joining the other black band; breast and under tail-coverts
buff with a dusky shade on the crop and sides of the body. Bill horn colour,
greyish towards the base of lower mandible; iris dark brown, legs nearly
black. Total length 6:1 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:1, tail 2°8, tarsus 0°8.
gf, 24.1. 74. Paarl (Shelley.)
The Cape Rock-Bunting ranges from Angola into Cape
Colony, and is replaced by Reid’s Rock-Bunting in South-
Eastern Africa.
The species has been recorded by Hartlaub, in 1857, as
forming part of Henderson’s collection from Angola, and the
specimen described would appear to be very similar to those
from Cape Colony. One in the British Museum, obtained by
Andersson on May 23, 1864, at the Tioge river, to the north
of Lake Ngami, is remarkably pale in colour, and these are
the only two specimens recorded from the western side of
the Continent north of the Orange river.
In Cape Colony these Rock-Buntings are fairly abundant
on Table mountain and in the surrounding country.
Stark writes: “The Cape Bunting is almost invariably met
with in pairs on broken rocky ground, and in Western Cape
Colony is a common species from the sea level to about 5,000
feet in the mountains. Even on the barren sandy coast of |
Little Namaqualand it is to be found wherever there is the
slightest outcrop of rock. The ‘Steep Kopje’ is an extremely
158 FRINGILLARIA REIDI.
tame little bird and allows a very close approach as it sits,
piping its simple song of ‘ zizi-zizi-zi’ and opening and shutting
its wings, on the top of a rock. It feeds on insects, small
beetles, grasshoppers and spiders, as well as on the seeds of
various grasses and weeds. The nest, rather deeply cup-
shaped, is flimsily constructed of dry grass and rootlets,
scantily lined with hair, and is usually placed in a low bush
close to the ground, or by the side of a rock. The three or
four eggs, laid in September or October in the Colony, are
pale greenish white, thickly spotted and blotched with reddish
brown and yellow, frequently in a cap over the larger end.
They average 0°80 x 0°62.”
There is a good series of specimens in the British Museum,
those collected in Cape Colony from January to July all have
the light parts whitish buff, while those collected in Natal and
the Transvaal from February to November have the pale parts
sandy yellow, and these latter ones belong, I consider, to a
well-marked Hastern form which I name Ff’. reidi, after my
friend Colonel Savile G. Reid, whose notes on the birds of
Natal, published in the Zoologist for 1882, must have interested
everyone who has read them.
Fringillaria reidi, sp. nov.
Fringillaria vittata (nec Swains.) Ayres, Ibis, 1878, p. 297 Potchefstroom.
Fringillaria capensis (nec Linn.) Butler, Feilden and Reid, Zool. 1882,
p. 302 Natal; Ayres, Ibis, 1884, p. 230 Transvaal; Sharpe, Cat.
B, M. xii. p. 565 (1888) pt. Rustenburg.
Adults. Very like F. capensis, but differing in the pale parts of the
sides of the head, the throat, centre of breast and the under tail-coverts
being darker and of a sandy yellow colour. Iris dark hazel, bill dusky, under
mandible paleish towards the gape; tarsi and feet dusky, soles of feet pale.
Total length 6:0 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 3:0 to 3:15, tail 2:7, tarsus 0°8.
go, 14.7. 81; 9, 25. 7.81. Ingagani R. (Reid).
FRINGILLARIA IMPETUANI. 159
Reid’s Rock-Bunting inhabits Natal, Zululand and the
Transvaal. This species is the eastern representative of
F. capensis and is as nearly allied to that species as F’. tahapisi
is to F. septemstriata. It is represented in the British Museum
by four specimens from Natal, collected in July, October and
November by Colonel Savile Reid and Colonel H. A. Butler,
who found the species not uncommon in the Newcastle district.
From the Transvaal, there are two specimens obtained by Mr.
W. Lucas at Rustenburg in June and July, and two by Mr.
T. Ayres at Potchefstroom, dated February and October. The
latter observer says that the species is by no means plentiful in
the Transvaal, where it frequents the rocky ranges.
Fringillaria impetuani. (PI. 23, fig. 2.)
Emberiza impetuani, Smith, Rep. 8. Afr. Exped. App. p. 48 (1836) Little
Namaqua.
Fringillaria impetuani, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 563 (1881) Damara,
Cape Col. Transvaal; Shelley B. Afr. I. No, 245 (1896); Stark,
Faun. §. Afr. B. iii., p. 190 (1900).
Adult. General plumage sandy brown, fading into buff on the front half
of the sides of the head, throat, abdomen and under tail-coverts; upper
parts mottled with fairly broad blackish shaft-stripes; wing-coverts with
broader dark centres and more rufous-shaded wide edges; quills brown with
rather broad pale cinnamon edges on the secondaries, which decrease into
narrow buff edges towards the outermost primaries; under surface of quills
brown, with rather broad inner margins and the under coverts rufous buff.
Tail dark brown with a variable amount of rufous buff edges to the feathers,
according to the season. Throat and front half of the sides of the head buff,
shading into sandy brown on the hinder half of the eyebrows, ear-coverts
and crop, and becoming paler again on the breast towards the under tail-
coverts. ‘Iris and legs brown; bill light brown” (Bradshaw). Total length
4-6 and 5:0 inches, culmen 0:4 and 0:35, wing 2:9, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°75 and
07. gf, 2,15.11. 66. Tjanjombo (Andersson).
The Lark-like Rock Bunting ranges from Angola into Cape
Colony and the Transvaal.
Hartlaub (Orn. W. Afr. p. 152) mentions this species as
160 FRINGILLARIA IMPETUANI,
having been obtained by Henderson in Angola; but the
description he gives of the species is taken from an example
in the Paris Museum. There is no reason why this Bunting
should not range into Angola, for according to Andersson,
the species is *‘ Common in Damara and Great Namaqualand ;
but as it frequently resorts to the ground in search of seeds
and insects, it often thus escapes observation ; it is gregarious,
and is partial to broken ground or its immediate vicinity, and
also to the neighbourhood of water, which it appears to require
pretty constantly.” Layard remarks: ‘Common about Nel’s
Poort, flying in small flocks and feeding on small grass seeds
and insects. It has a short lively song.” The species is,
according to Stark, somewhat locally distributed in Cape
Colony, but generally common where found, as in the Karroo
and on the Orange river. It is more abundant towards the
north and north-east districts of the Colony.” He further
remarks: “The eggs described by Mr. Layard as of this bird
appear to be those of some other species, as a clutch from
a nest in the Karroo, on which I snared the hen, do not at
all resemble his description either as regards size or colour.
They are pale bluish white, rather heavily clouded and spotted
with brownish yellow and red, and measure 0°72 x 0°60. The
cup-shaped nest was built of dry grass in a hollow at the foot
of a bush. The resemblance of this Bunting to a Lark is
not only in colour, but extends to some of its habits, for it
runs and crouches on the ground just like one of the latter
birds.”
Sir Andrew Smith, when he first described this species,
wrote: ‘ Inhabits the country between Ru Gariep and Tropic.
Some years ago I found specimens of this species inhabiting
the arid districts of Little Namaqualand.” Captain Trevelyan
met with it near Kingwilliamstown, and Mr. T. Ayres pro-
cured one specimen in the bare open country of the Transvaal,
but the exact locality is not recorded.
FRINGILLARIA STRIOLATA. 161
Fringillaria striolata.
Fringillaria striolata, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 24 (1823) Nubia; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M. xii. p. 561 (1888) Asta; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 64
Somali.
Emberiza striolata, Sharpe and Dresser, B. Hur. iv. p. 197, pl. 213
(1871).
Fringillaria saturatior, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. xi. p. 47 (1901) Lake Stefanie.
Adult. Head and upper parts generally very like those of F. septem-
striata, but readily distinguished by the entire throat below the white chin
and the crop being black with broad hoary grey edges to the feathers, and
the breast, thighs and under tail-coverts sandy buff; under wing-coverts
rufous buff; quill brown, with very broad cinnamon inner margins, which
colour does not quite extend across the inner. webs. ‘‘ Upper mandible
brown, lower one yellow; legs yellow; feet brownish yellow” (A. O. Hume).
Total length 5:1 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°8, tail 2°3, tarsus 0°6. Somali
(Hawker).
Type of F. saturatior. Upper parts brown with pale brown edges and
blackish centres to the feathers; wings and tail dark brown, with the edges
of the feathers cinnamon, broadest and brightest on the wing-coverts and
centre quills, and narrower on the primaries and inner tail-feathers; under
wing-coverts and broad inner edges to the quills pale cinnamon. Sides of
head and the upper throat blackish, with the eyebrow, an incomplete streak
behind the eye and a better defined band on each side of the upper throat,
brownish buff; remainder of the throat and the crop dusky blackish, mottled
with ashy brown edges to the feathers; under surface of the body, thighs
and under tail-coverts rufous-buff, inclining to pale cinnamon; under tail-
coverts with faintly marked dark brown centres. Ivis black; bill with the
upper mandible green and the lower one yellow. Total length 5:1 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 2°75, tail 2, tarsus 0°8. Lake Stefanie (Donaldson Smith.)
The Striolated Rock-Bunting ranges over North-east
Africa, between 4° and 20° N. lat., and eastward over southern
Asia from Palestine into India.
The most southern range I ascribe to this species is Lake
Stefanie in Equatorial Africa, here Dr. Donaldson Smith pro-
cured the type of F. saturatior. This single bird is rather
darker than any of the other specimens of fF’ striolatus I have
seen, but in my opinion it is a young female of the present
species which has nearly completed its first moult.
(May, 1902. 11
162 FRINGILLARIA SEPTEMSTRIATA
In the British Museum there is a specimen without a label,
received from Mr. Hawker, who was the first to record the
species from Somaliland.
Riippell found this Bunting frequenting the sandy wastes
in the neighbourhood of the Nile from Shendi to Ambukol
and procured the type at the latter place, which is spelt
Embukohl by Lichtenstein, who first described the species.
Heuglin records the species as occurring in the highlands
through which the Atbara flows, from Kordofan, and he
noticed it in Nubia as far north as 20° N. lat. Here he found
the birds frequenting the stony desert country interspersed
with bushes and grass. They were shy, and preferred hiding
amongst stones to taking wing; they had the moderate
Bunting-like note, not loud but lively. The African, or
typical race, appears to me to be generally slightly darker
than the Indian or Asiatic form, especially on the back and
rufous portion of the quills; the latter differing from the
former to about the same extent as Ff. insularis of Grant and
Forbes differs from F. tahapist (Smith).
Fringillaria septemstriata.
Emberiza septemstriata, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 86, pl. 30, fig. 2 (1835)
Abyssinia.
Fringillaria septemstriata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 559 (1888) Niger,
Shoa, Abyssinia; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 269 Shoa;
Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 51 (1891) Abyssinia ; Kuschel,
J. f. O. 1895, p. 342 egg ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 247 (1896);
Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1899, p. 414 Gambaga; Grant, Ibis, 1900,
p. 187 Abyssinia ; Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 296 Gold Coast. .
Very similar to F’. tahapisi in all its plumages, from which it is distin-
guishable only by the greater amount of cinnamon on the wings, this colour
entirely crossing the basal two thirds of the inner webs of all the quills,
excepting the innermost ones. This rufous colour forms a distinct uniform
patch on the upper surface of the closed wings, owing to the extent of the
rufous colour which crosses most of the outer webs. The tail sometimes
FRINGILLARIA SEPTEMSTRIATA. 163
shows more rufous on the outer feathers. ‘Iris dark brown; upper mandible
dusky, lower one yellowish; feet horn colour.” Total length 5:5 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 3:1, tail 2-7, tarsus 0°65. 3,16. 8.68. (Blanford.)
The Red-winged Rock-Bunting inhabits northern Tropical
Africa, ranging from Senegambia to the Niger and eastwards
into Abyssinia.
The Paris Museum contains a specimen from Senegambia
procured by Mr. Arsénes, and it has been recorded from the
same country by M. Rochebrune. Captain Giffard has obtained
a male at Gambaga in October and Captain Boyd Alexander
also met with the species there in January, he also procured
a pair at Gonieri in May, 1901. In the British Museum there
is a specimen from the Niger, which formed part of the collec-
tion made by W. A. Forbes during his fatal journey up that
river, and as it was not labelled was probably one of the last
specimens he shot before he died at Shonga, January 14,
1883.
On the opposite side of the continent the species is gene-
rally distributed over Abyssinia, and it appears to me that the
occurrence of this species further south is very doubtful, for
the specimens collected by Mr. Lort Phillips in Somaliland
and by Mr. Jackson at Ulu in Ukambani, referred to this
species, really belong to F’. tahapisi. In Southern Abyssinia
and Shoa both species occur, and have been procured by Lord
Lovat and Antinori, for in the British Museum there are
specimens of this species labelled “Gerru, 3, 6. 2. 99 (Lord
Lovat),” and “ Shoa, ¢, 16°8 (Antinori),”’ and nine others from
further north: Bejook, Ain, Senafé and Sahati, collected by
Dr. Blanford and Mr. Jesse.
Brehm records these Buntings as common along the banks
of the Nile in Southern Nubia, and he found them in April
on the Samhar coast and in the less elevated portion of the
highlands to the east of Massawa. Heuglin met with them
164 FRINGILLARIA TAHAPISI.
breeding in December along the half dried water-courses near
Gondar, and describes the nest as composed of grass and placed
on the ground behind a stone or bush: it contained two or
three eggs, white or pinkish, with brown freckles mostly on
the thicker end: he figures the egg (Orn. N. O. Afr. pl. 48,
fig. 8).
Fringillaria tahapisi.
Emberiza tahapisi, Smith, Rep. S. Afr. Exped. App. p. 48 (1836) N.
Natal ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 50, Bukoba; id. Vog. D. O. Afr.
p. 194 (1894) Igonda; Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 410 Bastardland ;
Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 287 H. Afr.
Fringillaria tahapisi, Hartl, Orn. W. Afr. p. 266 (1857); id. J. f. O.
1860, p. 141 Gaboon; Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 383 Transvaal ;
Ayres, Ibis, 1886, p. 290 Transvaal; Sousa, Jorn. Lish. 1887, p.
47 Cape Delgado; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 558 (1888) Gaboon,
Cape Col. Kingwilliiamstown, Tete, Socotra ; Tristram, Ibis, 1889,
p. 227 Ugogo ; Hartl. Abhandl. nat. Ver. Brem. 1891, p. 25 Baquero,
Ussongo ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 259 Ukambani ; Shelley, Ibis, 1894,
p. 23 Zomba; id. B. Afr. I. No. 246 (1896); Sharpe, Ibis, 1897,
p. 514 Zulu; Shelley, t. c. p. 527 Karonga ; Lort Phillips, Ibis,
1898, p. 399 Somali; Shelley, Ibis, 1899, p. 367 Tanganyika
Plateau ; Alexander, t. c. p. 564 Zambesi; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B.
i. p. 189 (1900); Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 48 Albert Hdward
Nyanza ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 187 S. Abyssinia; Marshall, ¢. c.
p- 240 Mashona; Shelley, Ibis, 1901, p. 587 Angoniland ; Grant
and Reid, ¢. c. p. 626 S. Abyssinia.
Fringillaria rufa, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 290 (1837) descr. null.
Polymitra capistrata, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 129 (1850) S. Afr.
Emberiza capistrata, Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 73 Kagehi.
Fringillaria capistrata, Reichen, J. f. O. 1887, p. 801 Manyango.
Fringillaria insularis, Grant and Forbes, Bull. Liverpool Mus. ii. p. 2
(1900) Socotra.
Fringillaria septemstriata (nec Rtipp.) Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 259, Swk ;
Elliot, Field Columb. Mus. Orn. i. No. 2, p. 36 (1897) Somali ;
Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 399 Somalz.
Adult male. Head and throat black, with seven white bands; one
dividing the crown from culmen to nape, and on each side, an eyebrow
from the nostril to above the ear-coverts, and a band from the gape enclos-
ing the cheeks and lower portion of the ear-coverts, while yet another
FRINGILLARIA TAHAPISI. 165
extends down the sides of the upper throat; hinder half of neck, back
and scapulars blackish brown with paler brown edges. Wings blackish
brown, the coverts like the back but with narrower and paler edges ;
primary coverts and quills more narrowly edged; under wing-coverts and
inner margins of quills cinnamon, which colour never reaches across the
web to the shaft, and is sometimes absent on the quills. Tail blackish
brown with obsolete pale edges, most evident on the outer pair of feathers.
Chin and upper throat black, slightly mottled with white, remainder of the
under parts pale cinnamon. “Iris dark hazel; upper mandible horn-colour,
lower one yellow; legs bright yellow.’’ Total length 5:3 inches, culmen,
0:4, wing 3:2, tail 2°7, tarsusO°'7. g, 30.11.73. Transvaal T. HE. Buckley).
Adult female. Similar to the male; but with the head and throat
browner and more dusky and the crown nearly evenly mottled with light
and dark brown. ‘“ Upper mandible dusky brown, lower one yellow; tarsi
and feet pale yellowish.” 9?,15.1.85. Potchefstroom (T. Ayres).
Nestling. Similar in plumage to the adults. g,20.1.99. Socotra Is.
(Grant).
The Southern Cinnamon-breasted Rock-Bunting inhabits
Africa, south of a line drawn from the mouth of the Gaboon
river to Aden, and is represented on the Island of Socotra
by F. insularis, Grant and Forbes, which, although generally
rather paler in colouring, is not a recognisable subspecies.
I’, tahapisi is represented in the more northern portion of
Tropical Africa by its near ally, I’. septemstriata, from which
it may be readily distinguished by the rufous colour, when
present on the primaries, not crossing the whole of the basal
half of their inner webs, and in not having a large uniform
patch of that colour showing on the quills when the wings are
closed.
In Gaboon the species has been met with by Du Chaillu
at Cape Lopez and the Camma river; along the Congo, by
Lucan and Petit at San Antonio, near the mouth of that great
stream, and a little further inland, by Bohndorff, at Manyango.
In Benguela, according to Anchieta, these Buntings are known
to the natives of Biballa as the “ Kangua,” and at Caconda
as the “Gungo.” From German 8.W. Africa I find it only
166 ; FRINGILLARIA TAHAPISI.
recorded by Mr. Fleck, and in Cape Colony I cannot trace its
range further west than Colesberg.
The type of the species was discovered by Sir A. Smith in
the country towards the sources of the Vaal river, and is in
the British Museum, which contains also specimens from
Eland’s Post, Kingwilliamstown and Natal. In Zululand the
Messrs. Woodward collected specimens at Eschowe. The late
Dr. Stark wrote: “I have generally met with this Bunting on
broken hill sides strewn with rocks and partly overgrown with
low bushes. Like F. capensis, it is of tame and familiar habits
and is fond of uttering its broken song from the summit of a
stone or low bush, while at intervals it opens and shuts its
wings. Its notes resemble those of the Cape Bunting to a
certain degree, but are at the same time easily distinguished by |
the ear, although the difference is not readily pointed out in
words. It feeds on small seeds and various insects. A nest
taken in Upper Natal in November was built a few inches off
the ground, in a low bush sheltered on one side by a rock.
The three eggs resemble those of I’. capensis in colour, but are
a trifle smaller than the average of the latter.”
Mr. T. Ayres procured specimens at Potchefstroom in
February and April and near Rustenburg in May. He writes:
“This Bunting affects rocky hill sides with little bush; it is
found in small companies and is generally very tame, feeding
on the ground.” It was not uncommon on the rocky ranges
from whence the Mooi river flows, but he considered it to be
scarce in Matabeleland, though he met with the species fre-
quenting the rocks near Kanye.
In Mashonaland, according to Mr. Guy Marshall, they are
fairly common, resembling H. flaviventris in habits, but they
take more readily to trees when flushed and are apparently
more strictly graminivorous.
From Tete, on the Zambesi, there are five specimens in the
FRINGILLARIA TAHAPISI, 167
British Museum, and Captain Boyd Alexander during his
journey up that river found them breeding in August. In
British Central Africa specimens have been collected in Angoni-
land, at Zomba, Karonga and on the Tanganyika plateau. At
Cape Delgado the species has been met with by Sr. Augusto
Cardosa.
In German Hast Africa the species is apparently abundant
and generally distributed. In Ugogo it is known to the
natives as “‘ Turugu,” according to Dr. 8. T. Pruen, and speci-
mens have been collected at Igonda, Kagehi, Baguero, Usongo
and Bukoba. In the Upper White Nile district Dr. Ansorge
has met with these Buntings at Fort George on the Albert
Edward Nyanza, and Emin at Kiri in 4° 18' 10” N. lat., 31° 40’
28” long. I much doubt if the allied species I’. septemstriata
ranges so far south as the Lake district of British Hast Africa
or Somaliland, for all the specimens yet collected by Mr.
Jackson and Mr. Lort Phillips are in the British Museum and
belong to F’. tahapisi. These comprise a specimen from Ulu in
Ukambani and one from Turquel in the Suk country, where
Mr. Jackson found them “ very plentiful along the stony banks
of the river in the hills, and there are four specimens from the
Wagga mountain of Somaliland collected by Mr. Lort Phillips,
who writes: “These little Buntings used to frequent the
Hankadeely well at mid-day in flocks of about a dozen. I did
not meet with them anywhere else during the expedition.”
Mr. Pease found them abundant in Shoa on “the plateau,
perching on stones and rocks in the proximity of water.”
In Southern Abyssinia the ranges of F’. tahapisi and
F. septemstriata meet, for in the British Museum there are two
of the former labelled “Laga Hardim, g, 14. 1. 99 (Lord
Lovat)” and “Torrente di Farre, 3, 14. 3. 86 (Ragazat),” and two
of the latter—“ Gerru, ¢, 6. 2. 99 (Lord Lovat)” and “ Mahal-
Uonz, 16. 8. 77 (Antinori).”
168 FRINGILLARIA SOCOTRANA.
The most northern and eastern range known to me for
F, tahapisi is the island of Socotra, from whence there is a
good series of specimens in the British Museum, including the
types of I’. insularis. Here they range from the sea level up
to 3,500 feet, above which elevation they are said to be replaced
by F. socotrana.
Fringillaria socotrana.
Fringillaria socotrana, Grant and Forbes, Bull. Liverpool Mus. ii. p. 2
(1900) Socotra.
Adult male. Above somewhat similar to F. tahapisi, but differing in
having a large whitish patch on the rump. Wing: with the lesser and
median coverts chestnut, with obscure dusky shaft-stripes; most of the
remainder of the wing-feathers with broad chestnut edges, the brown and
chestnut colouring on the closed wing being of about equal extent; under
surface of quills dark brown with the inner margins buff, like the under
wing-coverts. Sides of head, chin and upper half of throat white, with a
broad black band through the eye to just beyond the ear-coverts; another
broad black band extending through the cheeks and joining the former band
behind the ear-coverts, while a very narrow black line divides the sides of
the head from the upper half of the throat; remainder of the under parts
buff inclining to cinnamon on the lower throat and sides of the chest. ‘‘ Iris
brown; culmen blackish horn ; cutting edges of upper and the whole of the
lower mandible orange-yellow ; tarsi and feet flesh-colour; claws blackish
horn.” ‘Total length 5:2 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 2°75, tail 2:2, tarsus 0:7.
$, 6.2.99. Adho Dimellus (Grant and Forbes).
The Socotra Rock-Bunting inhabits the island of that
name.
The types were discovered by Messrs. Ogilvie, Gant and
Forbes, at Adho Dimellus, at 3,500 to 4,500 feet above the sea
level, where the species apparently entirely replaces F. tahapisi,
which is abundant on the lower parts of the island.
FRINGILLIN ©. 169
Subfamily II. FRINGILLINA.
This subfamily comprises the typical Finches, which are distinguished
from the Buntings (Hmberizine) by having the cutting edges of the
mandibles fitting close together throughout their length, and in the mandi-
bular angle of the chin being very slightly indicated. Both these subfamilies
differ from the Grosbeaks (Coccothraustine, which do not occur in the
Ethiopian Region) in the nasal bones not being produced backwards beyond
the anterior line of the orbit.
In Africa this subfamily is much better represented than the last, for in
the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, xii. pp. 170-467 (1888),
the species were 176 in number. There are now about 63 known species
inhabiting the Ethiopian Region, of which 56 are apparently confined to that
area.
KEY TO THE GENERA.
a. Adult with the bill red in life, and some
rosy red colouring on the plumage, bright-
est on the quillsand tail . . . . . . . Erythrospiza. !
b. No red on the plumage.
at. Tail short, less than four times the length
of theculmen. . . Linurgus. |!7 |
b1, Tail longer, more than ao Fane ine
length of the culmen.
a?, Bill not swollen, but very sharply pointed,
with the culmen and sides nearly
straight . . . Chrysomitris. |} )-
62. Bill swollen, with ie calmer aad eres
curved.
a3, Basal half of bill much swollen, re-
mainder compressed, causing the sides
to be very strongly curved . . . Serinus. |
68, Bill less swollen, fairly long and more
slender, with the sides nearly straight
from base to tip.
a*, Nostrils covered by plumes.
a>, Crown streaked . . . . . . Poliospiza, 225
bom Crowmuniforms 4 8 «| EOSSer, 203).
b*. Nostrils exposed. Nest covered
ADOVCME MEO CeNeieGl os 6. a Petronas siGi6
170 ERYTHROSPIZA GITHAGINEA.
Genus I BRYTHROSPIZA.
Bill short, stout and globose, with a slight trace of a culminal ridge
sometimes absent; nostrils basal and hidden. Wing, long and pointed ;
first primary the longest; shortest secondary falling short of the tip of
the wing by 1:4 inches ; tarsus 0°75. Tail slightly forked, depth of fork 0-3.
Tarsi and feet moderate; middle toe with claw 0°75; hind toe with
claw 0°5.
Sexes similar in plumage, but the adult differs from the young in having
the bill bright red as well as much beautiful rosy-red colouring in the
plumage; this is brightest on the quills and tail, while the young are of a
sandy brown with the bill pale yellowish brown. The genus ranges from
the Mediterranean countries, through Central Asia to China and southward
into the north-east African sub-region.
Type.
Erythrospiza, Bp. Saggio, pp. 53, 141 (1831) . . . . HE. githaginea.
Erythrospiza githaginea.
Fringilla githaginea, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 24 (1823) Upper Egypt.
Erythrospiza githaginea, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 284 (1888) Korosko ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 252 (1896).
Pyrrhula githaginea, Chalihl-Effendi, J. f. O. 1859, p. 469 Nubia.
Pyrrhula payraudei, Audouin, Expl. somm, Pl. Ois. Egypte, p. 286, pl. 5,
fig. 8 (1825).
Adult. Wings and tail mostly dark brown; remainder of plumage
ashy isabelline, slightly greyer on the crown and whitish on the abdomen
and under tail-coverts; front half of the head, mantle, throat, breast and
under tail-coverts washed with pink or pale rosy crimson; lower back and
upper tail-coverts of a pinkish shade, glossed with pale bright crimson
edges to the feathers ; greater wing-coverts, quills and tail-feathers partially
edged with the same glossy bright crimson. Bill bright orange red in life;
iris brown; tarsi and feet brownish flesh colour. Total length 4-8 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 3°4, tail 2-1, tarsus0-7. g, 7.5.70. Egypt (Shelley).
In winter plumage the red on the wings, tail and breast is paler and
more pink.
Young. Sandy isabelline, slightly paler on the breast; greater portion
of wings and tail dark brown with broad isabelline edges to the feathers; no
red on the plumage.
The Trumpeter Bullfinch ranges from Nubia over North
Africa generally eastwards into India.
o-/
LINURGUS. 171
Brehm records the species as being plentiful on the Bajuda
desert to the south of Dongola in about 18° N. lat., which is
as far south as the species is known to range. Chalihl Effendi
informs us that it is well known to the Egyptians under the
name of ‘‘ Asfur el hadjar”’ (Little Stonebird). He found it
in Nubia and Egypt generally in large flocks of about eighty
individuals, between the river and the mountains, and espe-
cially frequenting the wilder and more rocky localities. It is
very tame, but keeps apart from other species, even at the
desert wells, at which it is to be found in every oasis. Accord-
ing to Dr. Leith Adams, it breeds among the old tombs at
Thebes, associating there with the Domestic Sparrow, and it
begins to pair about the end of January.
This pretty little Finch, rendered so conspicuous by its
bright red bill and roseate tints, I found very plentiful in
Nubia and Upper Egypt in pairs and flocks along the confines
of the desert during the early spring. It invades the culti-
vated land for its food, which apparently consists entirely of
small seeds, and at such times I have seen them clustered in
groups upon the mustard and other plants, which wave to and
fro under the weight of the birds as they busily peck away
at the seeds. In flight they much reminded me of Linnets.
According to Heuglin this Rose Finch is a poor songster ; its
call note is a hollow “ter-ter’’; but at times it pours forth
a loud trumpet-like sound.
The eggs are pale greenish with scattered rutous dots,
most numerous about a zone at the thick end, and measure
0°8 x 0°58.
Genus II. LINURGUS.
This genus is distinguishable from all the others found in the Ethiopian
Region by the comparatively short tail, which does not measure four times
the length of the culmen.
Bill rather stout and fairly long, with the culmen curved and the sides
172 LINURGUS RUFIBRUNNEUS.
nearly straight from the base to the tip. Nostrils hidden. Wing somewhat
rounded; first primary slightly shorter than the next three; shortest
secondary falling short of the tip of the wing by rather less than the length
of the tarsus. Hind toe about two-thirds of the length of the middle toe;
the latter being about equal in length to the tarsus, which is of about the
same size as in all the Ethiopian members of this family.
Type.
Linurgus, Reichenb. Syst. Av. pl. 78, fig. 9 (1850). . . L. olivaceus.
Pheospiza, Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1888, p.148 . . . . L. thomensis
Hyphantospiza, Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 222 . . . . UL. olivaceus.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Plumage nearly uniform tawny brown, darker
above than below.
. Of a more rufous shade; throat and breast
rusty brown. . . . rufibrunneus.
. Of a less rufous shade ; Ghecat and pies
buffy brown. . . . thomensis.
b. Under surface of body “illest pale eather
olive ; head, in adult males entirely black,
in females and young dusky olive.
ie Jollee 6G ae on 6 oo oo oo ORI,
d*, Billshorter. .. =... . =. . « . klimensis.
Linurgus rufibrunneus.
Linurgus rufobrunnea, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) x. p. 444 (1862)
W. Afr.
Poliospiza rufibrunnea, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 346, pl. 6 (1888)
Prince’s Is. ; Shelley B. Afr. I. No. 278 (1896).
Buserinus rofilatus, Hartl. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 328 Prince’s Is.
Adult. Upper parts rufous brown, partially mottled with dark centres
to the feathers of the crown, back of neck and mantle; wings and tail dark
brown with paler and more rufous edges to the feathers; sides of head dark
tawny brown; under parts moderately pale rusty brown, rather darker on
the lower throat and sides of the body, where the dark centres of the feathers
are partially visible; under wing-coverts rusty brown like the breast. Iris
brown; bill dark brown with the under mandible pale ; tarsi and feet brown.
Total length 5:3 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:1, tail 1:7, tarsus 0°8. ¢,
11. 8.95. Prince’s Is. (Keulemans).
LINURGUS THOMENSIS. 173
Immature. Similar to the adults, but less rufous, especially on the
under parts, which very nearly approach in colouring to P. thomensis.
Total length 5-2 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3°3, tail 2-2, tarsus 0°85. Type
of the species (Mus. Brit.).
The Prince’s Island Short-tailed Finch is probably confined
to Prince’s Island.
In the British Museum there are three specimens: the
type labelled ‘‘ West Africa,” and the other two from Prince’s
Island. Here Dr. Dohrn found a few of these Finches in a
very restricted locality of the large western bay. He says
that they were very fine songsters.
Linurgus thomensis.
Pheospiza thomensis, Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1898, p. 148 St. Thomas Is.
Poliospiza rufobrunnea (nec Gray) Bocage, Jorn. Lisb. 1889, p. 232
St. Thomas Is.
Male. Very similar to the type of L. rufobrunneus, but of a decidedly less
rusty shade ; chin, throat and breast buffy brown; sides of head and neck
dark brown, and the crop, sides of body and under tail-coverts washed with
dark brown. Iris pale hazel; bill brown, paler on the lower mandible; tarsi
and feet brown. ‘Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3-2, tail 2-1,
tarsus 0°85. g, 27.6. 88. St. Thomas Is. (F. Newton).
The Saint Thomas’ Short-tailed Finch is confined to the
Island of St. Thomas.
The type was procured on this island by Mr. Francisco
Newton, at Molita, some 250 feet above the sea, and is known
to the inhabitants as the “ Padé,” evidently a corruption for
“Pardal,” the Portuguese name for our Common House-
Sparrow. Two examples of this species had previously been
collected by Dr. Albino Giraldes, and there are now three
specimens in the British Museum, presented by the Lisbon
Museum, so that we may presume that the species is not
uncommon on the island.
174 LINURGUS OLIVACEUS.
Linurgus olivaceus.
Coccothraustes olivaceus, Fraser, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 144 Hernando Po.
Pyrrhospiza olivaceus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 434 (1888) Fernando
Po, Camaroons.
Hyphantospiza olivacea, Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, pp. 188, 222 ; 1894,
p. 40 Buea; Sjost. Svensk. Vet. Ak. Handl. 27, No. 1, p. 92 (1895).
Linurgus olivaceus, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 304 (1896).
Adult male. Entire head and throat jet black, ending in a point on
the crop; mantle uniform yellowish olive, inclining to yellow on the back
of the neck, lower back and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts like the back
but with broad bright yellow terminal margins to the greater coverts, form-
ing a distinct bar on the wing; quills blackish, with broad outer edges of
bright yellow on the secondaries, shading into olive on the basal half of
the feathers; under surface of the wings with the quills dusky black
broadly margined on the inner webs with ashy white like the coverts, the
latter partially washed with yellow. Tail brownish olive, the feathers
fading into yellow towards the edges. Sides of neck, crop, breast and
under tail-coverts deep yellow with a slight olive shade on the flanks. Iris
brown, ‘bill and legs yellow”’ (Fraser). Total length 5:6 inches, culmen
0:55, wing 3, tail 2, tarsus 0°75. Camaroons (Burton).
Female. Differs in the head being dark ashy olive, and the neck, crop
and sides of body yellowish olive ; culmen 0:5, wing 2:1, tail 1°8, tarsus
0-7. Fernando Po (Fraser).
Fraser’s Short-tailed Finch inhabits Fernando Po and the
Camaroons.
The type, which is now in the British Museum, was dis-
covered by Fraser, at Clarence, on Fernando Po.
In the Camaroons, the late Sir A. Burton found these
Finches at an elevation of 7,000 feet, and more recently Dr.
Preuss has procured the species in these mountains at Buea,
and Mr. Sjéstedt met with it on one occasion at Bibundi.
Linurgus kilimensis.
Hyphantospiza kilimensis, Reichen. and Neum. Orn. Monatsb. 1895, p. 74
Kilimanjaro.
Linurgus kilimensis, Reichen. in Werth. Mittl. Hochl. N. Deutsch, O.
Afr, p. 275 (1898) ; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 289 Kilimanjaro.
Type.—* Similar to L. olivaceus, but with the bill shorter ; upper surface
of the body and the wing-coverts obscure olive green; upper tail-coverts
SS — ee . = = — —— “ a - = . =
‘snyedjstdes snutseac 2 .
“e110} staqrurosAIy) ‘|
“AIXX Tad VOTHAV SO SCUHIG AHL
CHRYSOMITRIS TOTTA. 175
yellower; no yellow separating the crown from the olive of the back ;
- tail-feathers olive green with their inner webs blackish and with yellow ends ;
throat black surrounded by golden yellow ; flanks washed with olive. Bill
dull pale lemon yellow ; feet rosy yellow.” (Oscar Neumann.)
The Kilimanjaro Short-tailed Finch inhabits the mountain
of Kilimanjaro.
The type is a male procured by Mr. Oscar Neumann on
Mount Kilimanjaro, at an elevation of between 9,000 and
10,000 feet, and I am not aware of any other specimen having
been obtained. I do not find in the description any character
for distinguishing this form from the immature male of
L. olivaceus, and should not be surprised if the type proved
to be a young bird of that species.
Genus III]. CHRYSOMITRIS.
Bill rather long and attenuated, very acute, and the sides not swollen
but proceeding in a straight line to the tip. This latter character distin-
guishes its members from all the other Ethiopian Finches. Nostrils hidden
by bristles. Wing, with the three first primaries longest and about equal ;
secondaries falling short of the tip of the wing by more than the length of
the tarsus. Tail generally, but not always, slightly forked.
Type.
Chysomitris, Boie, Isis, 1828, p.322 .. . en ee Crespinius:
The genus ranges over Europe, Asia, Africa aa America and is repre-
sented by about 24 species, of which only 1 occurs in the Ethiopian region,
and this is confined to South Africa.
Chrysomitris totta. (PI. 24, fig. 1.)
Loxia totta, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. i. pl. 18 (1786) Cape.
Chrysomitris totta, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xii. p. 231 (1888) Cape
Col.; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 250 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i.
p. 182 (1900).
Adult. Upper parts brown with a wash of yellow on the rump; crown,
back of neck and the upper tail-coverts paler brown than the mantle and
with faintly marked darker shaft-stripes, quills and tail-feathers darker
uniform brown with white terminal edges, broadest on the tail, especially on
the outer feathers; under surface of wings brown with whitish brown under
wing-coverts; sides of head as well as the thighs and under tail-coverts
uniform pale brown; throat and breast dull yellow. ‘‘ Ivis brown ; bill pale
176 SERINUS.
brown ; tarsi and feet brown’’ (Stark). Total length 4:9 inches, culmen
0:35, wing 2:7, tail 2, tarsus 0-6. Cape (Sir A. Smith).
Females have the throat apparently paler, more ashy and more strongly
striped, and the sides of body washed with brown.
This species may be readily recognised, not only by its slender bill, but
also by the tail being slightly rounded and having a white tip to each of the
feathers.
The Cape Siskin inhabits Cape Colony.
This is the only known representative of the genus
Chrysomitris in South Africa. According to Layard the
“ Pietje Canarie,” as it is called by the Dutch colonists,
frequents open and ploughed lands. It is said that the cock
will breed with the hen Yellow Canary in captivity; but the
hen will not breed with the male of the other species, possibly
from the unwillingness of the wild hen to build in a cage. It
was a very common species at Hast London.
The late Dr. Stark wrote: “It is of somewhat local dis-
tribution, abundant in certain localities and quite absent from
others, apparently equally well adapted to its habits. It may
be often met with on bush-covered hill sides, and appears to
prefer hilly to more level ground. It feeds on small seeds,
buds of trees and insects. ‘The nest is placed in a bush from
2 to 4 feet above the ground and is built of grass-stems, small
rootlets and phant twigs, lined with down and occasionally
a few hairs. The eggs are four or five in number, pale bluish
green sparingly spotted and sometimes zoned with reddish
brown of two shades They average 0°72 x 0°54.”
Genus IV. SHRINUS.
Bill short and stout, much swollen for the basal half and then com-
pressed towards the tip, causing the sides to be much bent; nostrils basal
and hidden. Wing moderate, the shortest secondary falling short of the tip
of the wing by a little more than the length of the tarsus; second and third
primaries generally the longest. Tail moderate and slightly forked, more
than four times the length of the culmen. Legs and feet moderate. Nest
cup-shaped.
SERINUS, 177
The genus is spread over the whole of Africa, Southern
Europe and Central Asia. It includes about 35 known
species, of which 30 occur in the Ethiopian Region only. Of
these, none are natives of the Madagascar subregion, although
a few have become acclimatised there. They are all good
songsters and hardy cage-birds. The genus may be divided
into several apparently very natural groups which somewhat
overlap each other; but I fail to see any advantage to be
derived by separating S. bertoni from the typical species of
Rhynchostruthus, it is so much more nearly allied to the latter
than to the type of Serinus, and the type of Alario differs only
from S. angolensis in the peculiar colouring.
Type.
Serinus, Koch, Syst. baier. Zool. p. 228 (1816) S. serinus.
Crithagra, Swains. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 348 (1827) . . S. sulphuratus.
Alario, Bp. Consp. i. p. 519 (1850) . . 8. alario.
Rhynchostruthus, Scl. and Hartl. P. Z. 8. 1881, a 170 S. socotranus.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. With a considerable amount of yellow on the
under surface of the body.
a1. Centre of forehead next to the culmen not
greenish like the crown.
a?, Forehead not entirely uniform bright
yellow; chin never yellow nor clear
white, black in adult males.
a’, Males with the entire head and throat
jet black; females with only the front
half of the crown dusky; wings
blackish with two broad ae
yellowish-white bars . . . mgriceps. |%|{
63. Head never entirely ede, nor with
the front half of the crown dusky.
[May, 1902. 12
178 SERINUS.
a*. Larger; wing not less than 2-6
inches; forehead black, meeting
the olive crown, or with only a few
intervening yellow feathers (females
of both species similar in plumage).
a°. Bill slighter; throat less shaded
with olive’ . . . . . « = . cttmmelloides, go. ad. eo
65. Bill stouter; throat more shaded
Witholives (cy) calc City tee mee eSCOLODS mci MeCN ete
b*. Smaller ; wing less than 2°6 inches ;
forehead black ; separated from the
olive crown by a broad uniform
yellow band ... . .. .|'. . capistratus, $, ad. 1@0
b?. Forehead, eyebrow and throat white. . madaraszi. (:¢
c*. Forehead entirely uniform bright yellow.
c8. Front half of head mostly uniform
yellow with no sharply defined eye-
brow; abdomen and thighs whitish ;
wing more than 3:0 inches.
c*. Back of head and back and sides of
neck grey, contrasting with the
IK se Gg or oe oo oe empaaall ays, Nei
d*. Back of head and back and sides
of neck yellowish green like the
mantle.
c>. Smaller; wing about 3:1; abdo-
men white; under tail coverts
yellow - + a. « 9. plravwerter. [SF
d®. Larger; wing about 3°35; abdo-
men and under tail-coverts yel-
lowish white . . . . . . . hwuillensis. )T¢
d’, With a sharply defined broad yellow
eyebrow.
e*. Abdomen and under tail-coverts
white .. . dorsostriatus. 7)
jf*. Abdomen and under tail-coverts
bright yellow.
c*. Smaller; bill weaker; generally
with white ends to many of the
tail-feathers ; sexes similar; im-
mature with some blackish spots
on the throat.
SERINUS.
a®. Crown like the mantle; stripes
on mantle fairly broad; tail-
feathers with yellowish white
ends much more Se
marked
b&, Crown — greyer ; stripes on
mantle narrow; pale ends to
tail-feathers smaller or absent.
d°, Larger; bill stouter; no pale ends
to tail-feather. (Females and
young brown and buff, with only
a wash of yellow on the rump,
and edges of the quills and tail-
feathers).
c®, Crown, mantle and lower back
more green than yellow; bill
slightly smaller .
. Crown and mantle pollowar:
lower back bright yellow; bill
slightly larger :
. Centre of forehead next to the panei
greenish like the crown; sexes similar in
plumage.
d?. Flanks uniform; no white feathers on
the abdomen; throat brighter yellow
than the crop.
e°, Yellower; size smaller; wing about
30 inches . 3+ pe Oe
f®. Greener ; size ae wing about 3°25
inches . .
. Flanks with a Bei blackish eironka: $8
few white feathers on the cere
wing about 3:25 inches .
b. No “alle on the under surface of the Bede,
ct. Some yellow on the edges of the quills and
tail-feathers.
f?. A considerable amount of bright yellow
on the wings and tail.
g*. Under parts uniform.
g*. Har-coverts white.
e°. Crown black
f°. Crown brown
h*. Har-covertsashy. . .... .
h®?, Under parts streaked. Young of
socotranus and lowise.
butyraceus.
hartlaubi. | 9%
flavwentris, 3, ad.
172
marshalli. 2 ¢
imberbis.
sulphuratus. 2
<0
donaldsoni.
socotranus, 3,
lowise.
ad.
socotranus, 2, ad.
5 0
¢
179
180 SERINUS.
g?. With a small amount of dull yellow on
the wings and tail, confined to the
margins of the quills and tail-feathers.
78, Crop more uniform brown than the
flanks ; throat mostly brown with the
chin blackish.
7*. Breast whiter ; flanks more strongly
streaked :
k*. Breast more conbellinee flanks leas
streaked
k%. Crop strongly streaked like the flanie
14, Throat white.
g°. No shade of yellow on the lower
back . tues
me oe: back washed ak ile
. Darker; below more strongly
streaked . . . .
f®. Paler; below less “sane
streaked : :
m*. Throat and a broad svoheos: Salles
d'. No yellow on the wings or tail.
h?. Smaller; wing not more than 2°7 inches.
18, Tail chestnut or bright cinnamon .
m. Tail earthy brown.
n*, Lower back pure white .
o*. Lower back bright yellow.
75, Some white ends to the tail-
feathers .
. No white ends to the tail- feathers.
on Plumage more streaked ; flanks
streaked . :
h®. Plumage less streaked ; flanks
uniform.
a*, Chin and throat entirely
white
. A yellow afte on the i ieeoat
12, wee, ; wing not less than 2°8 inches.
n’. Paler; rump yellowish.
p*. Paler; rump bright yellow
gt. Darker; rump only washed with
yellow
o%. Darker; rump brown like the mantle
burtom. 2 o>
albifrons. > ; .
striolatus. 2 ;
flaviventris, 2.
inberbis, 2
whyter.
al
alario. 2/2
leucopygius. 2 |
angolensis.
reichenowt. 5 |
ranthopyguus. °
flawigquila.
29
crocopygius. 2 2 »
albigularis. -
2
leucopterus. > ~
)
SERINUS NIGRICEPS. 181
Serinus nigriceps.
Serinus nigriceps, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 96, pl. 34, fig. 2 (1835-40)
Abyssinia.
Chrysomitris nigriceps, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 222 (1888) Abyssinia ;
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genov. 1888, p. 274 Shoa; Hartert, Kat. Vog.
Mus. Senck. p. 58 (1891); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 248 (1896) ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 107 (1899) egg; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 134 ;
id. and Reid, 1901, p. 624 S. Abyssinia.
Adult male. Entire head and throat jet black; sides and back of neck,
upper back and upper tail-coverts dull yellow inclining to dusky brown
towards the centres of the feathers; lower back uniform, rather brighter
yellow; most of the scapulars and the lesser wing-coverts pale yellow.
Wings black, with broad yellowish buff terminal margins to the median and
greater coverts forming two diagonal bars; quills tipped with white shading
into yellow on the outer edges of the feathers, which edges are very narrow
on the primaries; primary-coverts with incomplete narrow white edges ;
under surface of quills with their inner edges whitish ash; under-coverts
whitish ash washed with dull yellow, of the same colour as the chest;
abdomen slightly brighter yellow; thighs brownish buff; under tail-coverts
yellowish white. Tail black with very narrow whitish edges. ‘Iris brown;
bill and feet blackish.” Total length 4:9 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 3:1,
tail 2, tarsus 0°65. g,5.1.1901. Adis Ababa (Pease).
Adult female. Differs in having no jet black on the head, which is olive
brown like the mantle, but with the forehead and front half of the crown
dusky blackish; head, neck and mantle slightly mottled with dark shaft-
stripes. Total length 4:8 inches, culmen 0:35, wing 2:7, tail 2, tarsus 0:65.
?,5. 1.1901. Adis Ababa (Pease).
The Abyssinian Black-headed Canary inhabits North-east
Africa.
Lord Lovat and Mr. Pease found the species abundant
on the cultivated ground of Gallaland and Southern Abyssinia,
where specimens have also been collected by Antinori and Dr.
Ragazzi. Heuglin records it as a lively bird, witha true Siskin-
like song, and met with it in Gallaland and the highlands of
Abyssinia, up to 12,000 feet, frequenting the farm-lands for its
food. Dr. Blanford writes: ‘“ Only seen at considerable eleva-
tions, but very common on the passes above 9,000 feet. It
appears to belong to the subalpine fauna, though a specimen
was shot by my collector at Adigrat. It was always met with
182 SERINUS CITRINELLOIDES.
in flocks, keeping to open ground and often seen in ploughed
fields.”
An egg from Dongola in Mr. Nehrkorn’s collection is
described as bluish-white with a few distinctly marked brown
dots; 0°64 X 0-5.
Serinus citrinelloides.
Serinus citrinelloides, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vog. p. 95, pl. 34, fig. 1 (1835-
1844) Abyssima.
Chrysomitris citrinelloides, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 229 (1888)
Kilimanjaro, Senafé ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Geney. 1888, p. 274 Shoa ;
Shelley, P. Z. 8. 1889, p. 367 Kilimanjaro ; Hartert, Kat. Vog. Mus.
Senck. p. 58 (1891); Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 197 (1894) ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 249 (1896); Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 134; id.
and Reid, Ibis, 1901, p. 624 S. Abyssuma.
Fringilla melanops, Heugl. J. f. O. 1868, p. 92 Abyssinia.
Chrysomitris melanops, Fisch, J. f. O. 1885, p. 1386 Arusha, Naiwasha ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 229 (1888); Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr.
p. 197 (1894) Karagwe, Bukoba ; Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 618 Nand.
Serinus scotops (nec Sundey.) Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 22 Zomba; 1898,
p. 553 Nyasaland.
Adult male. Upper parts yellowish green, with black shaft-stripes to
the feathers of the crown, hind neck, mantle and upper tail-coverts ; rump
uniform. Wings brownish black with broad yellow edges to the coverts
and inner secondaries, the lesser coverts greener like the back, the median
and greater coverts forming moderately distinct diagonal yellowish bands
on the wings; primary coverts and most of the quills narrowly edged with
yellow; under surface of quills dusky brown with partial buffy brown inner
margins; axillaries and under wing-coyerts bright yellow, with a few dusky
bars on the pinion; tail-feathers brownish black, with narrow greenish
yellow edges. Head with a very narrow frontal-band, front half of sides
of head and a broad chin-spot black; eyebrows bright yellow; ear-coverts
olive; remainder of the throat, breast, thighs and under tail-coverts bright
yellow, washed with olive on sides of crop, and streaked with black on the
flanks. ‘Iris brown; bill dark; legs black.” Total length 4:7 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 2°65, tail 2:1, tarsus 0:6. ¢, 380. 11. 99. Nairobi
(Delamere).
Adult female. Differs from the male in having no black on the head
and no yellow eyebrow; forehead like the crown but slightly yellower;
sides of head uniform olive; chin ashy buff; throat and sides of body
strongly striped with black. ‘Iris brown; bill dark; legs brown.” Total
—
SERINUS CITRINELLOIDES. 183
length 4:5 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°55, tail 1-9, tarsus 0°55. 9, 30. 11. 99.
Nairobi (Delamere).
Immature. Similar in pattern to the adult female but differing in the
pale portions of the feathers being light rufous shaded brown on the upper
parts and brownish buff on all the under parts, and the entire chest very
strongly streaked. ‘Iris brown; bill dusky green; legs dusky.” 3, 17. 3.00.
Mt. Kenya (Delamere).
Ruppell’s Masked Canary inhabits Hastern Africa between
15° S. lat. and 15° N. lat.
This species replaces its southern ally S. scotops to the
north of the Zambesi river, and is apparently not uncommon
in Nyasaland, where Mr. Alexander White and Consul Alfred
Sharpe have both met with it, at least as far south as Zomba.
Fischer collected specimens in Arusha and at Lake Nai-
washa, and the species has been recorded from German KH.
Africa at Karagwe, and as far west as Bukoba. In British
E. Africa these Finches are apparently abundant, for in the
British Museum there is a specimen from Lake Sanné in
Uganda, and a fine series from the highlands of Kilimanjaro
and Kenia. Mr. Jackson procured the species at Nandi, and
informs us that its Suaheli name is ‘‘ Chiriko.”’
The species, although not recorded from the Somali
country, is not uncommon throughout Abyssinia to as far
north as Senafé.
Lord Lovat, during the Weld-Blundell expedition from
Berbera to the Blue Nile, shot specimens at Harrar Meyer,
Warabili and Bilo, and writes: “‘We usually met with this
Siskin singly or in pairs, in company with flocks of Quelia
ethiopica.”
Specimens have also been procured by Mr. Pease at
Adis Ababa, and by Antinori and Ragazzi at Mahal Uonz
and Sciotalit.
According to Heuglin these Finches are plentiful around
Gondar, where he procured the type of his Mringilla melanops,
184 SERINUS SCOTOPS.
and found them fairly abundant throughout the warmer parts
of Abyssinia. At Senafé, which is about the northern limit
of the range of the species, Dr. Blanford obtained a specimen
which is now in the British Museum.
Serinus scotops.
Crithagra scotops, Sundey. Gify. K. Vet. Akad. F6rh. Stockh. 1850, p. 98
Transvaal.
Serinus scotops, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 362 Cape Col. Transvaal ;
Shelley, B. Afr, I. No. 293 (1896); Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 177
(1900).
Adult. Forehead blackish; crown, back of neck, back, scapulars and
wing-coverts yellowish green strongly streaked with black centres to the
feathers; rump and upper tail-coverts uniform, the former washed with
yellow ; remainder of the wings brownish black, the feathers with pale outer
edges of olive yellow, broadest and more yellow at the ends of the median
and greater-coverts and the inner secondaries; inner edges of the quills and
the under wing-coverts white, the latter washed with yellow. ‘Tail blackish
brown, with rather yellowish olive edges to the feathers. A pale yellow
eyebrow ; sides of head uniform ashy olive; sides of neck, lower throat and
crop nearly uniform yellowish green separated from the olive-black chin
by a patch of bright yellow; breast and under tail-coverts bright yellow,
with the sides strongly streaked with black and slightly tinted with olive.
“Tris dark brown; bill dusky, with the under mandible paler; tarsi and
feet dusky”’ (Barratt). Total length 5:4 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2:9, tail
2:3, tarsus 0°65. 3, 10. 8.81. Drakensberg (Butler).
Sundevall’s Canary ranges over eastern South Africa, west-
ward to Cape Colony and northward into the Transvaal.
The most western locality known to me for this species is
the Knysna in Cape Colony, where Andersson and Victorin
both met with it. In the British Museum there are speci-
mens from Hland’s Post and the Katberg Forest, obtained by
Mr. Atmore.
Colonel HE. A. Butler found the species not uncommon in
the kloofs on the Drakensberg, near Newcastle, and remarks:
) =
SERINUS CAPISTRATUS. 185
“Tt associates in small flocks, and has similar habits to
8. canicollis, but is more of a woodland species.”
The type was procured by Wahlberg during his journey
into the Transvaal, and in the British Museum there are
specimens from Macamac and Lydenburg. In the latter
district Mr. T. Ayres found the species “ pretty generally dis-
tributed amongst the woods and bushes; but seems to prefer
the forests, where it feeds among the foliage of the trees.”
The present species is remarkably like S. citrinelloides,
Rupp., from which it chiefly differs in its having a stouter bill,
a character which I unfortunately overlooked when I referred
the Nyasaland birds to this species (Ibis, 1894 and 1898).
I may here remark, that these two Finches differ from each
other in much the same manner as my Parus parvirostris
differs from P. afer, Gm., yet these two Finches have generally
been placed in different genera.
Serinus capistratus. (PI. 24, fig. 2.)
Crithagra capistrata, Finsch, in Finsch and Hartl. Vog. O. Afr. p. 458
(1870) Galwngo Alto.
Serinus capistratus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 359 (1888) Landana,
Congo; Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 51 Bukoba; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 287 (1896).
Fringillaria capistrata, Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 301 Manyanga.
Adult male. Front of head jet black, which colour extends in a narrow
band across the forehead and widens out considerably on the sides of the
head and the chin; the black forehead is succeeded by a broad band of
light yellow surrounding the front and sides of the crown ; remainder of
the upper parts yellowish green, with blackish shaft-stripes on the mantle ;
rump slightly more washed with yellow; wing and tail blackish brown,
with pale edges to the feathers, yellowest at the ends of the median and
sreater - coverts, outer secondaries and tail-feathers, and green on the
lesser wing-coyverts and inner secondaries; inner margins of the quills and
the under wing-coverts brownish white, the latter washed with yellow;
ear-coverts, behind the black portion of the sides of the head and the sides
of the neck, yellowish green, like the crown; under parts below the broad
black chin yellow, with a few nearly obsolete dusky streaks on the flanks.
Tris dark brown. Total length 4:2 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2-4, tail 0°59.
$, 3.83. Landana (Petit).
—iR
~~
186 SERINUS MADARASZI.
Adult female. Differs from the adult male in the front of the head
being pale ashy yellow inclining to brighter yellow on the forehead, which
is spotted with black; crown streaked with blackish and margined on the
sides by a yellow eyebrow; throat mottled with olive and rather indistinct
blackish shaft-stripes. Wing 2-4. 9, 2.88. Landana (Petit).
The Black-faced. Canary ranges from the Loango Coast
and Angola to the Victoria Nyanza.
On the Loango Coast specimens have been collected by
Falkenstein, Lucan and Petit, at Landana and Chinchonxo,
and by Sperling at Kabinda. Bohndorff met with the species
at Manyanga on the Congo, and the type was discovered by
Wellwitsch in the Galunga Alto district of Angola at an
elevation of 2,800 feet. hese Canaries range inland to the
western shores of the Victoria Nyanza, where the species has
been found by Emin at Bukoba.
Serinus madaraszi.
Serinus madaraszi, Reichen. Orm. Monatsb. 1902, p. 8 Myombo.
Type. ‘General colouring of the upper parts similar to that of S.
reichenowt only paler and greyer ; edges of the wing-coyerts yellowish white ;
quills with pale yellow outer edges; throat white; breast and under tail-
coverts yellow ; crop and flanks streaked with grey, of a browner shade on
the latter; under wing-coverts washed with yellow. Total length 4-4
inches, culmen 0:36, wing 2:6, tail 1:8, tarsus, 0°52.”
Madaraszi’s Canary inhabits Central Hast Africa to the
north of Lake Nyasa.
The species, which appears to be a very well marked form,
is known to me by the description of the type only. This
specimen was discovered by Mr. J. Booth at Myombo, north of
Lake Nyasa.
Serinus canicollis.
Crithagra canicollis, Swains. An. in Menag. p. 317 (1837) S. Afr.
Serinus canicollis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 350 (1888); Butler, Foreign
Tinches in Captivity, p. 27, pl. 6, fig. 1 (1894); Kuschel, J. f. O.
1895, p. 342 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 280 (1896); Woodward,
Ibis, 1897, p. 411 Zulu ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 110 (1899) egg ;
Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 168 (1900).
Fringilla cinereicollis, Dubois, Orn. Gal. pl. 104 (1839) S. A/r.
SERINUS CANICOLLIS. 187
Adult male. Forehead, most of the crown, and nearly the whole front
of the head deep dull yellow like the entire throat; back of head and back
and sides of neck uniform ashy grey, shading into deep olive tinted yellow
on the mantle which is obscurely streaked ; lower back and upper tail-covert
uniform yellow with only an obsolete shade of olive. Wing brownish black,
with yellow edges to the feathers, broadest on the inner secondaries and the
coyerts, and shaded with olive towards the lesser coverts, which are like the
mantle; under surface, with the inner margin of the quills and the coverts
brownish white partially washed with yellow towards the bend of the wing
where there are some blackish bars. Tail pale yellowish brown with bright
yellow outer edges and blackish shaft-stripes. Centre of the chest and the
under tail-coverts brighter yellow than the throat; abdomen and thighs
brownish white; sides of the body ashy buff. ‘Iris dusky; bill dusky with
the lower mandible pale; tarsi and feet dark olive brown.” Total length
5:Linches, culmen 0°35, wing 3-2, tail 2-3, tarsus0°6. ¢,8.7. 78. Rustenburg
(W. Lucas).
Male, in breeding plumage. Differs in having all the yellow of the
plumage brighter. ¢g, 20.10. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres).
Adult female. Differs, in the grey of the neck encroaching on the yellow
of the sides of the head and throat; crown with black shaft-stripes ; mantle
shaded with brown and with broad dark brown shaft-stripes. Total length
4-8 inches, wing 2-9, tail 2.2. 9, 20.8. 81. Drakensburg (Butler).
In immature birds, the yellow on the sides of the head and on the
throat is almost replaced by ashy brown and there are a few blackish stripes
on the flanks.
The Cape Canary inhabits South Africa, south from
Damaraland and the Transvaal, and the species has been
introduced into the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.
In the British Museum there are specimens from Elephant
river in Damaraland and from Macamac in the Transvaal, and
I cannot trace the range of the species any further north. The
late Dr. Stark wrote: “This well-known and favourite cage-
bird is, in its wild state, a common resident in nearly all
districts that are overgrown with bushes or low trees varied
with open glades and clearings. It is perhaps most abundant
on the bush-clad lower slopes of hills and mountains as well as
in gardens and shrubberies, and I have met with it in some
numbers among the low scrub on the sandy coast of Little
Namaqualand. In autumn and winter small flocks frequent
ee
==
188 SERINUS CANICOLLIS.
the more open pasture and ploughed land, to feed, with other
Finches and Weaver-birds, on small seeds and insects that they
find on the ground. The justly admired song of the Cape
Canary is prolonged and very sweet, and is compared by Dr.
Russ to that of a Lark. Individual birds, however, even in
a wild state, differ remarkably in the singing powers, some
being far superior to others in the richness and fulness of their
notes. The cock of this species has, in confinement, been
known to pair with the hen of the Common Cage Canary and
Serius flaviventris.
**In Cape Colony the Cape Canary usually breeds in Sep-
tember and October, in Upper Natal in October and November.
The nest, neatly constructed and cup-shaped, is built in a
thick low bush, of dry grass and bents, with sometimes a little
moss, lined with hair, feathers, and downy seeds. The eggs,
three or four in number, are white, faintly tinted with blue,
and streaked and spotted at the obtuse end with purplish
brown and reddish brown. ‘They measure 0°75 X 0°55.”
Messrs. Butler, Feilden and Reid, met with the Cape Canary
in winter, frequenting the bush-grown kloofs in the Drakens-
berg, near Newcastle, and as the breeding season approached
was more often found in the open veldt among weeds and
scrubby bush, and was breeding in October and November.
The nests were chiefly built in the pendant branches of willows
overhanging the river. The Messrs. Woodward found them
abundant in Zululand, where they remark: “It is well known
throughout the country for its sprightly habits and cheerful
song.”
In the Lydenburg district of the Transvaal Mr. T. Ayres
met with them in small flocks generally on the more open
slopes of the hills.
The species has been introduced into Réunion and Mauritius,
from whence there are specimens in the British Museum, and
SERINUS FLAVIVERTEX. 189
in 1866 Schlegel records them from these islands and remarks :
** Not observed in Madagascar.”
In confinement they should be fed, according to Mr. A. G.
Butler, on canary seed, white millet, spray millet, and in
summer-time given some green food. If an attempt is made to
breed with a pair, a bush of some kind, plenty of soft building
material, and some form of egg-food should be provided.
Serinus flavivertex.
Crithagra flavivertex, Blanf. Ann. and Mag. N. H. (4) iv. p. 330 (1869) ;
id. Geol. and Zool. Abyss. p. 414, pl. 7 (1870) Adzgrat.
Serinus flavivertex, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 351 (1888) Abyssinia ;
Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 274 Antoto; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891,
p. 257 Kikuyu ; Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 197 (1894) Arusha ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 281 (1896); Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 288
Kilimanjaro.
Chrysomitris citrinelloides (nec Riipp.) Gigl. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 13
Shoda.
Adult male. Upper half of the head golden yellow, shading off on the
nape and hind neck into olive slightly streaked with black; mantle deep
olive streaked with blackish centres to the feathers; lower back and broad
edges to the tail-coverts yellow; the tail, which is rather strongly forked,
has the feathers much pointed and are brown with yellow outer edges.
Wing brownish black; lesser-coverts mostly olive yellow; broad terminal
margins to the median and greater-coverts and partial outer edges to the
feathers, golden yellow; inner lining dusky slate colour with the entire
pinion black ; axillaries washed with yellow. Side of head, with a black
patch in front of the eye, and most of the ear-coverts olive ; remainder of
the head golden yellow of the same shade as the under parts generally,
which pass into white on the centre of the abdomen; thighs brownish white;
some blackish streaks on the flanks. Iris brown; bill and legs dark horny
brown, with base of lower mandible greyish white. Total length 5:3 inches,
culmen 0°35, wing 3:15, tail 2:3, tarsus 0°55. og, 4. 9. 89. Kikuyu
(Jackson).
Adult female. Differs from the male in having less yellow on the head
and throat and all the feathers of the crown showing dark centres ; lower
back streaked with black ; centre of chest as well as the abdomen and under
tail-coverts white, the latter streaked with blackish centres to the feathers.
190 SERINUS HUILLENSIS.
Total length 5:1 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 3:0, tail 2-0, tarsus 0°55. 9,
29. 8. 89. Kikuyu (Jackson).
The type, a female, has the mantle rather less strongly streaked and the
dark streaks on the flanks are scarcely visible.
Blanford’s Canary inhabits eastern Africa between 5° S. lat.
and 15° N. lat.
The most southern known range for this species is Great
Arusha, where Fischer has procured a specimen. At Kifinika
on Kilimanjaro, at an elevation of 3,000 feet, Mr. Oscar
Neumann shot three of these Canaries in January, 1895, and
Mr. Jackson met with the species in the Kikuyu country, in
August and September, 1889. In Shoa, according to Dr.
Ragazzi these birds are not rare, but he apparently procured
only a single specimen.
Heuglin suggests that it is rare in Abyssinia, as he never,
to his knowledge, met with the species. The type, a female,
was discovered by Dr. Blanford at Adigrat in Tigré, April 21,
1868. This specimen, as well as one obtained by upved: are
now in the British Museum.
Serinus huillensis.
Serinus huillensis, Sousa Jorn. Lisb. 1889, p. 40, Hwilla ; Shelley, B
Afr. I. No. 286 (1896).
“« Adult male. (?) A broad sulphur yellow forehead ; crown, back of neck
and the mantle yellowish green; rump and upper tail-coverts sulphur
yellow ; lesser wing-coverts like the mantle; median coverts with broad
terminal white margins; the greater coverts similarly margined with yellow ;
quills with yellow edges broadest on the secondaries; sides of head, throat
and chest sulphur yellow like the forehead ; abdomen and under tail-coverts
yellowish white; thighs white; tail feathers with the edges yellow, broad
on the four centre ones and fading into white on the outer ones; under
wing-coverts whitish; flanks shaded with green and very slightly streaked.
Total length 5-2 inches, wing 3°44, tail 2°44, tarsus 0°6.
“« Female. (?) Similar to the preceding, but differs in the upper parts being
slightly more streaked ; abdomen and under tail-coverts whitish ; ear-coverts
like the mantle but less streaked, and are surrounded by a patch of yellow
pp
SERINUS DORSOSTRIATUS. 191
which extends to the forehead and blends into the yellow of the under parts.
Total length 5 inches, wing 3°24, tail 2°28.”
The Huilla Canary inhabits Mossamedes.
The types, apparently a male and female, were procured by
Father Antunes at Huilla, and this is all that is yet known
regarding this apparently well-marked species, so I have
translated Sousa’s descriptions of the plumage.
This species appears to me to belong to the group which
includes S. canicollis and 8S. flavivertew.
Serinus dorsostriatus.
Crithagra dorsostriatus, Reichen. J, f. O. 1887, p. 72 Kagehi, Wembere,
Victoria Nyanza, Shasha.
Serinus dorsostriatus, Reichen. Vig. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894); Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 300 (1896); Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 623 Higeyw ;
Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 288 Masai.
Serinus maculicollis, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. 41 (1895) ; id. P. Z. 8.
1895, p. 470, pl. 27, fig. 1 Somali; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 303
(1896); Elliot, Field-Columb. Mus. Orn. i. No. 2, p. 36 (1897)
Somali ; L. Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 399 Somali ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899,
p. 63 Somali; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1901, ii. p. 302 Somali; Grant
and Reid, Ibis, 1901, p. 625 S. Abyssinia.
Serinus xantholema, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1896, p. 44 Somali.
Adult male. Forehead, a broad eyebrow and the lower back canary
yellow; crown and back of neck yellowish olive, with narrow blackish
shaft-streaks ; mantle of the same colour but with broad dark centres to the
feathers ; upper tail-coverts olive yellow ; tail dark brown, the feathers with
narrow yellow outer edges and white terminal margin to some of the outer
ones. Wing blackish brown, with buffy yellow outer edges to the feathers,
narrowest on the primary-coverts and primaries ; inner edges of quills and
the under-coverts ashy white, the latter washed with yellow, mostly so
towards the bend of the wing. Sides of head yellow inclining to white in
front of the eye, and shading into pale olive brown on the ear-coverts ; an
ill-defined mustachial band; chin, throat, and chest bright canary yellow ;
remainder of breast, thighs and under tail-coverts white ; flanks streaked
with black. ‘Iris brown; bill, upper mandible horn-brown, lower one
paler ; feet dusky brown”’ (Fischer). Total length 5 inches, culmen 0°35,
wing 2°75, tail 2-1, tarsus 0°55. g,18.8.96. Elgeyu (Jackson).
Adult female. Similar to the male, but differs in having the upper throat
192 SERINUS DORSOSTRIATUS.
white mottled on the sides with a few blackish spots, and just above the
crop is a partially formed black collar, the feathers of which have the base
white, a broad black subterminal bar and broad yellow edges. “ Iris, bill
and legs dark brown.” @, 18.12.00. Katyinwaha (Pease).
Immature. Differs in the pale portions of the head and the throat being
buff and the black markings being confined to the lower throat and forming
a partial collar. 9,31. 1.97. Sheikh (Lort Phillips).
Fischer’s Streaky-backed Canary inhabits Eastern Africa
between 4° 8. lat. and 10° N. lat.
The species was discovered by Fischer, who collected speci-
mens on the Wembere flats to the south of Speke’s Gulf, and
near the adjacent coast of Victoria Nyanza at Kagehi and in
the Shasha mountains. Mr. Neumann, who has shot several
specimens in north-western Masailand, at Scero and Goilale,
remarks that: Dr. Reichenow’s original descriptions were
taken from a female and immature male. Mr. Jackson has
procured a specimen at Elgeyu, a male, which appears to me to
be in full adult plumage.
In Somaliland, Dr. Donaldson Smith procured the types of
S. maculicollis, an apparently adult male and an immature
female (the latter has been figured). The type of S. wantho-.
lema, also from Somaliland, can, I think, from the description,
be nothing else but a bird of this species, probably immature ;
other specimens have been collected by Mr. Elliot at Hellier
and Hersi Barri; by Mr. Lort Phillips on the top of Sheik’s
Pass; by Mr. Hawker at Sheik Wulfi, Ugiawaji and at Jifa
Medir. We may therefore presume that the species is fairly
abundant throughout Somaliland, and in southern Abyssinia
Mr. Pease has procured examples at Fullfully, Katyinwala
and Filwa between 9° and 10° N. lat.
The full plumaged males may be recognised by their having
the chin, throat and entire chest uniform bright yellow, with
some clear black stripes on the sides of the lower throat.
The adult females have less yellow on the forehead; throat
SERINUS BUTYRACEUS. 193
slightly whiter and with some large black spots, especially on
the lower throat. Young birds have the pale parts of the
head and the upper throat buff and the black spots confined to
a collar.
Serinus butyraceus.
Loxia butyracea, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 304 (1766) ‘ India.”
Serinus butyraceus, Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 197 (1894); Kuschel,
J. f. O. 1895, p. 342, egg ; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 288, Kilimanjaro,
Uganda.
Crithagra butyracea, Fisch. J. f. O. 1877, pp. 180, 206, 1878, p. 281;
1879, pp. 280, 300, 303, #. Afr. ; Bohm J. f. O. 1885, p. 42 Gonda ;
Oust. Bull. Ee. Haut. Etud. xxi. art. 10, p. 10 (1886) Somali ; Emin,
J. f. O. 1891, p. 60 Ugogo ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1892, p. 51, Mengo.
Fringilla ictera, Vieill. Enc. Méth. iii. p. 972 (1823) S. Afr.
Serinus icterus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 356 (1888) Rio Chimba,
Damara, Cape Col. Natal, Transvaal, Zambesi, Mombasa, Réunion,
Mauritius ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 159 Mrogoro, Tabora ; Shelley,
Ibis, 1894, pp. 22 Zomba; Butler, Foreign Finches in Confinement,
p- 34, pl. 7, fig. 3 (1894); Ridgway, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1895, p. 518
Amarante Is. ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 285 (1896) ; Woodward, Ibis,
1897, p. 411 Zable Sharpe, ¢.c. p. 514 Zulu; Shelley, ¢. c. p. 528
Fort Hill ; 1898, p. 379 Mlosa ; 1899, p. 368 Tanganyika Plateau ;
Alexander, ¢. c. p. 565 Zambesi; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 110
(1899) egg ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 185 S. Abyssinia ; Marshall, ¢. c.
p. 289 Mashona; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 173 (1900) ; pats
This, 1901, p. 165 Palombe.
Crithagra ictera, Shelley, Ibis, 1888, p. 301 Tangani, Manda Is. ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1889 p. 284 Quilimane.
Crithagra chrysopyga, Swains. B. W. Afr. i. p. 206, pl. 17 (1837)
“ Senegal” !; Cab. J. £. O. 1878, pp. 216, 228 Zanzibar, Kitut ;
Reichen. t. c. p. 266 Melinda; Shelley, P. Z. 8S. 1881, p. 589
Usambara, Lamu; Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 136 Bagamoio to Wapo-
komo; Sousa, Jorn. Lisb. 1887, p. 101 Quissange ; Hartert in
Ansorge’s Under Afr. Sun, p. 347 (1899) Masinde, Unioro.
Fringilla (Dryospiza) aurifrons, Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 41 (1856) Dokah.
Crithagra barbata, Heugl. J. f. O. 1864, p. 248 Djur; id. Orn. N. O.
Afr. p. 649, pl. 19, fig. 5 (1870) ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 37 Tobbo ;
Emin, 1891, p. 60 Ugogo; Hartl. Abhandl. nat. Ver. Bremen, 1891,
p. 25 Usambiro.
(May, 1902. 13
SS
194 SERINUS BUTYRACEUS.
Serinus barbatus, Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 620 Néebi.
Serinus flavifrons, Pr. Wirth. Heugl. J. f. O. 1867, p. 297 Fazogl.
Crithagra mosambicus, Peters, J. f. O. 1868, p. 184 Mosambique.
Adult. Above, olive green streaked with blackish centres to the feathers
of the crown and mantle; forehead, a broad eyebrow, lower back and edges
to upper tail-coverts bright canary yellow. Wing mostly brownish black ;
least-coverts olive like the back; median and greater-coverts, as well as the
inner secondaries, broadly edged with dull yellow; primary-coverts and the
remainder of the quills narrowly edged with that colour ; inner edges of the
quills and the under-coverts whitish ash, the latter strongly washed with
yellow. Tail brownish black with yellowish white edges, very much broader
at the ends of the feathers where they form a well marked terminal band.
Sides of head yellow with the ear-coverts dusky green and a patch in front
of the eye and a well-marked mustachial band jet black; chin, throat, breast
and the under tail-coverts uniform canary yellow shading into olive on the
sides of the neck and breast. Iris brown; bill dusky horn colour; tarsi
and feet brown. Total length 4:2 inches, culmen 0:3, wing 2:7, tail 1:8,
tarsus 0°55. ¢, 20. 10. 75. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres).
Adult female. Similar to the male but often with the chin white, and is
very slightly smaller.
Immature. Upper parts browner ; forehead and eyebrow yellowish
white ; ear-coverts and sides of neck ashy brown; mustachial band dusky
brown; under parts paler yellow fading into white towards the chin; some
dusky spots on the throat and front of the chest. 9? ,28.7.81. Rustenburg
(W. Lucas).
The Common Yellow-fronted Canary ranges over the whole
of South and Hast Africa, south of the Quanza river on the
west, and 15° N. lat. in Eastern Africa.
This species has been well described by Linneus as Lowia
butyracea, nominally from an Indian specimen, but really pro-
cured in the Ethiopian Region and probably at the Cape of
Good Hope, where in those days a vessel from India was sure
to stop on her way to Hurope. Probably a ship from the Cape
which touched at some port on the Senegambian coast brought
from South Africa the type of Swainson’s Ovithagra chrysopyga,
for his short description and figure of that bird agrees well
with the present species and not with the allied West African
form. The type of Fringilla ictera, Vieill., also came from
South Africa.
SERINUS BUTYRACEUS. 195
In Benguela, Anchieta procured a specimen at the Rio
Chimba, which is in the British Museum, and he informs us
that the species is known to the natives at Biballa as the
“ Kianja” and at Caconda as the “ Kabilo” and he also procured
the species at Quissange.
These Canaries are common and very evenly distributed
throughout the whole of South Africa and the greater portion
of Tropical Hast Africa. According to Stark: ‘ In its habits
it is lively and excitable, but at the same time tame and
confiding. In the spring of the year the cock is much given
to chasing the hens, as well as intruding males of his own
species, when not uttering his melodious song of seven flute-
like notes, from the top of a bush. During the winter months
these seed-eaters collect in small flocks and frequent open
ground and stubble-fields in search of small seeds which they
habitually eat. They frequently feed along with other Finches
and Waxbills. In summer they vary their diet with small
beetles, caterpillars, and other insects, and I have even seen
individual birds taking flies on the wing. They are fond, also,
of sipping the nectar from the blossoms of certain creepers
that are much frequented by Sunbirds. Owing to its pretty
plumage, its gay and lively disposition, and its charming song,
this species is frequently caught and caged, and is even
exported to Europe as a cage-bird. The nest, a neat and
pretty cup-shaped structure, is built ina low bush, in September
or October, of dry stalks of grass and flowers, lined with finer
grass and cotton down. From three to five eggs are laid, of a
pale bluish ground colour, sparingly spotted towards the larger
end with pale reddish brown. They measure 0°68 x 0°52.
The female sits for twelve or thirteen days, and the young
remain in the nest for about twenty-four days. They are fed
on insects, and are at first covered with yellowish white down.”
According to Mr. Boyd Alexander the species is common
196 SERINUS BUTYRACEUS.
along the Zambesi river, where it was found by him in small
flocks. In Mosambique, Peters collected the types of his
Crithagra mosambicus and a totally different bird, Crithagra
crassirostris, Peters, which has been sometimes wrongly referred
to this species; but as I remarked in 1895, it possibly is the
oldest name for Crithagra rendalli, Tristram, which is really a
Weaver-bird belonging to the subfamily Viduine, and might
be placed in my List of the Birds of Africa between Pyromelana
and Quelea in a new genus, for which I have proposed the name
of Anomalospiza.
Now to resume the history of Serinus butyraceus, from
which I have diverged. It has been procured by Dr. Stuhl-
mann at Quilemane; in the neighbourhood of Lake Nyasa
specimens have been collected by Mr. Alexander Whyte at
Fort Hill and Mlosa, and by Col. Manning on the Tanganyika
plateau near the boundary of British Central Africa and
German Hast Africa; in Central Africa Béhn procured the
species at Gonda, Hmin in Ugogo and in the country of the
Upper White Nile, at Fadjuli and Tobbo and in the latter
district he found these Finches abundant, frequenting the
thickly leaved sycamore trees. Fischer met with the species
throughout Hast Africa from Mosambique to Wapocomoland on
the north side of the Tana river. He took a nest of the species
at Wasso in April, which was built on an acacia tree about
five feet from the ground, and he also informs us that it is
called in the Lamu district ‘‘ Kinanga-nangu,” and in South
Gallaland, ‘‘ T'scheriko.” Mr. Jackson procured specimens at
Tangani, on Manda Island, and at Ntebi near the north-east
end of Victoria Nyanza. Mr. Neumann met with the species
at Kilimanjaro and in Uganda, and Dr. Ansorge in Unioro.
In Somaliland it has been found by M. Révoil, and according
to Lord Lovat it frequents the valleys of South and Central
Abyssinia. Heuglin procured the type of his Crithagra barbata
inus hartlaubi.ad.&juv.
il
2. ” albifrons.
SERINUS HARTLAUBI. 197
at Djur and found these Finches abundant in the wooded
country westward from the Gazelle river to Kosanga, where
they were breeding in March and had young ones able to fly
by the end of April. The types of both Fringilla aurifrons,
Heugl. and Serinus jflavifrons, Pr. Wiirtt. came from Abyssinia,
the former from Dokah, and the latter from Fazogl. As
neither Dr. Blanford nor Mr. Jesse met with the species, it is
probably very rare in northern Abyssinia, and its range hardly
extends to 15° N. lat.
I have called this and the next species Yellow-fronted
Canaries, because Lathan, in 1783, christened them Yellow-
fronted Grosbeaks.
Serinus hartlaubi. (PI. 25, fig. 1.)
Crithagra hartlaubi, Bolle, J. f. O. 1858, p. 855 W. Afr.
Crithagra chrysopogon (nec Swains.) Gordon, Contr. Orn. 1849, p. 9
Gold Coast.
Crithagra chrysopyga (nec Swains.) Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, pp. 301, 308
Manyanga, Kasongo ; Rendall, Ibis, 1892, p. 219 Gambia.
Crithagra butyracea (nec Linn.) Reichen. J. f. O. 1875, p. 42 Abokobi.
Serinus butyraceus, Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 390 Togo; 1897, p. 41
Togo ; Hartert, Noy. Zool. 1899, p. 414 Gambaga.
Serinus icterus (nec Vieill.) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 356 (1888) pt.
W. Afr.; Reichen. J. f. O. 1896, p. 35 Camaroons ; Budgett, Ibis,
1891, p. 490 Gambia; Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 297 Gambaga.
Serinus punctigula, Reichen, Orn. Monatsh. 1898, p. 23 Camaroons.
Adult male. Forehead, eyebrows, cheeks, chin, throat, under surface of
body, under tail-coverts and the rump pale canary yellow; remainder of the
head and a band down the sides of the upper throat deep leaden grey ; some
dark centres to the feathers of the crown; mantle yellowish olive partially
mottled with dark shaft-stripes to the feathers ; upper tail-coverts and tail
blackish brown, the former broadly edged with bright yellow and the feathers
of the latter narrowly so with yellowish buff fading into white at the ends.
Wing blackish brown, the feathers with olive tinted yellow edges, broadest
and palest at the ends of the median and greater coverts; under surface of
wing dusky, fading into white on the inner edges of the quills and the coverts,
the latter tinted with yellow, especially towards the bend of the wing. Ivis
brown ; bill horny brown; tarsi and feet dusky. Total length 4:2 inches,
Wing 2°55, tail 1-8, tarsus 06. g, 1.1.1. Gambaga (Alexander).
198 SERINUS HARTLAUBI.
The Senegal Yellow-fronted Canary ranges over West
Africa generally between the Senegal and Quanza rivers.
This species has been very generally confounded with its
near ally the common Yellow-fronted Canary, which replaces it
in South and Hast Africa. It is distinguished from that bird
by the grey colouring of the crown in adult males, the narrower
dark stripes on the mantle, and the tail having little or no
white ends to the feathers.
Swainson received the type of his Crithagra chrysopyga from
Senegal, but from the description and illustration of that bird
I am led to conclude that the specimen was a South African
one, so I reject that name for the present species and in so
doing set aside Crithagra chrysopogon, Gordon, as it was entered
without a description, and was used instead of C. chrysopyga,
either in error or as a more classical rendering of the same.
This brings me to Crithagra hartlaubi, Bolle. Dr. Carl Bolle
has pointed out the characters of this species and how it differs
from the description and figure of Crithagra chrysopya, Swains.,
and his article on this subject (J. f. O. 1858, pp. 353-359) is
worth reading.
Marche and De Compitgne met with the species at
Bathurst. Here, according to Dr. Rendall, the natives keep
many of them in cages and speak of them as Canaries.
Verreaux procured specimens from Casamanse, and at Bissao
they are so abundant, we are told by Mr. Chelmicki, that he
met with flocks of thousands along the rampart walls, yet Mr.
Bittikofer does not record the species from Liberia. In the
British Museum there are specimens from Ashantee and
Elmina. While I was on the Gold Coast with Mr. T. EH.
Buckley, in February and March, 1872, we found the species
abundant at Cape Coast and Accra, usually in large flocks.
Ussher procured specimens near the mouth of the Volta river.
Inland at Gambaga and Gepieri it has been met with by
=
SERINUS FLAVIVENTRIS, 199
Captain W. Gifford and Captain Boyd Alexander, and in Togo-
land by Dr. Bittner. From Abeokuta there is a specimen
which was sent to the British Museum in spirits, which has
had the effect of turning all the yellow parts white, but has not
much altered the other colours. Mr. Hartert tells us that the
species is known at Lagos as the African Canary, and when he
was in the Niger district at Loko in July he was struck with
the beauty of its song. In Camaroons Mr. Zenker procured
the type of S. punctigula, Reichen., on the grass-lands of the
Sanaga district. This specimen, which I have examined, is an
immature bird of the present species with a few blackish spots
on the middle throat. Ido not find the species recorded from
either Gaboon or Angola, but specimens have been collected by
Lucan and Petit on the Loango Coast, and by Bohndorff up
the Congo river at Manyanga and Kasongo.
Serinus flaviventris.
Crithagra flaviventris, Swains. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 348 (1828) S. Afr.
Serinus flaviventris, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 353 (1888) Cape Col. ;
Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 342 egg ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 283 (1896) ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 110 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i.
p. 170 (1900).
? Fringilla butyracea, Linn. §. N. i. p. 321 (1766) Madeira.
Crithagra strigilata, Swains. Ann. in Menag. p. 317 (1837, ?) S. Afr.
Crithagra flava, Swains. ¢. c. p. 318 (1837, ¢) S. Afr.
Adult male. Upper parts yellowish green with dusky shaft-stripes to the
feathers of the crown and mantle, and a wash of yellow on the lower back ;
forehead and a broad complete eyebrow bright yellow. Wings and tail
brownish black with yellowish green edges to the feathers; lesser coverts
like the mantle; under coverts and inner edges of the quills brownish white,
the former strongly washed with yellow. Sides of the head below the eye-
brow and a band from the lores down the side of the upper throat greenish,
with the greater portion of the cheeks canary yellow like the chin, throat,
breast, thighs and under tail-coverts. ‘Iris brown; upper mandible dusky ;
lower one light brown; tarsi and feet dark brown” (Stark). Total length
5°3 inches, culmen 0-35, wing 2°8, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°7. Cape Col. (Smith).
200 SERINUS MARSHALLI.
Adult female. Very different. Yellow confined to a wash of that colour
on the edges of the feathers; upper parts ashy brown with blackish shaft-
stripes; rump and upper tail-coverts rather strongly washed with yellow
and the pale edges to wing and tail feathers tinted with that colour; side of
forehead, a broad eyebrow and most of the cheeks buffy white ; remainder of
sides of head uniform ashy brown, under parts whitish, thickly streaked
with dark brown on the chest, sides of body and under tail-coverts, and
spotted with that colour on the throat. Total lengh 4:9 inches, culmen 0:4,
wing 2°7, tail 2, tarsus 0°75. 9, 23.1. 74. Stellendorf (Shelley).
Swainson’s Canary is apparently confined to Cape Colony.
This species is a local representative of the very nearly allied
wider ranging S. marshalli. The “ Kleine Seisje,” as this bird
is called by the Dutch Colonists, is, Stark informs us, not such
a favourite cage-bird as the Cape Canary, but has by no means
a despicable song, many of its notes being exceedingly true and
sweet. He further remarks: “In the neighbourhood of
Saldanha Bay, where it is, together with the large 8. albigu-
laris, abundant among the bushes that overgrow the sandhills
at the back of the beach, it breeds in September. A nest
found on the 30th of this month, with five fresh eggs, was
placed in the top of a low bush about fifteen inches off the
ground. It was slightly but neatly constructed of small twigs
and dry grass-bents, and was thickly lined with cotton seeds of
a bush that grew not far off. The eggs are of a faint bluish
green ground colour, sparsely zoned and marked at the large
end with small spots of dark and light reddish brown. They
measure 0°70 x 0°52.”
Serinus marshalli, sp. nov.
Serinus imberbis (nec Cab.) Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii, p. 355 (1888 pt.)
Damara, Gt. Namaqua, Transvaal; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 172
(1900).
Crithagra flaviventris (nec Swains.) Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 410 Damara.
Serinus flayiventris, Butler, Foreign Finches in Captivity, p. 31, pl. 7
(1894) ; Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 239 Mashona.
SERINUS MARSHALLI. 901
a
Adult male. Extremely similar to S. flaviventris but with the bill slightly
larger and the upper parts yellower, the crown and mantle being greenish
yellow and the lower back almost pure yellow. Total length 5-2 inches,
culmen 0:4, wing 2°9, tail 2°3, tarsus 0°7. ¢g, 20. 1. 85. Potchefstroom
(T. Ayres).
Adult female. Similar to that of S. flaviventris but paler, and with the
under parts less strongly streaked. Sides of forehead, a broad eyebrow and
most of the cheek buffy white, remainder of the head ashy brown; under
parts whitish, tinted with brown on the crop, where there are a few dusky
shaft-stripes ; sides of body slightly washed with yellow and streaked with
brown. ‘Total length 5:1 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°8, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°6.
?,19. 6.52. Koij’s fountain (Andersson).
Marshall’s Canary inhabits the island of St. Helena and
South Africa from Benguela and Mashona to the Orange
river. :
These birds, as well as S. flaviventris, are known to the
dealers in cage-birds as the St. Helena Canary, and the name is
justified by their being more commonly captured on that island
than elsewhere.
They show a marked affinity to S. jlaviventris in the
plumage of the females being totally different to that of the
adult males, which character is not known to occur in any
other member of the genus to anything like the same extent.
This indicates that their nearest ally is S. flaviventris, and not
the remarkably similar bird S. imberbis, which latter belongs
to the S. sulphuratus group in which the sexes are alike in
plumage.
To account for this, I would suggest that they may be the
descendants of a pair of S. flaviventris imported from the Cape
of Good Hope to St. Helena, where the different conditions of
climate, food, &c., have had the effect of producing the slight
differences which distinguish S. marshalli from 8S. flaviventris.
Being extremely good songsters, they would be imported to
S. Africa as readily as they are to Europe, but in the former
country they would naturally become easily acclimatised and
———— SS Cee
202 SERINUS MARSHALLI.
might be kept beyond the borders of Cape Colony by the
conservative feeling of the original race, so I consider we
should not be justified in stating that S. marshalli inhabits
S. Africa and is met with in St. Helena only as an introduced
species.
On St. Helena it is, according to Mr. Mellis (Ibis, 1870,
p- 101), next to Hstrilda astrild, the most abundant land-bird on
the island, and he remarks: “It is to be regretted that its
numbers are diminishing, very probably owing to the trade
carried on in them between the natives and the shipping.
The note of this bird is less shrill and much sweeter than
that of the real Canary; perched on the branch of a tree, it
will, on a summer’s morning, sing unceasingly for hours.” It
associates with other Finches, and is particularly fond of fruit,
ripe peaches especially.
In Benguela these Canaries have been met with by
Anchieta at Huilla, and in German South-western Africa they
are rare according to Mr. Fleck, who found them perched upon
bushes near the mountain streams. In the British Museum
there are specimens from Damaraland, Great Namaqualand,
the Transvaal, Matabeleland and Mashonaland. I do not find
either this species or S. flaviventris recorded from Natal or
Zululand, but according to Mr. T. Ayres the present species is
abundant at Potchefstroom, breeding there amongst the hedge-
rows in September, and Mr. Guy Marshall calls them common
in Mashonaland, where they congregate in flocks during the
early winter.
I have named the species after my friend Mr. Guy A. K.
Marshall, who has done much good work in Mashonaland.
SERINUS IMBERBIS. 203
Serinus imberbis.
Crithagra imberbis, Cab. J. f. O. 1868, p. 412 note, Zanzibar ; Fisch.
J. f. O. 1885, p. 136 Zanzibar; Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, pp. 42, 72
Ugaia.
Serinus imberbis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 355 (1888 pt.) Zambesi and
H. Afr.; Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 22 Zomba; Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr.
p. 197 (1894) Kakoma ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 284 (1896); Neum.
J. f. O. 1900, p. 289 Usoga.
Crithagra chloropsis (nec Bp.) Cab. in Decken’s Reis. iii. p. 30, pl. 9
(1869) Zanzibar.
Serinus flaviventris (nec Swains.) Reichen. J. f. O, 1892, p. 51 Bukoba;
id. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894) Karagwe ; Hartert in Ansorge’s
Under Afr. Sun, p. 347 (1899) Unyoro, Uganda.
Serinus sharpii, Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 287 Kilimanjaro.
Adult male. Intermediate between S. sulphwratus and S. marshalli,
resembling the former in the plumage of the sexes being similar, and the
yellow sides of the forehead not meeting. It differs from S. swlphuratus and
agrees well with S. marshalli in the greater amount of yellow on the upper
and underparts.
Aboye, olive yellow with faintly marked dusky shaft-stripes to the
feathers of the crown and mantle; lower back and upper tail-coverts
uniform, the former inclining to bright yellow. Tail blackish brown, with
narrow, rather dull yellow edges. Wing blackish brown, the lesser coverts
like the mantle, and the other feathers edged with the same shade of yellow
as the lower back. Sides of head and neck mostly uniform olive yellow,
with the sides of the forehead, eyebrow, and patches on the front and back
of the cheeks bright canary yellow like the chin, throat, breast, thighs and
under tail-coverts; crop very faintly tinged with olive. Iris brown, bill
yellowish, slightly browner above, tarsi and feet brown. Total length 5:2
inches, culmen 0:45, wing 8, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°65. 3, 26.4.97; 2,19. 4, 97.
Masindi (Ansorge).
Adult female. Slightly duller ; mantle more streaked, less yellow on the
head, crop rather more olive ; flanks with a few obscure dusky streaks.
Decken’s Canary ranges over Hastern Africa from the
Zambesi river into the Uganda country.
It apparently replaces S. marshalli at the Zambesi and
northward, for in the British Museum there are two full-
plumaged specimens, procured by Sir John Kirk at Tete, and
three others by Mr. Whyte at Zomba and Tchiroma in the
204 SERINUS SULPHURATUS.
Upper Shiré district. Béhm records the species as plentiful
near Kakoma, in flocks with other Finches in the rice-fields,
or perched on boughs to sing. The type of the species was
discovered by the late Baron von der Decken at Zanzibar.
Fischer collected specimens there and in Ugeyeya, and Mr.
Oscar Neumann obtained the type of his S. sharpei in the
intervening country on Kilimanjaro. The latter naturalist met
with specimens he refers to S. imberbis at Kwa Lubwa in
Usogo, and I cannot see in his description of the type of S.
sharpet any character for distinguishing it from the birds
‘collected by Dr. Ansorge in Unioro and Uganda, which agree
perfectly with specimens from Tete and Nyasaland. Hmin has
obtained the species at Bukoba.
Serinus sulphuratus.
Loxia sulphurata, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 805 (1766) Cape.
Serinus sulphuratus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 352 (1888) ; Reichen.
J. £. O. 1891, p. 158 Ugogo ; Biittik. Notes, Leyd. Mus. 1888, p. 240
Humpata ; Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894); Butler, Foreign
Finches in Captivity, p. 29, pl. 6, fig. 2 (1894); Fleck, J. f. O. 1895,
p. 341 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 282 (1896); Sharpe, Ibis, 1897,
p. 514 Zulu ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers, p. 110 (1899) egg ; Jackson, Ibis,
1899, p. 620 Ravine, Naivasha ; Starke, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 169
(1900).
Crithagra sulphuratus, Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 186 Naiwasha ; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1887, p. 72 Salanda.
Brimstone Grosbeak, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. p. 1387 (1783).
Adult. Above yeliowish green streaked with brownish black centres on
the feathers of the crown and mantle. ‘Tail and wings brownish black with
olive yellow edges to the feathers, broadest on the inner secondaries, greater
coverts, ends of the median coverts and the lesser coverts, which latter are
like the mantle; under surface of quills with brownish buff inner edges ;
under coyerts ashy, strongly washed with bright yellow. Sides of forehead,
a broad eyebrow and patches on the front and back of the cheeks canary
yellow, like the chin and upper throat; remainder of the sides of the head
uniform olive green, like the back of the neck; breast and under tail-coverts
bright yellow like the upper throat, but shading into olive yellow on the
SERINUS SULPHURATUS. 205
crop and flanks. ‘‘ Iris brown; bill pale horn brown ; lower mandible dusky
horn white ; feet brown.” Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 3:25
and 3:1, tail 2-5, tarsus, 0°7. g, 9, 23. 7.97. Ravine (Jackson)—22. 7. 65.
Table mountain (Andersson).
The Brimstone Canary ranges over South Africa generally
and northward to Mossamedes in Western Africa and to the
Equator on the east side of the continent.
Mr. Biittikofer records two specimens of this species as
having been procured by Mr. Vander Kellen at Humpate in the
Upper Cunene district in February, 1885, which much extends
the range of this species on the west coast of Africa, for it was
not previously known from north of the Orange river on this
side. When I visited South Africa in 1874, I found these
Canaries common in the pine forests near Capetown. They
appear to be very evenly distributed over the colony and are
known to the Dutch as the ‘‘Geel Saysie.” “It is,” Stark
wrote, “rather common in many parts of Cape Colony, both
on open pasture land and in bushy localities. In winter these
birds form considerable flocks, often joining with other Finches
to search for seeds on the ground. The principal part of their
food, however, consists of small berries and their seeds; the
latter they crack with their powerful bills for the sake of the
kernels. In spring the males sing delightfully, their notes
being both powerful and mellow; for this reason they are
frequently kept as cage-birds and even exported to Hurope.
The nest, usually built in September in Cape Colony, is a small
and neat cup-shaped structure, and is nearly always placed in
a low bush, rarely more than four feet above the ground. It is
constructed outwardly of dry grass-stems and cottony down.
The eggs, generally four in number, are either white or white
faintly tinged with blue; about one half of them are unspotted,
the remaining half have a few deep black spots, or one or two
zig-zag markings towards the larger end. ‘They are usually
206 SERINUS SULPHURATUS.
somewhat elongated and tapering towards the smaller
extremity. They average 0°85 X 0°60.
“Incubation lasts for fourteen days, and the young remain
in the nest for from three to four weeks. During this period
they are fed on insects and on the contents of the crops of the
parent birds.”
In Zululand the Messrs. Woodward procured the species
at Eschowe and Mr. T. Ayres shot specimens in Natal and the
Transvaal, and from the latter colony in the Lydenberg district
wrote: “This bird I found in the woods in the ravines of the
mountains often busy feeding about the upper twigs and foliage
of the trees and shrubs.”
In East Africa specimens have been collected by Fischer
at Matangisi in Ugogo, at Salanda on Victoria Nyanza and as
far north as Naiwasha lake. In this latter district specimens
have also been procured by Mr. Jackson at this lake and in
the mountains at Ravine, where he records the species as
scarce, but collected five males and three females in March,
July and August. Lord Delamere shot a male at lake Nakuro
on the first day of this century and it is now in the British
Museum.
I fail to see any character for distinguishing the Hast
African Equatorial specimens from the Cape Colony birds, and
the description I have taken from a male and female shot by
Mr. Jackson at Ravine agree to a nicety with those from South
Africa, including one of Andersson’s from Cape Town, and on
the label of one of the Hast African specimens in the British
Museum is written 8. sharpit in, I believe, Mr. Oscar Neumann’s
hand-writing. It may, however, appear strange that from the
country between the Limpopo river and Ugogo the species
has not yet been recorded; but this tract of country, like
Angola, are the portions of Africa which have been least
explored scientifically. As a cage-bird the species requires
the same treatment as S. canicollis.
SERINUS SOCOTRANUS. 207
Serinus donaldsoni.
Serinus donaldsoni, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. 41 (1895); id. P. Z. 8.
1895, p. 470, pl. 27, fig. 2 Somali; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 288
(1896).
Male. Similar in size and colouring to S. sulphwratus, but may be readily
distinguished by the rump being strongly washed with bright yellow and the
throat, breast and under tail-coverts clear bright yellow with no olive shade;
it is further characterised in having the feathers of the abdomen mostly
white and some broad dusky olive stripes on the flanks. ‘Iris dark brown;
bill flesh colour. Total length 6:1 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3-25, tail 2-7,
tarsus 0:65. ¢,10.9.94. Darde R. (Donaldson Smith).
Donaldson’s Canary inhabits Somaliland.
This species was discovered by Dr. Donaldson Smith in
Somaliland, and is known to me by the type which was shot
at the Darde river, September 10, 1894, and another male
killed the same day at Kalolo, both of which are in the
British Museum.
Serinus socotranus.
Rhynchostruthus socotranus, Sclater and Hartl. P. Z. 8. 1881, p. 171,
pl. 17 Socotra Is.; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 282 (1888); Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 251 (1896).
Rhynchostruthus riebecki, Hartl. P. Z. 8. 1881, p. 954, pl. 72 Socotra Is.
Adult male. Head, upper neck and throat black with the ear-coverts
white; back and scapulars uniform brown shaded with ashy grey towards
the lower back and upper tail-coverts. Wing blackish brown and bright
yellow ; the lesser wing-coverts washed at the edges with yellow, the greater
coverts and the secondaries with very broad pale yellow outer edges, forming
two thick oblique bars on the closed wing; the inner greater coverts and
inner secondaries with broad ashy grey edges ; under surface of quills dusky
brown with obsolete pale inner margins, and the under wing-coverts whitish
ash partially washed with pale yellow. The black throat ends in a curve
surrounded by the uniform pale ashy brown of the sides of the neck, crop
and breast, which latter fades into white on the lower abdomen and under
tail-coverts. Tail blackish brown with bright yellow outer edges to the
feathers, broadest at the base but reaching nearly to their ends. “Iris
brown ; bill black; tarsi and feet flesh colour.” Total length 6 inches,
208 SERINUS LOUIS.
culmen 0°65, wing 3:5, tail 2°3, tarsus 0°75. ¢, 12.2.99 (Grant and Forbes).
Adult female. Differs only in the crown and nape being browner,
and the throat fading into tawny brown on the lower half. ?, 10. 2. 99.
(Grant and Forbes).
Immature. Differs in the forehead and crown being like the back,
brown with dusky brown centres to the feathers; wings and tail as in
adults; sides of head dusky blackish towards the bill; ear-coverts uniform
brownish buff; throat brownish buff, with dark brown streaks; breast and
under tail-coverts white, the chest and sides of body strongly striped, with
dark brown centres to the feathers.
The Socotra Golden-winged Canary is a native of the
island of Socotra.
This species was discovered by Prof. J. B. Balfour, who
found them ‘on the shrubs in the Goehel valley, feeding on
seeds of a species of Croton;” and collected four immature
males, one of which has been well figured, and differs greatly
from the adult which has been figured and described under
the name of R. riebecki, after Dr. Riebeck, who procured a
pair in full plumage at Karegnigi, April 28, 1881, about one
month after the species had first been discovered.
Serinus louise.
Rhynchostruthus louise, Lort Phillips, Bull. B. O. C. vi. p. 47 (1897)
Somali; id. Ibis, 1898, p. 398, pl. 8.
Adults. Very similar in plumage to R. socotrana, but differ in the
colouring of the head and throat. Forehead and crown brown like the
mantle ; front half of sides of head, the chin and upper throat black; ear-
coverts and sides and front of neck ashy brown, or stone colour, like the
breast. Length 4:9 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2°9, tail 17, tarsus 0°65.
Type, ¢, 381.1.97. Somali (L. Phillips).
Immature like that of R. socotrana, but with the crown more uniform
and the head and neck of a more ashy grey shade.
The Somali Golden-winged Canary inhabits Somaliland.
Mr. Lort Phillips discovered the type, an adult female, at
Sheikh, Jan. 31, 1897, and shot an immature male on the
SERINUS BURTONI. 209
Wagga mountain, about a month later, and these two speci-
mens are well figured in the Ibis.
This finch is apparently nowhere common, for it has been
recorded by Mr. Lort Phillips only, who in 1898 wrote: “ That
so brightly-coloured and conspicuous a bird as this new Finch
should have escaped being recorded for so long is indeed
remarkable. In 1895, at the foot of the Sheikh Pass, I
procured a specimen out of a small flock, but as it was badly
shot I gave up the attempt of skinning it and threw it away,
thinking that I should see plenty more, but I did not see
any during the whole time I was then in the country.”
Serinus burtoni.
Strobilophaga burtoni, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H. (3) x. p. 444 (1862)
Camaroons.
Serinus burtoni, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 364. pl. 7 (1888) Camaroons ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1890, p. 124; Sjostedt, Svensk. Vet. Ak. Handl.
27, No. 1, p. 93 (1895); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 295 (1896).
Crithagra burtoni, Shelley, P. Z. S. 1887, p. 126 Camaroons.
Adult. Head, neck and upper parts dark brown, slightly mottled with
paler edges to the feathers; forehead white, or mottled with white; some
of the median and greater coverts with white ends; quills and tail-feathers
narrowly edged with olive yellow; under wing-coverts ashy brown, tinted
with rufous, and the axillaries washed with yellow ; chin and cheeks mottled
with dusky black, and a few whitish edges to the feathers ; chest, abdomen
and under tail-coverts buff, with broad dark brown shaft-stripes on the sides
of the body. Iris, bill and legs brown. Total length 6:4 inches, culmen 0°65,
wing 3°5, tail 2:8, tarsus 0°85. Type.
Sexes very similar in plumage.
Burton’s Canary inhabits Camaroons.
The type was discovered by Burton in that country, and
probably came from the highlands of the interior, for the
only other specimens of this rare species yet recorded are
two males and a female procured by Sir Harry Johnston in
the mountains at a height of 9,000 feet.
[May, 1902, 14
210 SERINUS ALBIFRONS.
Serinus albifrons. (Pl. 25, fig. 2.)
Crithagra albifrons, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, pp. 118, 255 Kikwyu, Mt. Elgon.
Serinus albifrons, Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 296 (1896); Jackson, Ibis, 1899,
p- 621 Ravine, Nandi; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 43 Nairobé ;
Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 289 Kikwyw; Sharpe, Ibis, 1902, 117
Ravine.
Crithagra kilimensis, Richmond, Auk, xiv. p. 155 (1897) Kilimanjaro.
Adult. Upper parts brown, obscurely mottled with dark centres to the
feathers of the crown and mantle. Wing, with the lesser-coverts like the
back ; remainder washed with olive yellow on the edges of the feathers, and
with white terminal edges to the median and greater-coverts forming two
narrow bars; under surface of the quills dark brown, slightly paler on the
inner edges; axillaries and under-coverts brownish buff strongly washed
with chrome yellow. Tail dark brown with partial olive yellow edges to
the feathers. Sides of the head and neck dark brown, inclining to black on
the front half of the head, the chin, and the upper throat, which parts are
rather irregularly mottled with white; breast and the under tail-coverts
isabelline, with blackish brown centres to the feathers of the flanks and
under tail-coverts. ‘Iris brown; upper mandible dusky brown; lower
mandible white at the base with a dusky tip; tarsi and feet horn brown.”’
Total length 6:3 inches, culmen 0-65, wing, 3:5, tail 2-9, tarsus 08. 3, ?,
31. 7.96. Ravine (Jackson).
Immature, type. Generally slightly more rufous; forehead buffy white,
and a few of the feathers of the crown edged with that colour ; pale ends
to the median and greater wing-coverts rufous buff. Total length 6:3 inches,
culmen 0:55, wing 3:5, tail 2:8, tarsus 0°75. ¢, 25. 2. 90. Mt. Elgon
(Jackson).
Jackson's Brown Canary inhabits eastern Tropical Africa.
The most southern range known to me for this species, is
the Kilimanjaro mountain, and its most northern is Mount
Elgon. On Kilimanjaro Dr. W. L. Abbott procured the type
of Crithagra kilimensis, Richmond, at an elevation of 6,000 feet,
and another specimen one thousand feet higher up the moun-
tain. Dr. R. R. Sharpe has proved that the type of Crithagra
kilimensis is a full plumaged male of Crithagra albifrons, Sharpe.
Mr. Jackson has collected a fine series of both adults and
immature specimens at the Eldoma ravine, in Nandi and in the
SERINUS STRIOLATUS. 211
Kikuyu country, also on Mount Elgon. Besides these, Lord
Delamere has procured specimens at Nairobé, Baroma on the
Kikuyu escarpment, and at the Nayuki river, which specimens
are now in the British Museum.
Serinus striolatus.
Pyrrhula striolata, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vig. p. 99, pl. 37, fig. 1 (1835)
Abyssinia.
Serinus striolatus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 363 (1888) Kilimanjaro,
Abyssinia ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 271 Shoa; Shelley,
P. Z. 8. 1889, p. 367 Kilimanjaro; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 258
Kikuyu, Mt. Elgon; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 294 (1896); Grant,
Ibis, 1900, p. 185 S. Abyssinia; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 289
Kilimanjaro.
Crithagra striolata, Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 1386 Arusha.
Poliospiza striolata, Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894) Arusha,
Kilimanjaro.
Crithagra striolata affinis, Richmond, Auk. xiv. p. 157 (1897) Kilimanjaro.
Serinus affinis, Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 620 Ravine, Nandi, Kikuyu ;
Hinde, Ibis, 1900, p. 494 N’gong.
Adult. Above mottled brown, the broad centres to the feathers
inclining to black and the pale edges partially fade into buff down the
centre of the crown and on the hind neck. Wing: lesser-coverts like the
back; median and greater-coverts as well as the inner secondaries with
fairly broad terminal edges of brownish white ; outer edges of the greater-
coverts, primury-coverts and the remainder of the quills have partial olive
yellow edges, the remaining portion of the wing being blackish brown, with
buff inner edges to the quills, and the axillaries and under wing-coverts
isabelline buff with a slight yellow shade on the pinion. Tail blackish
brown with narrow olive yellow edges to the feathers. Sides of head dark
brown, surmounted by a broad eyebrow from the nostril of yellowish buff
and a less sharply defined band of the same colour extends from the gape to
the sides of the neck and defines a broad dark brown mustachial band
which borders the upper half of the throat. Under parts isabelline buff,
with the lower throat, sides of body and the under tail-coverts streaked with
brownish black centres to the feathers; outside of thighs brown. “ Iris
brown; bill brown with the lower mandible dusky white; tarsi and feet
brown” (Jackson). Total length 6-2 and 5:0 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2-9
and 2:6, tail 2-4, tarsus 0°75. 9, 2, Senafé (Jesse and Blanford).
The Streaky Brown-Canary ranges over Eastern Africa
between 3° 5S. lat. and 15° N. lat.
212 SERINUS STRIOLATUS.
The most southern range known to me for this species is
Great Arusha, where Fischer procured a pairin July. In the
Masai district it is abundant, and as these specimens do not
differ in any way from North Abyssinian birds it was unneces-
sary to call those collected by Dr. Abbott on the Kilimanjaro
mountain Crithagra striolata affinis. Besides the specimens
from Kilimanjaro, procured by Mr. Hunter and Sir Harry
Johnston, I have examined about a dozen others in the
collection of Mr. Jackson, who remarks: ‘Not nearly so
plentiful at Nandi as might have been expected, since the
elevation and character of the country are so similar to those
of Ravine, where the bird is so common.” In Kikuyu, on
January 31, 1897, he found a nest placed in a bush three feet
from the ground, and on Mount Elgon shot a specimen at an
elevation of 11,000 feet. Dr. Hinde, while stationed at N’gong
in Masailand, found these Finches very common.
The species has not been recorded from Somaliland, but
ranges over Abyssinia generally. In the southern part of that
dominion Lord Lovat shot a specimen at Gedda, and Antinori
records it as common throughout the year, near Mahal-Uonz,
where its note, a “‘ zi-zi,” is frequently heard near the dwellings.
He also procured specimens at Denz, and Dr. Ragazzi shet
others at Siotalit, Antoto and Let-Marefia.
Riippell discovered the type in the more central part of
Abyssinia, and according to Heuglin it is not rare in this
country to as far north as Bogosland, and ascends the moun-
tains to a height of 11,000 feet. Dr. Blanford writes: “ This
is not a very common bird, and it was only observed on the
higher levels, usually solitary but occasionally in flocks. I met
with it above 9,000 feet.” He procured the species at the
Alagi Pass to the south of Antato and at Senafé, which are
the most northern localities yet recorded for this Finch.
SERINUS WHYTEI. 913
Serinus whytei.
Serinus whytei, Shelley, Ibis, 1897, p. 528, pl. 11 Nyika plateau.
Type. Upper parts blackish brown with paler brown edges to the
feathers; the pale edges of the feathers of the crown and hind neck paler
and yellower than on the back and wing-coverts ; quills and tail-feathers edged
with yellow; sides of head dark olive brown, surmounted by a broad, well-
marked sulphur yellow eyebrow; throat uniform sulphur yellow, shaded
with dusky brown towards the chin; crop and body yellowish buff with
black shaft-stripes, broad and very distinct on the front and sides of the
body, and narrow on the under tail-coverts ; thighs and centre of abdomen
uniform; under wing-coverts yellowish buff; quills slaty brown beneath,
with pale inner margins. Bill horn colour; legs brown. Total length 6
inches, culmen 0:55, wing 2:8, tail 2°75, tarsus 0°85. Nyika plateau, June
(Whyte).
Whyte’s Canary inhabits the Nyika plateau to the west of
Lake Nyasa in about 10° S. lat.
The type, a female, was discovered by Mr. Alexander
Whyte on the Nyika plateau, June, 1896, and this is all we
really know regarding the species, which is possibly a very
local form. The so-called Nyika plateau is the elevated dis-
trict to the west of the northern portion of Lake Nyasa, and
has a mean elevation of probably about 6,000 feet, the highest
point of the range, called “ Centre Peak,” being nearly 8,000
feet high. Mr. Whyte, on reaching this plateau, was struck
by the remarkably sudden change in the climate and flora.
Hitherto he had not found it disagreeably cold, and until
reaching the plateau there was little or no sign of an Alpine
flora. At his last camp, about 1,000 feet below, the tempera-
ture stood at 72° Fahr. in the shade at noon, and here it stood
at 60° Fahr.
Serinus alario.
Fringilla alario, Linn. 8. N. I. p. 319 (1766) Cape.
Alaris alario, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 346 (1888) Table Mowntain,
Great Namaqua, Zambesi; Butler, Foreign Finches in Captivity,
p. 41, pl. 8, ¢, 2, 1894; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 279 (1896) ; Stark,
Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 179 (1900).
914 SERINUS ALARIO.
Loxia bouvreuil, P. L. 8. Mill. 5. N. Suppl. p. 154 (1770).
Crithagra ruficauda, Swains. Ann. in Menag. p. 317 (1837) S. Afr.
Crithagra bistrigata, Swains. ¢. c. p. 318 S. Afr.
Spermophila daubentoni, Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 386 (1849).
Crithagra personata, Licht. Nomencl. Ay. p. 47 (1854).
Alario aurantia (nec Gm.) Gurney in Anderss. B. Damara, p. 175 (1872).
Adult male in breeding plumage. Entire head jet black; back of neck,
back, scapulars, least series of wing-covert, median and greater coverts
(with the exception of the outermost ones), as well as outer margins of
inner secondaries uniform cinnamon ; upper tail-coverts and the tail-feathers
darker and redder, the ends of the latter with black angular shaft-marks,
largest on the outer ones. Remainder of the wing, including the entire
pinion, primary coyerts, primaries and greater portion of the secondaries
black ; inner portion of the under coverts cinnamon mottled with white
and the axillaries nearly white. Chin and throat black, which colour
extends in a fork down the sides of the middle chest ; sides of the neck and
the remainder of the under parts white, partially washed with cinnamon on
the sides of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts. Iris brown; bill dark
brown ; tarsi and feet reddish brown. Total length 4:7 inches, culmen 0:3,
wing 2:7, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°6. Cape (Butler).
Adult male in winter plumage. Differs in having the sides of forehead,
a broad eyebrow, a patch on the cheek, chin and throat white.
Adult female. With no black on the head or under parts. Upper parts
brown with the crown and mantle streaked, of an ashy shade on the fore-
head and crown, and of a more rufous colour on the mantle and outer
webs of the inner secondaries ; remainder of the wings blackish with the
least series of coverts and the ends of the inner greater coverts uniform
cinnamon, of the same shade as the lower back and slightly paler than the
upper tail-coverts and tail; the black terminal shaft-marks on the tail-
feathers are larger than in the males. Sides of forehead, a broad eyebrow,
band beneath the eye, hinder part of cheek, chin and throat white;
remainder of the head and neck pale brown ; breast and under tail-coverts
buff shaded with pale brown on the chest and sides of body. Total length
4:5 inches, culmen 0:3, wing 2°6, tail 1:8, tarsus 0°55.
Young. Similar to the adult female, but differ in the crown, mantle and
chest having broad dark shaft-stripes. §. Africa (Layard).
The Mountain Canary inhabits Africa, south from Great
Namaqualand and the Zambesi.
Andersson met with this species only in Great Namaqua-
land, in small flocks, near water. According to Stark it is
rather local in its distribution, but found in small flocks near
SERINUS ALARIO. 215
Cape Town, Malmesbury, Knysna, Port Elizabeth, and else-
where in the Colony, being perhaps most abundant in the
Karroo. They are gentle and confiding in their habits and
when feeding allow a very close approach without showing any
symptoms of alarm. They are fond of perching on low bushes,
but obtain the greater part of their food, consisting of grass
and other small seeds, from the ground, where they often
intermingle with the flocks of Waxbills and other small Finches.
The males frequently utter their low but sweet song from the
top of a bush, chiefly in the spring, but according to Dr. Russ
it is, in cage birds, continued the whole year. “In confine-
ment this species breeds both with the Cape and the Common
Canary. In a wild state it builds a small and neatly con-
structed cup-shaped nest in a low bush, of dry grass and small
stalks, lined with finer grass and the down of plants. The
eggs, three to five in number, are pale bluish green, spotted at
the large end with several shades of reddish brown. ‘They
average 0°68 x 0°50. The young are hatched in eleven days,
and remain in the nest for about three weeks. They are fed
on partly digested food from the crops of the old birds for
some time after they leave the nest. Two broods are reared in
the season, the first laying being in November, the second in
January.”
This Finch is best known to the Dutch colonists as the
* Berg-Canarie.” It was, according to Mr. Richard: “ much
prized by the lads in Port Elizabeth, who called it the
‘Namaqua’: it only appears at long intervals, but in con-
siderable numbers when it does occur; it sings well and
becomes very tame.’ My authority for extending its range
in eastern South Africa to the Zambesi rests on a specimen in
the British Museum labelled ‘‘ Zambesi (Meller).” We have
no right to doubt the correctness of this locality, and I may
here mention that Mr. Distant has kindly shown me a bird of
216 SERINUS LEUCOPYGIUS.
this species, which was brought to him alive by one of his
natives at Pretoria and was kept in a cage for some time.
Serinus leucopygius.
Crithagra leucopygia, Sundev. @ifv. K. Vet. Akad. Férh. Stockh. 1850,
p. 127 Senaar; Finsch in Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. Suppl. p. exlyv.
(1871).
Serinus leucopygius, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 366 (1888) Gambia,
Redjaf, Senaar; Butler, Foreign Finches in Confinement, p. 38,
pl. 8, fig. 1 (1894) ; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 342 egg; Shelley, B.
Afr. I, No. 297 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 110 (1899) egg ;
Witherby, Ibis, 1901, p. 247 Khartowm.
? Fringilla musica, Vieill. N. D. xii. p. 210 (1817) Senegal.
Serinus leucopygos, Bp. Consp. i. p. 523 (1850) ‘* S. Asia.”
Adult. Upper parts ashy brown with the lower back pure white ; fore-
head, crown, back of neck and the mantle mottled with dark brown centres
to the feathers; upper tail-coverts and the tail entirely uniform brown.
Wing with the pale edges to the feathers very narrow excepting on the inner
secondaries and ends of the greater and median coverts, where they incline to
white ; under surface with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts
ashy white. Sides of the head and neck nearly uniform ashy brown; under
parts white, slightly washed or mottled with ashy brown towards the front
of the chest; flanks streaked with brown. “Iris hazel; bill horn colour ;
tarsi and feet flesh-colour.”” Total length 4 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°6,
tail 1:5, tarsus 0°5. g,13.5.0. White Nile (H. F. Witherby).
The White-rumped Canary ranges from Senegambia into
Abyssinia, and up the White Nile to Redjaf in about 4° N. lat.
In West Africa the species is known to me from Senegambia
only, where it is apparently not uncommon. Dr. Rendall
procured specimens at Bathurst and kept them for some time
as cage-birds. There are several examples from the Gambia
in the British Museum, and Verreaux received it from
Casamanse.
In the southern range of this Canary, Emin obtained a
specimen at Redjaf, which is now in the British Museum along
with one procured by Hedenborg at Senaar. Heuglin met
with the species in the Bongo country, which is watered by
SERINUS ANGOLENSIS. 217
the Gazelle river. At the Blue Nile he found a nest which
was cup-shaped and deep inside, it was constructed of a kind
of hemp mixed with hairs and seed-down and lined with
feathers, hair and down. It was placed about five feet from
the ground and contained three eggs, which were pale greenish
grey spotted at the thick end with brownish red and dusky
brown; they measured 0°6 x 0-46. In this district, near
Senaar, it frequents the native villages and the surrounding
pasture-land and may be seen in flocks feeding on the ground,
or perched on bushes or rocks near water. He also observed
these Finches in Bogosland or Northern Abyssinia.
Mr. Witherby met with the species at Shebesha about ninety
miles south of Khartoum, and in some acacias near the river
at Wad Mariun, within twelve miles of Khartoum.
Serinus angolensis.
Fringilla angolensis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 918, 1788 Angola.
Serinus angolensis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 367 (1888) Damara,
Orange R., Makalaka ; Shelley B. Afr. I. No. 302 (1896) ; Marshall,
Ibis, 1896, p. 246; 1900, p. 239 Mashona; Neum. J. f. O. 1900,
p. 287 Uganda ; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 178 (1900).
Fringilla tobaca, Vieill. Enc. Méth. p. 969 (1823) ‘* Senegal.”
Linaria atrogularis, Smith, Rep. 8. Afr. Exped. p. 49 (1836) Kurrichaine.
Angola Finch, Lath. Gen. Zool. iii. p. 809 (1783).
Adult. Forehead brownish white; crown, back of neck, mantle and
lesser wing-coverts pale brown with blackish brown centres to the feathers ;
lower back bright sulphur yellow; upper tail-coverts dark brown with very
broad white ends. ‘Tail feathers dark brown with narrow pale edges to the
outer webs, which edges broaden out into white ends on the inner webs.
Wing: dark brown with pale edges to the feathers, broadest and of a slightly
paler brownish buff on the terminal portion of the median and greater
coyerts and the inner secondaries, and faintly shaded with yellow on the
primaries ; wing-lining with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts
brownish buff, the latter and the axillaries slightly tinted with yellow.
Sides of head and the under parts generally brownish white washed with
dark brown in front of the eyes and on the ear-coyerts; throat irregularly,
but sometimes strongly, mottled with dark brown or black ; flanks streaked
tone NN ee
_—
218 SERINUS ANGOLENSIS.
with dark brown; under tail-coverts nearly uniform white. ‘‘ Iris brown;
bill brownish ; legs flesh colour.” Total length 4:25 inches, culmen 0°35,
wing 2°5, tail 1-7, tarsus 0'5. g, 21.8. 81. Orange R. (Bradshaw).
Adult female. Like the male in size and plumage. ¢@, 14. 4. 68.
Potchefstroom (T. Ayres).
The Angola Canary ranges northward from the Orange
river into the Zambesi and Congo districts, and has been
recorded from Uganda in tropical Central Africa.
According to Mr. Oscar Neumann, a specimen he obtained
at Kampala in Uganda, May 25, 1894, belongs to this form
and not to its ally, S. reichenowi. This considerably extends
the range as previously known for the present species, the
northern limit of which was the Loango Coast, where Falken-
stein procured the species, for there can be no doubt it is not
indigenous in Senegal, from whence the type of Fringilla tobaca
nominally came.
The type of the species was obtained in Angola, as its name
implies, and specimens have since been obtained there by
Henderson. I do not find it recorded from Benguela, but
Andersson met with this species both in Damaraland and
further northward, congregating in large flocks and often
associating with S. butyraceus. According to Dr. Bradshaw
these Canaries are tolerably common on the Orange river, and
Sir Andrew Smith found them near Kurrichaine, where he got
the type of his Linaria atrogularis.
To the eastward, Mr. T. Ayres has procured specimens,
now in the British Museum, at De Wet’s Drift on the Vaal
river, and at Potchefstroom. Between the Limpopo and
Zambesi rivers specimens have been collected by the late Mr.
Frank Oates in Matabele, and according to Mr. Guy Marshall,
who shot a specimen at Salisbury, it is not nearly so common
in Mashonaland as S. marshalli.
SERINUS REICHENOWI. 919
Serinus reichenowi.
Serinus reichenowi, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 272 Cialalaka ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 159 Mpapwa, Naiwasha; Shelley, B.
Afr. I. No. 301 (1896); Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 622, Machako’s,
Elgeyu, Guara-Molo R.; Hartert in Ansorge’s Under Afr. Sun,
p. 347 (1899) Kikuyu ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 136, id. and Reid, Ibis,
1901, p. 626 S. Abyssinia.
Poliospiza reichenowi, Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894) Mpapwa.
Crithagra atrigularis (nec Smith) Fisch. Zeitschr. 1884, p. 822 Naiwasha.
Crithagra angolensis (nec Gm.) Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 136 Naiwasha.
Serinus fagani, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. vi. p. 7 (1896) Machako’s ; Hinde,
Ibis, 1898, p. 579 Machako's.
Adult. Upper parts dark brown with paler sides to the feathers, and a
large patch of canary yellow on the rump; the moderately broad pale edges
to the wing-feathers fade into buffy white on the inner secondaries and the
ends of the greater and median coverts; under wing-coverts white slightly
mottled with brown and tinted with yellow at the bend of the wing; tail
dark brown, with narrow ‘pale edges to the feathers, very slightly tinted
with yellow. A white forehead extending into a broad similarly coloured
eyebrow; a band through the eye, cheeks and ear-coverts dark brown ;
some white beneath the eye, hetween the cheeks and ear-coverts, and
extending over the sides of the upper neck. Under parts white, lower
throat with a partial collar formed of dark brown spots, and the sides of
the body strongly streaked with dark brown ; a faint tinge of yellow on the
centre of the lower chest. ‘‘Ivis brown; bill and legs dusky black.’’
Total length 4 inches, culmen 0:35, wing 2°7, tail 1:9, tarsus 05. 3, ?,
11.2.1. Kora (A. H. Pease).
Young. Differ in being more streaked on the chest.
Reichenow’s Canary ranges from Ugogo into Shoa.
The most southern known range for this species is Mpapwa
in Ugogo, where Emin procured a pair, June 28, 1890. In
British East Africa, at Machako’s on August 17, 1896, Dr.
S. L. Hinde shot a female, the type of S. fagani, Sharpe, and
remarks: ‘“‘ Very common on the dried-up grass-plains, either
in pairs or flocks. Its movements and habits when on the
ground reminded me of our own Siskin.’ Dr. Bowdler Sharpe
writes (Ibis, 1899, p. 623): ‘“‘ There can be no doubt that my
Serinus fagani is the same as S. reichenowi, of which we have
220 SERINUS XANTHOPYGIUS.
lately received a specimen from Mpapwa, presented by the
Berlin Museum.”
Mr. Jackson found the species at Machako’s, also at
Elgeyu, in flocks and fairly plentiful, and writes: “ ? ad.
Guasa Molo river, September, 1896. Shot for identification
as it flew off its nest. Nest very small, on branch of bush,
about six inches from ground. Egg (only one) like a Linnet’s.”
In the Kikuyu country the species has been procured by Dr.
Ansorge. In Shoa the types of the species, a male and two
females, were collected by Dr. Ragazzi at Cialalaka in 1885;
Lord Lovat shot a pair at Hado, and Mr. A. E. Pease found
the species very common at Kora.
Serinus xanthopygius.
Serinus xanthopygius, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 96, pl. 35, fig. 1 (1835) ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 865 (1888) Senafé ; Hartert, Kat. Vg.
Mus. Senck. p. 57 (1891) Abyssinia ; Shelley. B. Afr. I. No. 298
(1896) ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 186 Gerru.
Poliospiza zanthopygia, Hartl. Abhandl. nat. ver Brem. 1891, p. 26
Usongo.
Carpodacus uropygialis, Licht. Nomenel. Ay. p. 48 (1845) Arabia.
Adult. Much resembles S. angolensis and S. reichenowi, from which it
differs in the upper parts being of a darker and more uniform brown; the
upper tail-coverts and the tail entirely uniform brown; and the chin and
throat uniform white.
Forehead, crown, back of neck and mantle earthy brown, with rather
obscure dark centres to the feathers; lower back bright sulphur yellow;
upper tail-coverts, tail, and the wings almost uniform brown ; under surface
of wing with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts brownish buff.
Sides of the head and neck uniform brown with the front of the cheeks buffy
white, of the same colour as the chin and throat; breast and under tail-
coverts white shaded with ashy brown on the crop and sides of the body.
“Tris brown; bill and legs brownish” (Lord Lovat). Total length 4:4
inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°6, tail 1:8, tarsus 0°55. ¢,10.8.68. Kokai
(Jesse).
Riippell’s Yellow-rumped Canary inhabits Eastern Africa
between 7° S. lat. and 16° N. lat., and ranges into Arabia.
SERINUS FLAVIGULA. 221
The only record I can find of the occurrence of this species
south of 10° N. lat. rests on the assertion of Hartlaub, that two
Specimens in Hmin’s last collection positively belong to this
species. These were procured in the Ugogo district at Usongo
and Gomba in the [kungu country.
It is curious how this species and its very near allies
encroach upon each other’s territory, for 8. reichenowi ranges
from Ugogo into Shoa; S. jflavigula inhabits Shoa, and Lord
Lovat has shot a specimen of S. wanthopygius, Riipp., in the
same district at Gerru in about 10° 30’ N. lat. 40° H. long.
According to Heuglin the species is to be met with in pairs
and flocks on the stony districts interspersed with juniper
bushes, from the tops of which the males pour forth their loud
melodious song. He found them as far north as Keren, near
the Anseba, along the valley of which river Mr. Jesse also met
with the species. Dr. Blanford writes: “I only twice obtained
specimens of this species, both on the highlands, one near
Senafé, the other south of Antalo.”’
Serinus flavigula.
Serinus flavigula, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 272 Shoa ; Shelley,
B, Afr. I. No. 299 (1896).
Crithagra xanthopygia (nec Riipp.) Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1884,
p- 172 Shoa.
Types. ‘Similar to S. xanthopygius, but differs in having a yellow
patch on the throat, precisely as in Xanthodira dentata.
“ Above grey with dusky centres to the feathers; rump pale lemon
yellow; upper tail-coverts dusky, tinted with green ; below pale grey, throat,
abdomen and under tail-coverts white; throat with a patch of yellow; wings
and tail dusky grey with greenish edges to the quills and tail-feathers ; bill
dusky pink; feet pale; iris chestnut. Total length 4:6 and 4:4 inches,
culmen 0°36, wing 2°64, tail 1:96 and, 1:84, tarsus 0°56 and 0:52.”
(Salvadori.)
The Shoa Canary inhabits the western portion of Southern
Abyssinia.
_ ene,
oe ee.) =e Se
299, SERINUS CROCOPYGIUS.
In the Shoa country this species replaces, at least to some
extent, S. wanthopygius, from which it may be most readily
distinguished by the spot of yellow on the lower throat. All
that I know regarding it, is that Antinori procured a specimen
on the Aigabar Pass and Dr. Ragazzi’s collection contained two
others from Ambokarra and Malca-ghebdu, and that the yellow
spot on the throat is alike in them all.
Serinus crocopygius.
Poliospiza crocopygia, Sharpe, Ibis, 1871, p. 101 Damara.
Serinus crocopygius, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 360, pl. 8 (1888)
Benquela, Damara, Great Namaqua ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 290
(1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 176 (1900).
Buserinus albigularis, Hartl., P.Z.S. 1865, p. 95 Bengula.
Adult. Upper parts ashy brown streaked with dark brown on the crown
and mantle; lower back bright canary yellow; wings and tail dark brown,
the feathers edged with brownish white; sides of forehead and a broad
complete eyebrow white, separated from a white patch below the eye by
a dusky band from the nostril which branches off across the white cheeks
to the side of the throat; chin and throat pure white with a few dusky
spots towards the chin; ear-coverts, sides of neck, crop, chest and sides
of body ashy brown, sharply contrasting with the white throat and fading
away towards the centre of the body into white like the abdomen and under
tail-coverts; thighs white slightly mottled with brown. Total length 5:4
inches, culmen 0°55, wing 3°3 and 3:1, tail 2:25 and 2:1, tarsus 0°75.
3, 2, Damara (Andersson).
The Damara White-throated Canary ranges from Benguela
into Great Namaqualand.
The specimen obtained by Mr. Monteiro in the province
of Benguela and referred to Buserinus albiqularis by Hartlaub
(P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 95), belongs to this species, and is now in
the British Museum. ‘To the south of the Cunene river these
Canaries are apparently more abundant, for Andersson pro-
cured four specimens in Damara, including the type from
Otjimbinque, June 9, 1864, and one in Great Namaqua, all
of which are in the British Museum. However, he writes:
SERINUS ALBIGULARIS. 293
—
“This species is sparingly met with in Damara and Great
Namaqualand; it is generally seen about rocks in the imme-
diate neighbourhood of water, to which it resorts in small
flocks in the morning and evening to quench its thirst. Its
food consists of seeds and berries.”
Serinus albigularis.
Crithagra albigularis, Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 48 (1833)
S. Afr.
Serinus albigularis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 360 (1888) S. Afr. ;
Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 342 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 289
(1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 110 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun.
S. Afr. B. p. 174 (1900).
Crithagra selbyi, Smith, Rep. S. Afr. Exped. App. p. 50 (1836) S. Afr.
Crithagra cinerea, Swains. Class. B. ii. p. 294 (1837).
Adult. Very similar to S. crocopygia, but slightly darker both above and
below ; the yellow on the lower back duller, and there is a less amount of
white on the sides of the forehead and the eyebrows. Total length 6 inches,
culmen 0°55, wing 8:1, tail 2-3, tarsus 0°8. Cape Colony (Butler.)
The Cape White-throated Canary is apparently confined to
Cape Colony.
Layard wrote: “This species is called by the colonists
‘ Dic-bec Saysie’ and ‘ Berg Saysie’; it is very abundant about
Saldanha Bay, Colesberg and the Berg river.” According to
Stark, it is very common to the north of Cape Town, especially
towards Saldanha Bay. “Here it inhabits the bush-overgrown
sand-duns close to the beach, and feeds on the seeds of several
of the more common weeds. In spring the cocks sing loudly
and melodiously from the tops of the bushes, their song being,
to my ear, superior to that of the Cape Canary. About the
beginning of September they proceed to build their nests, open
cup-shaped structures, in the bushes, frequently in a ‘ milk-
bush,’ about four feet from the ground. These are rather
loosely constructed of thin, pliable twigs and dry grass-stems,
and are invariably lined with the white downy blossoms of a
224 SERINUS LEUCOPTERUS.
common weed. Towards the end of the month the females
lay three or four eggs of a very faint bluish white, some-
times plain, more often sparingly marked at the large end
with one or two spots or hair-like streaks of deep purplish
black. They average 0°80 x 0°60.
“Both the male and female sit very close on their eggs, and
defend their nest valiantly against aggressors. On almost
every occasion on which I have inspected a nest of this bird I
have had my fingers pecked for my pains, and with their
powerful bills they can inflict a severe bite. On one occasion
I saw a pair of these Finches attack a large snake with great
courage and success.
“The young are fed on insects and macerated seeds from
the crops of the old birds. They remain in the nest for a little
more than a month.”
Serinus leucopterus.
Crithagra leucoptera, Sharpe, Ann. and Mag. N. H. (4) viii. p. 235 (1871)
S. Afr.
Serinus leucopterus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 361, pl. 9 (1888) S. Afr. ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 291 (1896); Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 177
(1900).
Type. Upper parts earthy brown with a trace of white on the forehead ;
crown more distinctly mottled, with dark centres to the feathers, than the
mantle ; lower back and upper tail-coverts uniform with a slight ashy yellow
shade on the rump. Wing dark brown, with narrow brownish white edges
widening out into white terminal bands on the median and greater coverts
and the inner secondaries. Tail feathers narrowly edged with brownish
white. Under surface of wing dark brown with the inner edges of the quills
and the under coverts paler ashy brown; sides of the head and sides of the
throat uniform earthy brown; chin and throat white mottled with blackish
brown on the upper half of the throat ; lower throat and breast earthy brown
fading into buff down the centre of the breast, abdomen and under tail-
coverts, the latter with brown centres. Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0:5,
wing 2°8, tail 2, tarsus 0-7. 8S. Africa (Layard).
oa ¥
—
POLIOSPIZA. 295
The White-throated Brown Canary inhabits South Africa.
All that is known regarding this species is that the type was
procured by Layard while he was in South Africa, and is
apparently a full grown bird, with no indication of its not
having assumed its full plumage, but having neither sex, date
nor locality marked on the label: it may have been a cage-bird
with the colouring of the plumage affected by the nature of the
food and general conditions under which it lived.
It is extremely common in Africa to meet with very nearly
allied forms inhabiting neighbouring districts, which are
separated as species on the strength of a single specimen. A
large series may, or may not, prove these differences to be of
specific value, but Iam bound to recognise such forms as species
where there is a want of material to base an opinion upon.
Genus V. POLJTOSPIZA.
Bill more slender than that of Serinws and very like that of Passer, the
sides from the gape being nearly straight with a very slight uniform curve
throughout their length. Nostrils hidden. Wing, tail, tarsi and feet very
similar in the three genera. Nest cup-shaped and placed on a branch.
Plumage brown and white with a broad white eyebrow; sexes similar in
plumage; young birds with stripes on the under parts.
Type.
Poliospiza, Bp. Consp. i. p. 519 (1850). . . . . =. =. =. P. gularis.
This genus comprises four species, all of which are confined to tropical
and South Africa.
It is no easy matter to find a good English name for a bird, and it is
worse than useless to propose one that is not likely to be generally adopted.
I suggest to call the members of this genus Seed-eaters, the oldest name I
ean find for them. They are no more Canaries than Sparrows, but nearly
intermediate.
(May, 1902. 15
226 POLIOSPIZA GULARIS.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Crown with white edges to the feathers.
at, Under parts uniform.
a2, Upper throat more mottled with black . gularis, ad.
b2, Throat white, less mottled with black . canicapilla.
b1. Crop and flanks streaked with brown.
c2. Dark crop-marks slightly smaller . . . gularis, juv.
d?. Dark crop-marks slightly larger . . . vreichardt.
b. Crown with no white edges to the feathers. . tristriata.
Poliospiza gularis. (Pl. 26, fig. 1.)
Linaria gularis, Smith, Rep. 8. Afr. Exped. p. 49 (1836) Cape Col.
Poliospiza gularis, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 343 (1888) Cape Col. Natal,
Transvaal ; Kuschel, J. f. O. 1895, p. 341 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 273 (1896) ; Marshall, Ibis, 1896, p. 246, 1900, p. 289 Mashona ;
Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers, p. 109 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i.
p. 165 (1900) ; Haagner, Ibis, 1891, p. 194 Transvaal.
“ Fringilla humilis, Licht.” Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 511 S. Africa.
Poliospiza striaticeps, Hartl. in Layard’s B. 8. Afr. p. 208 (1867) S. Africa.
Adult. Upper parts and sides of the head brown, with a complete broad
eyebrow and front of the forehead white, and the edges of the feathers of the
crown and back and sides of neck whitish; mantle with rather obscurely
marked dark centres to the feathers; median and greater wing-coverts with
rather broad whity-brown edges; remainder of quills, like the tail-feathers,
have narrow buff edges; inner lining of wing brown with narrow whitish inner
edges to the quills and larger coverts, the remainder of the coverts and the
axillaries being buffy brown like the chest; chin and throat white mottled
with black below the chin; crop and under surface of body brownish buff,
darkest on the chest and sides of body. ‘‘ Iris dark hazel; bill horn colour ;
legs dark brown” (T. E. Buckley). Total length 5-5 and 5:1 inches, culmen
0:5, wing 2-9 and 2:8, tail 2:3, tarsus 0°65. ¢, 9, 14.3. 84. Pinetown
(T. L. Ayres).
Young. Differ in having some brown centres to the feathers of the chest
and flanks.
The Cape Streaky-crowned Seed-eater ranges southward
from Great Namaqua- and Mashona-lands.
Andersson met with this species sparingly in Great Nama-
THE BIRDS OF AFRICA,PL.XXVI.
lPohospiza gularis.
i, ” reichardi.
POLIOSPIZA GULARIS. 997
qualand. Sir Andrew Smith, who discovered the type, found
them inhabiting Cape Colony to as far north as Latakoo. In
the British Museum there are specimens from the Knysna,
Grahamstown, Kingwilliamstown, Natal, Transvaal, the Maka-
laka country and Mashonaland.
Atmore, writing from Geneva Fontein, states: ‘ Tobacco
seed is the great attraction to this species; they feed also on
chickweed and groundsel, do not congregate, but go in small
lots of from two to eight individuals.” According to Stark:
“Tf disturbed they utter a sharp ‘chirp’ as they take flight
and fly off to seek refuge in some thick bush, but as a rule
they are rather silent birds. In September and October they
build in bushes or low trees. The nest is open and cup-shaped,
neatly and compactly constructed of dry grass and bents, lined
with white cottony seeds and down. The eggs, three or four
im number, are very faint bluish-white with usually a few dots
or a single streak of dark purplish black towards the larger
end. They measure 0°87 x 0°62.”
In Natal I did not meet with this bird during the month
I spent at Durban; but my friend Mr. T. L. Ayres told me that
it is common at Pinetown. His father, Mr. T. Ayres, found a
nest in a low bush on the top of a very exposed hill and another
one in the valley below with young birds, in December, and
at Colenso Col. Savile Reid met with them breeding in
November.
In the Transvaal, according to Mr. T. Ayres: “ This is as
common a Sparrow about Rustenburg as Passer arcuatus (which
I did not meet with in the Magaliesbergen) is at Potchefstroom.
In habits the present species appears to be somewhat similar
to P. arcuatus, congregating in winter in the same manner.”
During his journey with Jameson through Matabele, they
procured a specimen at Matje Umsclope, near Buluwayo, in
November. In Mashona, Mr. Guy Marshall informs us that
298 POLIOSPIZA CANICAPILLA.
it is called by the natives the “ Nimba,” but it is apparently
rare in these parts, as he has recorded only a single specimen,
a male, shot by him at Salisbury, November 10, 1894.
Poliospiza canicapilla.
Poliospiza canicapilla, Du Bus, Bull. Ac. R. Bruxelles, 1855, p. 151
Senegal.
Poliospiza flegeli, Hartert, J. f. O. 1886, p. 583 Loko; Sharpe, Cat. B.
M. xii. p. 343 (1888), Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 275 (1896); Reichen.
J. f. O. 1897, p. 41 Togo ; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, p. 340 Niger.
Type. ‘* Above brownish grey; crown brownish black mottled with
white; beneath grey; sides of head brownish grey ; eyebrow, throat,
abdomen and under tail-coverts white; wings and tail dark brown with
greyish edges to the feathers. Total length 4-8 inches, culmen 0°45, wing
2-95, tail 2, tarsus 0°6.”’ Senegal.
Adult. ‘+ Above brownish grey, with the head more dusky and irregularly
streaked with white ; above the eye two white stripes, and the sides of the
head more dusky. Under parts uniform pale brownish grey, paler on the
abdomen and under tail-coverts and fading into white on the throat where
there are two small dark spots close to the bill. Tail brown, the feathers
with dusky shafts and paler edges. Quills and wing-coverts dusky brown
with paler outer edges. Iris greyish brown; bill and feet brownish flesh
colour. Total length 5:2 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 2°9, tail 2°15, tarsus 0-48.
@ , Loko.” (Hartert).
The Senegal Seed-eater ranges from Senegambia to the
Niger.
The type is in the Brussels Museum, labelled as coming
from Senegal. In Togoland, Mr. E. Baumann met with the
species at the Misahohe station and the only other specimen
yet recorded is the type of P. jlegeli which was procured by
Mr. Hartert at Loko on the Benue branch of the Niger in
about 8° E. lat. where he met with a few of these birds in
company with Serinus hartlaubi, feeding together on the
ground.
POLIOSPIZA REICHARDI. 999
Poliospiza reichardi. (PI. 26, fig. 2.)
Poliospiza reichardi, Reichen. J. f. O. 1882, p. 209 Kakoma; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M. xii. p. 343 (1888); Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 196
(1894); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 274 (1896) ; id. Ibis, 1899, p. 367
Ikawa ; Jackson, t. c. p. 620 Kamassia.
Poliospiza striatipectus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 258 Hilgeyw ; Shelley, B.
Afr. I. No. 276 (1894) ; id. Ibis, 1897, p. 528 Nyika.
Adult. Entire plumage brown above and the under parts white streaked
with brown on the throat and flanks. Feathers of the forehead, crown and
back with white edges; back and upper tail-coverts nearly uniform, the
edges of the feathers being only slightly paler ; the edges of the median
and greater coverts of a whitish shade, and slightly broader at the ends of
these coverts and on the sides of the inner secondaries ; inner edges of the
quills and the under wing-coverts whity brown. Sides of head brown with
a white eyebrow extending back to the sides of the nape, and a slight
mottling of white below the ear-coverts; under parts white with broad
brown shaft-stripes on the throat and flanks, most strongly marked on the
crop; thighs mottled with brown. Iris, bill and legs brown. Total length
5:5 and 5:4 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:1, tail 2°3, tarsus 0°55. g, 24. 8. 96,
Kamassia; ?, 8. 7.90. Elgeyu (Jackson).
Reichard’s Seed-eater ranges from the Nyasa district to the
Equator.
In Nyasaland Mr. Alexander Whyte procured a specimen
on the Nyika plateau, and Colonel Manning another at Ikawa
on the Tanganyika plateau. Bohm discovered the species
at Kakoma, where he procured two males, April 14, 1881.
In the most northern range known for this_ species,
Mr. Jackson shot a pair, which were breeding at Elgeyu, July
8, 1890, and remarks: “ Sings very sweetly, like a Linnet:”
these are the types of P. striatipectus, Sharpe. He afterwards
met with the species at Kamassia in August.
Poliospiza tristriata.
Serinus tristriata, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 97, pl. 35, fig. 2 (1835)
Abyssinia.
Poliospiza tristriata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 345 (1888) Shoa,
Abyssinia; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, pp. 276, 537 Shoa;
Hartert, Kat. Mus. Senck. p. 75 (1891) Abyssinia ; Kuschel, J. f. O.
230 POLIOSPIZA TRISTRIATA.
1895, p. 341 egg; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 277 (1896); Nehrkorn,
Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egg ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 131; id. and Reid,
Ibis, 1901, p. 625 S. Abyssinia.
Fringilla tristriata, Fisch. and Reichen. J. f. O. 1878, p. 266 Melinda ;
Fisch. ¢. c. p. 281 Formosa Bay.
Poliospiza isabellina, Gig]. Aun. Mus. Genov. 1888, p. 33 Shoa.
Poliospiza pallidior, Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 398 Somalv.
Adult. Mostly uniform brown, paler on the under parts and with darker
centres to the feathers, distinct on the forehead and crown, and obsoletely
indicated on the mantle; a complete broad white eyebrow, chin and upper
throat white, with a partial blackish band down the sides; under wing-
coverts ashy brown like the breast; centre of abdomen and the under tail-
coverts buff. ‘Iris brown; bill dusky brown; legs brown”’ (A. H. Pease).
Total length 4°6 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2:7 and 2°5, tail 2°3 and 2-2, tarsus
065. 3g, 9, Senafé (Blanford).
Immature. Differ in having the upper parts more mottled, and the
under parts whiter and strongly striped with brown on the lower throat
and the flanks. ¢, 8. 2. 99. Kosso (Lovat); ?, 5.3. 97. Wagga (Lort
Phillips).
Rippell’s Seed-eater probably ranges from Caconda in
Benguela to Port Melinda and northward over Abyssinia.
Prof. Barbaza du Bocage informs us that Anchieta procured
a single specimen of this species at Caconda in Benguela. His
description of the plumage agrees well with this bird, and
there is nothing specially to remark in the measurements
excepting that of the wing, “86 m.” = 3:44 inches, this
must, I think, be a misprint for 68 m. = 2°72, otherwise I
should have no hesitation in regarding it as a new species.
On following the line from Caconda to Melinda I find that
Mr. Nehrkorn describes an egg of this species (agreeing with
Heuglin’s description) from Marungu, which country borders
on to the south-west end of Lake Tanganyika.
Fischer first met with the species at Melinda, and after-
wards came across a flock in Formosa Bay. In Somaliland
Speke procured a specimen, and wrote: “‘ Shot on the moun-
tains, where they fly about in flocks like our English Sparrows.”
POLIOSPIZA TRISTRIATA. 931
In this country Mr. Lort Phillips procured his five typical
specimens of P. pallidior in January and February, 1897: these
he considered to represent a pale race of P. tristriata, but I
cannot myself see that they differ from the typical Abyssinian
form. He found them frequenting the more thickly wooded
parts of the Goolis range and the Wagga mountains in small
family parties. In Abyssinia, Riippell discovered the type,
and Heuglin found the species abundant in the highlands of
Bogos and Abyssinia between 4,000 and 11,000 feet, and met
with it in Gallaland. They were occasionally in large flocks,
and he likens their note to that of our common House-Sparrow.
Dr. Blanford remarks: ‘‘ Very common throughout the high-
lands, generally amongst bushes, in small flocks or singly.
It keeps much to the ground. I never saw it at lower eleva-
tions.” Count Salvadori records fourteen specimens from
Shoa, collected there by Antinori and Ragazzi, and observes
that one of these, a very pale isabelline variety, certainly of
this species, was made the type of P. isabellina. In this
district Lord Lovat collected specimens at Lake Harrar
Meyer, Deru and Kosso, and remarks: “ Usually met with in
pairs. This Finch is more an inhabitant of woods than of
cornfields.”
Heuglin describes an egg, he took of this species, as pale
greenish with minute and larger violet spots on the thick end,
and measuring 0°8 X 0°62. Mr. Nehrkorn describes an egg
from Marungu, which he refers to this species, as being bluish
green with a few blackish brown dots, and measuring 0°8 X 0°6.
I have called the species Ruppell’s Seed-eater after its dis-
coverer, for to translate the badly chosen Latin name into
the Three-striped Seed-eater, we must count the white throat
as one stripe, and the eyebrows as the other two, and then
the name would be equally applicable to all the members of
this genus.
232 PASSER.
Genus VI. PASSHR.
Bill moderately short and stout, about as broad as high at the nostrils.
Nostrils basal, rounded and hidden. Wing rather short but longer than
the tail, and, when closed, falls short of the tip of the tail by more than the
length of the tarsus; second, third and fourth primaries nearly equal and
the longest, first primary a little shorter and attenuated. ‘Tail nearly square
with no portion white. Tarsi and feet stout and the claws curved and
strong. Plumage of the sexes generally but not always different; young
like the adult females. Nest bulky and rounded, covered in above and
generally hidden in a hole or under some shelter. Eggs usually five in
number, whitish, spotted and freckled with dusky brown or grey.
Type.
Passer, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 71(1760) . . . . . . . P. domesticus.
Pyrgitopsis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 510 (1850) P. simplex.
Auripasser, Bp. t.c.p.519. . . P. luteus.
Salicipasser, Bogd. Tr. N. H. Soc. Kazan, viii. <p, 60
(1879) eae P. montanus.
Sorella, Hartl. J. f. O. 1880, 7 221 . : : . P. emini.
Pseudostruthus, Oust. Le Naturaliste, 1890, p: O74. . P. crassirostis.
The genus Passer comprises about 30 species, of which 19 occur in the
Ethiopian Region. 13 are confined to that region, and all of these, with the
exception of P. diffusws, have a rather restricted range.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Mantle mottled with some dark centres to the
feathers.
a1. Throat black.
a?, Crown rufous.
a’. Cheeks, ear-coverts and breast buffy
yellow .. . . . . « castanopterus. +~¢ %
re. Ne yellow in the eee
. Flanks streaked . . . . . . . /hispamniolensis, 9, ad. 2 35°
aN Flanks uniform.
a>. No black patch on hinder part of
ee coverts . . italia, 8, ad. 236
b°®. A black patch on eee part Bi
ear-coverts . . . . . « montanus. 2 3 7
PASSER.
62. Crown grey.
c’. Lower back ashy-brown with no rufous
shade.
c*, Har-coverts white with the upper
part black.
c®. Darker; more rufous on wings;
more black on head and throat ;
under parts less white
d®, Paler . :
d*. Kar-coverts whitish ake no ‘black.
d%. Lower back with a rufous shade.
e+. Mantle browner than the rufous
portion of eyebrow :
f*. Mantle pale cinnamon, of the same
shade as the rufous portion of eye-
brow.
e°, Mantle with narrower black
stripes and not browner than
the lower back; ear-coverts en-
tirely pure white .
f°. Mantle with broader black oaen
and browner than the lower back.
a®. Har-coverts entirely grey
68. Har-coverts with hinder half
jet black, front half pure white.
61. Throat, with no black.
c*?, Otherwise similar to the adult males.
Females and young of most of the above
species.
d*, Never with any black on the head or
neck; adult males with the mantle
uniform.
e®. Mantle strongly mottled; throat with
some rufous; wing23 . . .
f. Mantle abeolotely mottled ; no malo
on the throat.
g*. Smaller; wing 2:3; throat white,
tinged with yellow . . eae
h*. Larger; wing 3°2; throat white
tinged with grey .
b. Mantle uniform.
ct. Throat black.
e?, Crown and most of the head black
f?. Crown sandy buff
insularis, f, ad.
hemilencus, gf, ad. 2
domesticus, 3, ad.
. jagansis, g, ad.
motitensis, S, ad.
cordofanicus, g , ad.
shelleyt, 8, ad. 24%
emim, 2, d, Juv.
euchlorus, 2 .
diffusus var.
arcuatus, 3, ad.
simplex, g , ad.
234 PASSER CASTANOPTERUS.
d+. Throat with no black; no black on the
head.
g2. Crown and upper parts sandy rufous. . simplex, ?.
h?. Crown and head grey.
g*. Smaller; wing 3:1 to 3-5; bill slighter;
under parts whiter. . . . . . . diffusus. 2 9—/
h’. Larger; wing 3:6; bill stouter ; under
parts greyer. . . crassirostris. 2 s~ §-
. Crown, and often the wcle eed made
and body dark cinnamon . . emim, d,ad. 2 6%
k2, Entire head, neck and breast cello
23, Mantle cinnamon . en ete, CUULCUS: Dude eee
k8. Mantle yellow ... . .. . «. euchlorus, d,ad.2°7
Passer castanopterus. (PI. 27, fig. 1.)
Passer castanopterus, Blyth, J. A. 8. Beng. xxiv. p. 302 (1855) Somali ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 328 (1888); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 265
(1896); Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898, p. 397 Somali; Grant and Reid,
Ibis, 1901, p. 624 Somalz.
Adult male. Forehead, crown, and back of neck uniform pale cinnamon,
shading into the dusky grey of the back and upper tail-coverts; upper back
mottled with broad black shaft stripes. Wing with the coverts and
scapulars pale cinnamon, the former partially washed with grey; a few
rather indistinct whitish tips to the median coverts, and the outermost
greater coverts blackish brown, like the primary coverts and quills, with
rufous buff edges, much broader on the inner secondaries. Tail slaty brown
with narrow pale brown edges to the feathers. Cheeks, ear-coverts, front
ha'f of neck, breast and under tail-coverts yellowish buff; in front of eyes,
chin, and a broad central band down the throat black ; crop and sides of
the body shaded with ash. ‘Iris brown; bill black; tarsi and feet pale
brown” (A. E. Pease). Total length 5:2 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2:7, tail
2-1, tarsus, 0°65. g,16.1.97. Somali (Lort Phillips).
The Berbera Sparrow inhabits Somaliland.
This species is, up to the present time, known only from
the northern portion of Somali, for the locality ‘“ Gaboon”
on a specimen in the Paris Museum is certainly incorrect.
Referring to the type, Speke wrote: ‘‘ This specimen was
shot on the plateau, amongst a large flock.” ‘The plateau”
probably refers to the first plateau-land on leaving Berbera.
‘Aeyeys «G
‘snuaqdourqseo JISse dq [|
TAXX Id “VoOTauv 40 SCHIA HHL
PASSER HISPANIOLENSIS. 935
Mr. Lort Phillips writes: ‘This beautiful little Sparrow
represents in Berbera our common bird at home. Its habits
and note are almost identical with those of the latter. In
January they were very busy nest-building, carrying long
streamers of grass, &c., to holes in the wall under the
verandah-roof.” Mr. Pease only met with the species on the
coast at Zaila, and in the British Museum there are two
specimens from the same town procured by Captain C. G.
Nurse.
Passer hispaniolensis.
Fringilla hispaniolensis, Temm. Man. Orn. p. 353 (1820).
Passer hispaniolensis, Bolle, J. f. O. 1856, p. 31 Cape Verde Is. ; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M. xii. p. 317 (1888) Cape Verde Is. Nubia; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 260 (1896).
Fringilla salicicola, Vieill. Faune France, p. 417 (1828).
Passer salicicola, Alexander, Ibis, 1898, pp. 83, 92, 104, 115, 280 Cape
Verde Is.
Pyrgita salicaria, Bp. Consp. List, B. Hur. and N. Amer. p. 30 (1838).
Passer salicarius, Dohrn, J. f. O. 1871, p. 6 Cape Verde Is.
Adult male. Forehead, crown, and back of neck uniform deep chestnut,
many of the feathers generally have partial buff edges; an incomplete
narrow white eyebrow ; mantle and middle-back black with broad buff edges
to the feathers, remainder of upper parts as in P. domesticus ; entire ear-
coverts and sides of neck white, chin, throat, and crop black; breast and
under tail-coverts buffy white with large angular black centres to the feathers
of the fore-chest and sides of body. Iris brown; bill brown; legs pale
brown. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0-5, wing 3:0, tail 2:2, tarsus 0:8.
$,31. 1.68. Egypt (Shelley).
Adult female. Like the female of P. domesticus.
The Spanish Sparrow inhabits the Cape Verde Islands and
Abyssinia to as far south as the Blue Nile, and ranges from
the Canary Islands through Southern Europe and North
Africa into India.
It is common and generally distributed over the Cape
Verde Islands. Capt. Alexander, during his visit to Santiago,
found the species frequenting the valleys, and most abundant
236 PASSER ITALIA,
at La Catrina, and writes: ‘The favourite resort of these
birds is a grove of tall coconut trees, in the tops of which
they build their nests, and owing to this the species has gained
the name of ‘Coconut-bird’ from the natives. The flight is
very straight and steady, and a clear musical chirp is often
uttered on the wing. ‘They cause a considerable amount
of damage to the oranges, in which they drill big holes. The
number of males predominates over the females to a large
extent.” In the adjoining island of Maio he found “small
clumps of acacia-bushes, in the valley close to the sea, had
their upper branches crammed with bulky domed nests, hardly
a foot of space intervening between them.”
In North-east Africa the Spanish Sparrow has_ been
recorded by Hartmann from the Upper Blue Nile, but Heuglin
did not meet with it further south than Ambukol. It probably
does not remain to breed in Abyssinia, for when I was in
Egypt it appeared to me that it left that country early in
February.
Passer itaiiz.
Fringilla italic, Vieill. N. Dict. Hist. Nat. xii. p. 190 (1817).
Passer italie, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 315 (1888); Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 259 (1896).
Adult male. Similar to P. domesticus, but differs in the forehead, crown
and back of neck being uniform chestnut, sometimes with a few buff margins
to these feathers; a partial narrow white eyebrow ; entire ear-coverts and
sides of the neck white. Total length 5:8 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 3:1,
tail 2:4, tarsus 0°8. 3g, 20. 11. 98. Florence.
The Italian House-Sparrow replaces, to a great extent, our
Common House-Sparrow in Italy, and has been said to range
into Palestine and through Egypt to the Blue Nile.
Riippell records the species as being abundant in Egypt
and Nubia, and according to Heuglin it ranges to as far south
PASSER MONTANUS. 237
as the Blue Nile, and was met with on the Arabian coast at
Djidda, but I find no more recent mention of the Italian
Sparrow from the Ethiopian Region.
Passer montanus.
Fringilla montana, Linn. S. N. I. p. 324 (1766).
Passer montanus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 301 (1888); Hartert, Kat.
Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 60 (1891) Kordofan ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No.
256 (1896).
Adult male. Forehead, crown and nape uniform vinous chocolate ;
mantle pale rufous brown with broad black shaft-stripes; remainder of
back, upper tail-coverts and the tail uniform brown, the feathers of the
latter with narrow paler outer edges. Wings darker brown with the lesser
coverts rufous, median-coverts black with broad white terminal margins,
remainder of the feathers with pale rufous brown edges fading into white
terminal marks on the greater coverts; under surface of quills brown with
their inner margins whitish like the axillaries and under wing-coverts.
Fore part of sides of head, feathers beneath the eye, a large portion of the
ear-coverts, chin and a broad band down the throat jet black ; remainder of
sides of head, sides of upper neck and sides of throat white; breast and
under tail-coverts ashy white, slightly paler down the centre and tinted
with brown on the flanks and thighs. Iris brown; bill black ; tarsi and feet
pale brown. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 2:8, tail 2-1, tarsus
0-7. og, 6. 5. 80. Havre (EH. Hargitt).
Adult female. Like the male.
The Tree-Sparrow ranges from North-east Africa ever the
greater portion of Europe and Asia, eastward into Japan.
The right this species has to be included in the Ethiopian
fauna rests on a specimen in Rippell’s collection, nominally
from Kordofan.
I may remark, as a hint to future travellers, that I have
not seen a specimen of P. montanus, P. italie or typical
P. domesticus, Linn., from Africa south of the Tropic of Cancer,
and specimens of any of these sparrows would, I feel sure, be
appreciated at the British Museum.
238 PASSER INSULARIS.
Passer insularis.
Passer insularis, Scl. and Hartl. P. Z. 5. 1881, p. 169, pl. 16 Socotra ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 321 (1888); Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 257
(1896).
Adult male. Upper parts ashy grey mottled on the upper back with
broad black shaft-stripes. Wing mostly dark brown; lesser-coverts and the
scapulars pale cinnamon, the latter partially washed with grey towards the
back ; median and greater-coverts and the inner secondaries blackish, the
former with white ends and the others with broad cinnamon margins ;
remainder of quills with narrow pale brown outer edges and buff inner
edges; axillaries white and the under wing-coverts mottled with white.
Tail brown with narrow pale brown margins to the feathers. Sides of head
and an obsolete margin to the sides of the forehead white, with a broad
black band through the eye from above the gape, bordering the ear-coverts
above and behind, and is margined above by a broad cinnamon partial eye-
brow extending back from the eye and widening out over the side of the
upper neck ; a broad black band from the bill down the centre of the throat ;
sides of the crop and kody ashy white fading into buff on the centre of the
abdomen and the under tail-coverts. Iris brown; bill black; tarsi and feet
pale brown. Total length 5-9 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°9, tail 2°4, tarsus
0:8. Socotra (Grant and Forbes).
Adult female. Differs in having no black nor cinnamon on the plumage.
Upper parts browner; the white portion of the head as in the male, the
remainder and the sides of the neck uniform brown ; a broad band of dusky
ash from the bill down the centre of the throat. Total length 5:8 inches,
culmen 0°55, wing 3:0, tail 2°5, tarsus 0°85. ¢?, 11.12.98. Socotra (Grant
and Forbes).
Young male. Similar to the adult female, from which it differs in being
slightly greyer; the dark stripes on the mantle black; a rufous shade on
the broader pale edges of the wing feathers; an ill-defined dusky band
through the eye and a rufous tinge above it, behind the eye. @, juv.
11.12.98. Socotra (Grant and Forbes).
The Socotra Sparrow is confined to the island of Socotra.
Prof. J. B. Balfour, who discovered the species, found it to
be common all over the island.
Passer hemileucus.
Passer hemileucus, Grant and Forbes, Bull. Liverpool. Mus. ii. p. 3
(1900) Ald-el-Kuri Is.
Adult male. Very like P. insularis, but of a paler and more faded
appearance, less rufous on the wings, less black on the throat and sides of
¥
’
PASSER DOMESTICUS. 239
head ; under surface of the body nearly pure white. Iris brown, bill black,
legs and feet fleshy horn colour. Total length 5-4 inches, culmen 0:5, wing
2:9, tail 2:4, tarsus 0-7. 3g, 5. 12. 98. Socotra, 1,400 feet (Grant and
Forbes).
Adult female. Very like P. insularis, but with the under parts almost
white. Total length 5:4 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2°7, tail 2-2, tarsus 0°7.
@, 22.2. 89. Socotra.
The Ald-el-Kuri Sparrow is a native of an island of that
name which is situated in the Indian Ocean about half way
between Socotra and the extreme eastern corner of Somaliland.
Here Messrs. Grant and Forbes, who discovered this well
marked species, procured a good series. It is a small, very
pale, representative of P. insularis, somewhat intermediate
between that bird and the Indian P. pyrrhonotus, which is well
figured in the Catalogue of Birds (xii. pl. 5).
Passer domesticus.
Fringilla domestica, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 323 (1766).
Passer domesticus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 307 (1888) Nubia; Hartert,
Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. p. 60 (1891) Kordofan; Shelley B. Afr. I.
No. 258 (1896).
Passer rufidorsalis, Brehm, Naum. 1856, p. 376 Khartown ; Witherby,
Ibis, 1901, p. 246 Omdurman; Rothschild and Wollaston, Ibis,
1902, p. 9, pl. 1, fig. 2 egg.
Adult male. Forehead and crown ashy grey, the hinder half surrounded
by a broad chestnut shaded chocolate band which is sometimes much mottled
with ashy grey on the nape and hind neck; mantle rufous brown with
broad black shaft-stripes; remainder of back, upper tail-coverts and the
tail uniform brown inclining to grey on the middle back. Wings darker
brown with the lesser-coverts deep rufous; median-coverts white with
their basal half and generally the shafts black, remainder of the feathers
with rufous brown edges with rarely any trace of white on the greater-
coverts; under surface of quills brown with their inner margins whitish like
the axillaries and under wing-coverts. Fore part of sides of head, feathers
beneath the eye, chin and a broad band down the throat jet black, the
feathers of the latter part with whitish edges mostly towards the crop;
ear-coverts, sides of upper neck, sides of throat, the breast and under
240 PASSER DOMESTICUS.
tail-coverts white, with an ashy shade on the ear-coverts, sides of neck and
the flanks. Iris dark brown; bill black; tarsi and feet pale brown. Total
length 4:8 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 2°85, tail 2°3, tarsus 0°7. 3, 17.2. O1.
Shendi (Rothschild and Wollaston).
Adult female. Differs in the forehead, crown and neck being uniform
brown like the upper tail-coverts with an obscure darker shade surrounding
the hinder half of the crown, beneath which is a pale sandy shaded band of
the same colour as the sides of the upper half of the neck; another dark
brown band passed through the eye and over and behind the ear-coverts ;
ear-coverts, cheek and under parts generally very pale ashy brown inclining
to white down the centre of the throat and centre of the breast. Total
length 4-7 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 2°7, tail 2:2, tarsus 0-7. @, 21. 3. 01.
Shendi (Rothschild and Wollaston).
The Common House-Sparrow ranges over Europe, Central
and Southern Asia, North and North-east Africa and has
established itself on Great Comoro island and Mauritius.
According to Heuglin, it is a resident along the Blue Nile
and in Kordofan, but he did not meet with it in Eastern
Abyssinia nor on the White Nile. Brehm gave the name of
P. rufidorsalis to a rather brightly coloured specimen from
Khartoum; but I do not find that the characters hold good
in a large series, they can be so nearly matched in English
specimens and both forms appear to be equally represented all
over Southern Asia. Among the adult male specimens in
the British Museum there are, from Mauritius, two typical
_P. domesticus and one P. rufidorsalis. Of the latter, there is
one from Great Comoro island, one from Khartoum and one
from Berber, and of the common race one from Nubia and two
from Egypt. I have come to the conclusion that it would be
wrong to regard P. rufidorsalis as more than a variety of
P. domesticus, it having no distinct range, but is more
frequently met with in the hot than in the cold climates.
The Hon. N. C. Rothschild and Mr. A. F. R. Wollaston have
recently brought home, from Shendi on the Nile, twenty-one
specimens, ali of which they refer to P. rufidorsalis.
They write: “This is a southern form of P. domesticus.
PASSER JAGOENSIS. 241
It might be described as a small and very bright House-
Sparrow, with a very bright chestnut mantle. The female
can only be distinguished from the same sex of the House-
Sparrow by its smaller size. It was first described by Brehm
(Naumannia, 1856, p. 377), from specimens obtained at
Khartoum; Emin Pasha subsequently found it at Lado,
a long way further south. At Shendi it is exceedingly
common, especially frequenting the patches of cultivation
round the houses on the river-bank. In its habits it is very
much like our House-Sparrow, and its chirping note is quite
indistinguishable. We found several nests of this bird in
March : they were loose structures of dry grass and feathers,
and were placed in crevices of the hard mud bank on the west
side of the Nile. The eggs resemble those of other Sparrows,
but are devoid of all gloss; they are of a whitish buff ground
colour, speckled all over with rusty brown and greyish brown,
and having some underlying mauve spots: the spots and
patches form a vague zone about the thick end. They are
considerably smaller than those of P. domesticus. The greatest
number of eggs found in one nest was three.”
Passer jagoensis.
Pyrgita jagoensis, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 77 Santiago Isl.
Passer jagoensis, Fraser, P. Z. 8. 1843, p. 52 ; Bolle, J. f. O. 1856, p. 31;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 323 (1888) Cape Verde Isl.; Shelley, B.
Afr. I. No. 261 (1896) ; Alexander, Ibis, 1898, pp. 77, 84, 92, 97, 99,
104, 107, 111, 115, 280 Cape Verde Isl. ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers.
p. 109 (1899) egg.
Passer erythrophrys, Bp. Consp. i. p. 510 (1850).
Passer hansmanni, Bolle, J. f. O. 1856, p. 22 Cape Verde Isl.
Passer brancoensis, Oust. Ann. Sc. Nat. Zool. (6) xvi. art. 5, Pp. 2 (1883)
Cape Verde Isl.
Adult male. Crown and back of neck dusky ash ; a broad pale cinnamon
eyebrow expands behind the ear-coverts, covering the sides of the upper
neck; the eyebrow in front of the eye to the nostril white; remainder of
[May, 1902. 16
249, PASSER JAGOENSIS.
upper parts as in P. domesticus, with the middle back strongly washed with
rufous; cheeks, ear-coverts, sides of throat, under surface of body and under
tail-coverts ashy tinted white ; chin and centre of throat black. Ivis dark
brown ; entire bill brownish yellow or black, probably according to the
season; tarsi and feet pale brown. Total length 5 inches, culmen 0:5,
wing 2:6, tail 2-2, tarsus 0°7. Santiago (type).
Female. Very similar to that of P. domesticus, but differs in having
some white between the eye and nostril, and in the rufous shade on the
middle back. Total length 5:0 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 2°35, tail 1:8,
tarsus 0-7.
The Santiago Sparrow is confined to the Cape Verde
Islands,
It inhabits all the islands of this group. The type was
discovered by Darwin during his voyage in the “ Beagle.”
On the label of a specimen of this species in the Brussels
Museum, was written ‘ Senegal,” to which Temminck added
’a name which Bonaparte published in
1850. Bolle, on procuring a specimen in the Cape Verde
Islands, re-named it P. hansmanni, and a fourth name,
P. brancoensis, has been applied to a female example from
Branco Island by M. Oustalet.
With regard to the habits of this Sparrow I cannot do
better than quote from Captain Boyd Alexander’s notes on his
Expedition to the Cape Verde Islands. While ona visit to the
Governor-General, Senor Serpo Pinto, at Praya, the capital
of Santiago, he observed a few individuals of Passer jagoensis,
which, like the town members of the House-Sparrow, fre-
quented the vicinity of houses. On his approach they used
to get up and fly to the young trees that line the street and
there scrape their beaks after their meals, uttering now and
again chirping notes that reminded him very much of those of
our Pied Wagtail. He further remarks: ‘‘ We observed large
flocks in the valley and on the plains, and especially near the
sea. These were chiefly composed of immature birds, the
males showing a slight indication of the black patch on the
“ Passer erythrophrys,’
PASSER JAGOENSIS. 243
throat, the feathers of the upper parts dark brown margined
with light rufous, and a broad stripe of the latter colour over
the eye. With the beginning of February the adults had com-
menced to undergo their spring moult, their plumage being
anything but satisfactory in condition, and eyen by the end of
May there were many which had some of their tail-feathers
and primaries still in sheath. These Sparrows often fall
victims to the Kites, and as a better safeguard against surprise
they seek safety in numbers, coming together in immense
flocks, and never getting far away from some good thick
acacia trees wherein to take refuge, or from the vicinity of a
ravine strewn with boulders, into the crevices of which they
creep like mice.
“In August these Sparrows breed in large companies,
many of the acacia trees on the plains being crammed with
their big untidy nest-structures of the previous season. On
the plains they feed on small locusts and grass-seed.
“This Sparrow is not at all particular as to where it builds
its nest. Where trees are absent, hollows in the ground under-
neath boulders, or crevices in cliffs are chosen. The proper
breeding-season commences at the end of September. When
placed in a tree the nest is domed, but when in a hollow of the
ground it is an open compact structure, and often lined with
feathers. The eggs are four, rarely five, im number; in each
clutch they are of a fairly uniform colour, with the exception
of one, which is invariably lighter than the rest. In size,
markings and colouration they correspond with those of the
Tree-Sparrow (P. montanus). The adult plumage is not
attained till the second year.”
The egg is described by Mr. A. Nehrkorn as white with
rufous brown marks, and measuring 0°76 x 0°52.
244 PASSER MOTITENSIS.
Passer motitensis.
Passer motitensis, Smith, Ill. Z. 8. Afr. Birds, p. 114 (1848) Cape Col. ;
Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 8324 (1888) Damara, Cape Col. Matabele ;
Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 410 Damara, Ngami; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 262 (1896) ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egg; Stark,
Faun. 8. Afr. B, i. p. 162 (1900).
Adult male. Forehead, crown, and back of neck ashy grey; sides of
forehead white ; from above and behind the eye, extending over the sides of
the neck, is a large, pale cinnamon patch of the same colour as the back,
scapulars and lesser wing-coverts ; mantle with clearly-defined broad black
shaft-stripes; upper tail-coverts pale brown; tail uniform dark brown;
remainder of wings dark brown; median-coverts with white terminal
margins ; greater coverts and inner secondaries broadly edged with rufous
buff, the former with some partial white ends; primaries and primary-
coyerts very narrowly edged with rufous buff; inner lining of wings brown
with the inner edges of the quills buff and the under wing-coverts mostly
white ; a patch in front of eye, chin and throat black; cheeks, ear-coverts
and sides of throat white ; crop, breast, thighs and under tail-coverts whitish
buff. Ivis dark brown; bill liver brown ; tarsi and feet paler brown. Total
length 5:9 inches, culmen 0:55, wing 3:4, tail 2°5, tarsus 0°75. g, 12. 1. 67.
Damara (Andersson).
Adult female. Duller and slightly paler; crown a little browner ; patch
from the eye over sides of neck buff; no black on throat. Wing 3:1 inches.
?, 2.10. 66. Damara (Andersson).
The Greater South African Sparrow ranges from south of
the Cunene and Zambesi rivers into Cape Colony.
Andersson writes: ‘This species is found at Lake Ngami;
and I also met with it at Otjimbinque, at Omapju, and near
Otaiovapa. I first met with its nest at Omapju, on January 5,
1867 ; it was placed on the top of a thorn bush, about seven
feet from the ground; and I subsequently met with several
other nests during the same month. ‘The nest is large, and is
composed of coarse grass outside, and fine grass within, and
has an additional lining of feathers and other soft and warm
materials; it is furnished with a long entrance, sometimes
a foot or more in length, which ends in a deep and wide
hollow. The eggs are from three to six; but the most
PASSER MOTITENSIS. 245
frequent number is four; they are larger than the eggs of
P. arcuatus, and are invariably covered with a glutinous
matter which is difficult to remove, even with the help of
water.”
In the British Museum there are a male and two females,
collected by Sir Andrew Smith, who described the species in
1848, and then wrote: ‘‘ Only two specimens of this bird were
procured, both about sixty miles to the south of the Orange
river. When they were killed, they were on the ground
actively employed pecking up the seeds which had fallen from
the shrubs among which they were moving. The natives
(Bechuanas) seeing these birds carefully carried to our tents,
expressed surprise at our thinking them of value; and those
who saw with what care they had been preserved, made known
the proceeding to every new comer.”
I can find no record of the occurrence of this species from
further south nor from Natal and the Transvaal; but in
Matabele-land the late Mr. Frank Oates collected four speci-
mens in August, September and October, at the Palatswe
river and near Tati.
As Mr. T. Ayres and Dr. Stark appear never to have met
this species, probably its true home is Tropical South Africa,
from German S8.W. Africa into Matabele-land, where the species
is fairly abundant, and that the typical specimens collected by
Sir Andrew Smith in the Old Latakoo district were possibly
stragglers.
An egg in Mr. A. Nehrkorn’s collection is described as :
white, with large clouded pale grey marks, and measures
Wee x 0-6.
246 PASSER CORDOFANICUS.
Passer cordofanicus.
Passer cordofanicus, Finsch. Suppl. Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 141 (1871)
Kordofan.
Passer rufocinctus, Fisch. and Reichen. J. f. O. 1884, p. 55 Nazwasha ;
Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 136; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 325 (1888) ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, p. 72 Loerw ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 256
Masai, Kikuyu; Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 195 (1894) Masaz ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 263 (1896); Hinde, Ibis, 1898} p. 578
Machako's ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 63 Somali; Hinde, Ibis, 1900,
p. 494 N’gong; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egg; Neum.
J. f. O. 1900, p. 287 Masai.
Passer motitensis rufocinctus, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 42 Nairobe.
Adult male. Very. similar to P. motitensis, but with the mantle dis-
tinctly browner, less rufous than the lower back and much more strongly
streaked with black; cinnamon patch on sides of head and neck more
contracted; ear-coverts uniform grey, gradually fading into white on the
cheeks and sides of the black throat. ‘Iris pale yellow; bill black; legs
dark.’’ Total length 5:6 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 3:0, tail 2-1, tarsus 0°8.
3, 29.11.99. Nairobi (Delamere).
Adult female. Differs from the females of P. motitensis in much the
same manner as the males, especially in having the ear-coverts uniform
grey. In the specimen before me the black throat, characteristic of the
male, is indicated by a dusky grey shade. @, 31. 10. 99. Athi R.
(Delamere).
The Kordofan Sparrow ranges from the Masai country into
Somali-land and Kordofan.
In the British Museum there are specimens collected by
Dr. 8S. L. Hinde at Machako’s and N’gong; by Lord Delamere
at the Athi, Gilgil and Molo rivers, as well as at Nairobi,
Likipia and Soguro; and by Mr. R. Hawker at Jifa Medir in
Somali-land.
Fischer procured the type of P. rufocinctus at Naiwasha
lake, and a specimen at Loeru, and Mr. Neumann has also
collected specimens in Masai-land. From Machako’s Dr. Hinde
writes: ‘‘ Large numbers breed here in May and June. It is
common in the Station. Builds sometimes in the eaves of the
houses, but more often among the fruit of a banana-bunch or in
PASSER SHELLEYI. 247
the head of the wild banana,” and later, he adds: ‘‘ The habits
of this species are similar to those of the Huropean House-
Sparrow.” Dr. Ansorge has obtained the species at Nairobi,
and Mr. Jackson in the Kikuyu country. They wander east-
ward into Somali-land, where Mr. Hawker found them in
January, and writes: “This bird was not common, and I saw
only a very few of them. They did not come round my camp
at Jifa Mecdir until I had been there for several weeks.”
Heuglin met with these Sparrows in small family parties
near the villages in central Kordofan, only in the beginning of
the rainy season.
The Kordofan specimen originally described by Heuglin
was without a label, apparently a female, as it had the throat
grey. For this bird Dr. Finsch in 1871 proposed the name of
Passer cordofanicus, to distinguish the North-east African form
from its southern ally P. motitensis.
An egg from Masai-land is described by Mr. Nehrkorn as
white with large irregularly shaped violet grey marks and
measuring 0°84 x 0°58.
Passer shelleyi. (Pl. 27, fig. 2.)
Passer shelleyi, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 256 Lado, Shelley, B. Afr.
I. No. 264 (1896).
Passer rufocinctus (nec Fisch. and Reichen.) Shelley, P. Z. 5. 1888,
p-. 36 Lado.
Type. Very similar in plumage to the adult male of P. cordo-
fanicus, but differs in the hinder half of the ear-coverts being jet black and
contrasting sharply with the pure white of the front of the ear-coverts,
cheeks and sides of throat. Bill dusky brown; iris umber brown; feet
flesh-colour. Total length in the flesh 5:6 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°79,
tail 1:8, tarsus 0°7. ¢, 9.4.84. Lado.
Shelley’s Sparrow inhabits the Upper White Nile district.
The type, an adult male, was procured by Emin at Lado on the
St Ake 192% f. BRE
248 PASSER ARCUATUS.
a
Upper White Nile, April 9, 1884, and is now in the British
Museum. ‘This is all that is at present known regarding the
species.
Passer arcuatus.
Fringilla arcuata, Gm. S. N. i. p. 912 (1788).
Passer arcuatus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 333 (1888) Damara, Cape
Town, Transvaal; Bittik. Notes Leyd. Mus. 1888, p. 240
Mossamedes ; Sousa Jorn. Lisb. 1886, p. 167 Benguela; Fleck,
J. f. O. 1894, p. 410 Damara, Great Namaqua; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 269 (1896) ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers, p. 109 (1899) egg; Stark,
Faun. §. Afr. B. i. p. 160 (1900); Haagner, Ibis, 1901, pp. 15, 16, 192
Transvaal.
Adult male. Head and neck jet black, with a broad patch of white
surrounding the hinder half of the ear-coverts and extending over the side
of the neck and nape, and encroaches on to the black of the lower throat
above the crop; the black of the crown shades off into ashy grey on the
hinder neck and front of the mantle; remainder of the back and the lesser
wing-coverts chestnut, with the upper tail-coverts dusky black; wing
mostly blackish brown with pale edges to the feathers, broadest on the inner
ones ; median coverts with white ends, and the pale edges of the greater
coverts and the inner secondaries incline to white towards their ends ; inner
lining of the wings blackish, with the axillaries and most of the coverts
white, and some whitish inner edges to the quills. Tail black, with
the edges of the feathers pale brown inclining to rufous at their ends.
Under surface of body white with a partial shade of ash on the flanks.
Sides of head, throat and entire crop, jet black. Total length 6:2 inches,
culmen 0°5, wing 3:0, tail 2-5, tarsus 0°85. Cape (Butler).
Adult female. Differs from the male in the dark parts of the head and
throat being ashy grey and the broad white incomplete eyebrow being
separated from the white on the sides of the neck by a band of ashy grey
behind the ear-coverts.
The Cape Sparrow ranges from Benguela to the Cape of
Good Hope and into Natal and the Transvaal.
The most northern range known to me for this species is
the town of Benguela, where, according to Anchieta, it is called
by the natives ‘‘ Embolio.”” In Mossamedes Van der Kellen
obtained a pair. ‘l’o the south of the Cunene Mr. Fleck found
a
é
PASSER ARCUATUS. 249
the species generally distributed over Damara and Great Nam-
aqualand in the neighbourhood of water and dwellings, and
resembling our House Sparrow in habits and voice. Stark
writes: ‘‘I found it quite common on the coast of Little
Namaqualand and at Saldanha Bay. At Cape Town it
abounds and has become perfectly acclimatised to town
life; in many parts of the Great Karroo it is:a common
species, as at Prince Albert, but in the fertile country
to the south of the Swartzberg Range it is very scarce,
and it has never been heard of in the Knysna district
up to the present time, 1898. ‘This species is very common
on the Orange river, according to Dr. Bradshaw. In Natal it
is absent from the coast district, but becomes common in Upper
Natal, in the neighbourhood of Newcastle and elsewhere. It
ranges into the Transvaal and Southern Bechuanaland. In
autumn and winter these Sparrows are frequently found in
considerable flocks, often consorting with other Finches and
Weaver-birds; even when nesting they frequently form social
communities and build many nests in the same bush or tree ;
occasionally I have seen a bush so packed with nests that they
formed a solid mass much like one of the collective nests of a
Social Weaver-bird.
** The Cape Sparrow builds indiscriminately in holes of rocks
or buildings, or in holes of trees, but usually in the latter.
The nest, a domed structure, is more or less flask-shaped,
with an entrance from a few inches to more than a foot in
length, through a horizontally projecting neck. It is con-
structed of small sticks, straw, dry grass, occasionally interwoven
with rags and bits of paper, the cavity being warmly lined with
wool and feathers. Two or three broods are reared in the year,
the first eggs being laid in September. These are from three
to six in number, and vary considerably in size, shape and
colour; they are usually of a pale greenish blue ground colour,
250 PASSER SIMPLEX.
thickly blotched and mottled with various shades of brown and
lavender. They average 0°75 x 0°58. They are hatched at
the end of twelve days. ‘he young remain in the nest for
about twenty-four days, during which time they are fed on
grubs, caterpillars, and partially digested food from the crops
of the old birds.”
According to Mr. Haagner their eggs vary greatly, some
being “almost black in colour, owing to the profusion and
darkness of the blotches, and others from the same nest
almost white, the blotches bemg very hght coloured and
sparsely distributed.” He further observes that the eggs of
Ohrysococcyx cupreus are known to be generally deposited in the
nests of these Sparrows.
Passer simplex.
Fringilla simplex, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 24 (1823) Ambukohl.
Passer simplex, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 339 (1888) ; Shelley, B. Afr. I.
No. 266 (1896); Keenig, J. f. O. 1896, pl. 7, fig. 10, eggs ; Nehrkorn,
Kat. Biers. p. 109 (1899) egg.
Passer lichtensteini, Heugl. J. f. O. 1868, p. 88 S. Nubia.
Adult male. General plumage uniform creamy buff very slightly tinged
with ash on the crown and mantle. Wing: least coverts like the back ;
median coverts pure white; greater coverts dusky black, with very broad
white terminal margins; primary coverts dusky black with obsolete white
edges ; quills dusky buff shading into dusky brown at the ends, and with
both webs edged with white, slightly shaded with isabelline on the outer
webs of the secondaries. Tail pale dusky brown, darker towards the ends
of the feathers, all of which are surrounded by buff edges, much broader on
the centre feathers. Sides of forehead, feathers in front of the eye, and
a few above the ear-coverts dusky black; cheek, ear-coverts and sides of
throat pure white; chin and throat black. “Iris dark brown; bill white
at base, clear brownish at the point and on the sides; feet yellowish.”
Total length 5:2 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3:0, tail 2:2, tarsus 0°8. Algeria
(Locke).
Adult female. Differs from the male in having no black on the head and
neck, and the general colouring of the upper parts isabelline.
The Desert Sparrow ranges from Kordofan into the Libyan
and Sahara deserts.
PASSER DIFFUSUS. 251
According to Heuglin it feeds on grain near habitations,
and in its habits resembles P. imontanus, does not frequent the
mountains, but inhabits the lowlands of Kordofan, Sennaar,
and the wastes between Berber and Suakin. The type came
from Ambukobl on the Nile, and probably not many miles from
this locality Heuglin obtained the type of his P. lichtensteini,
nominally from Southern Nubia.
The egg, he states, resembles that of our House Sparrow,
and measures 0°85 X 0°6. ‘This description does not agree
with the two eggs figured as belonging to this bird (J. f. O.
1896, pl. 7, fig. 10).
Passer diffusus.
Pyrgita diffusa, Smith, Rep. S. Afr. Exped. App. p. 50 (1836) north
of Orange R.
Passer diffusus, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 228 Zanzibar; Fisch. and Reichen.
J. f. O. 1882, p. 148 Bagamoyo, Pangani, Mombasa, Lamu ; Bohm,
J. f. O. 1883, p. 201; Schalow ¢. c. p. 364 Kakoma, Ugogo; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1887, p. 305 Leopoldsville ; Sousa, Jorn. Lisb. 1887, p. 101
Quissange ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 336 (1888); Buttik. Notes
Leyd. Mus. 1889, p. 75 Cunene ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1889, p. 384 Zan-
zibar; 1890, p. 124 Camaroons ; Shelley, Ibis, 1890, p. 164 Arwwimi ;
Reichen. J. f. O. 1891, p. 158 Mpapwa; id. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 195
(1894) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1894, p. 22 Nyasa; Fleck, J. f. O. 1894, p. 410
Kalahari; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 268 (1896) ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1897,
p. 41 Togo ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 513 Zulw; Shelley, ¢. c. p. 528;
1898, p. 379 Nyasa ; Hartert, Noy. Zool. 1898, p. 72; Lort Phillips,
Ibis, 1898, p. 398 Somali ; Shelley, Ibis, 1899, p. 867 Nyasa; Alex
ander, t.c. p. 565 Zambesi ; Jackson, t.c. p. 619 Ntebi, Nandi ; Nehr-
korn, Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egg; Sclat. P. Z. S. 1900, p. 2 Nyasa ;
Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 287 H. Afr.; Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. I. p. 1638
(1900); Shelley, Ibis, 1901, p. 165 Kachinda, Karwngwesi ; Witherby,
t. c. p. 246 Khartoum; Alexander, Ibis, 1902, p. 297 Gold Coast,
Pyrgita swainsoni, Riipp. N. Wirb. Vég. p. 94, pl. 33, fig. 2 (1837-40)
N.H. Afr.
Passer swainsoni, Cass. Pr. Philad. Acad. 1859, p. 139 Gaboon ; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1875, p. 42 Camaroons ; Fisch. J. f. O. 1877, p. 180 Zanzibar ;
1878, pp. 266, 281 #. Afr.; Oust. N. Arch, Mus. (2) ii. Bull. p. 118
952 PASSER DIFFUSUS.
(1879) Ogowé ; Bihm. J. f. O. 1883, p. 201; 1885, p. 42 Gonda; p. 67
Tanganyika ; Fisch. t. c. p. 136 Arusha to Naiwasha ; Dubois, Bull.
Mus. R. Belg. 1886, p. 149 Tanganyika; Oust. Bull. Ke. Haut. Et.
xxi. art. 10, p. 9 (1886) Somali ; Reichen. J.f. O. 1887, p. 72 Kagehi,
Magala ; Matschie, t. c. p. 154 Upamba; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p.
334 (1888) Abyssinia ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genoy. 1888, p. 278 Shoa ;
Emin, J. f. O. 1891, p. 60 Ugogo ; Hartl. Abhandl. nat. Ver. Bremen,
1891, p. 25 Mtoni; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 257 Ukambani ; Rendall,
Ibis, 1892, p. 219 Gambia; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 469 Somali ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 267 (1896); Hartert in Ansorge’s Under Afr.
Sun, p. 347 (1899) Umoro, Uganda; Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 109
(1899) egg ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 185; 1901, pp. 286, 625 S.
Abysswia.
Pyrgita gularis, Less. Rey. Zool. 1839, p. 45 Senegambia.
Passer gularis, Rendall, Ibis, 1892, p. 219 Gambia; Salvad. Ann. Mus.
Genoy. 1901, p. 777 Bulama Is.
Pyrgita spadicea, Licht. Verz. Vig. Kaffernl. p. 15 (1842).
Passer occidentalis, Shelley, Ibis, 1883, p. 548 Niger.
Passer diffusus occidentalis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p.44; 1901, p.
341 Niger.
Passer diffusus thierryi, Reichen. Orn. Monatsb. 1899, p. 190 Mangu ;
Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45.
Passer diffusus ugande, Reichen. Orn. Monatsb. 1899, p. 190 Uganda ;
Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 44.
Passer simplex (nec Licht.) Fraser, P. Z. 5. 1843, p. 52 Gold Coast ;
Hartl. J. f. O. 1861, p. 260 St. Thomas Is.; Shelley and Buckley,
Ibis, 1872, pp. 282, 290 Gold Coast; Reichen. and Lihder, J. f. O.
1873, p. 216 Accra; Bouvier, Cat. Ois. Marche, &c. p. 26 (1875)
Senegambia.
Adult. Upper half of the head and neck ashy grey, passing into brown
on the mantle, which latter shades into bright cinnamon on the lower back :
upper tail-coverts brown. Wing: lesser coverts uniform chestnut; median
coverts slightly browner, with white ends broadest on the inner feathers ;
greater coverts and inner secondaries broadly, and the other quills more
narrowly, edged with pale brown of the same colour as the mantle;
remainder of wings dark brown; inner lining dusky brown, with the
axillaries and portions of the coverts and inner edges of the quills white.
Tail dark brown with pale edges to the feathers. Sides of the head and
neck uniform ashy grey like the crown; throat and breast paler ash, fading
into white on the chin, down the centre of the throat, centre of abdomen,
and the under tail-coverts, the latter with a trace of brown shaft-stripes.
“Tris brown; bill quite black, in others pale greyish brown, with yellow
near the base of the lower mandible; legs and toes pale greyish brown”
(Andersson). Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 3:4 and 3:2, tail
PASSER DIFFUSUS. 253
28 and 2:7, tarsus 0°7. ¢, 30. 7. 66. Otjimbinque (Andersson); 9,
11. 4. 82. Orange R. (Bradshaw).
The Common Grey-headed Sparrow ranges over Africa
generally, south of 17° N. lat.
Mr. Hartert (Nov. Zool. 1900, pp. 44, 45), in an interesting
review of this species, tries to point out characters for separat-
ing P. swainsont, P. gularis, P. occidentalis and P. ugande as
subspecies of P. diffusus. With an extremely fine series
before me, I cannot find any characters for recognising the
above as subspecies. In the British Museum alone there are
specimens from Senegal, Dakar, Gambia, Gold Coast, Abeo-
kuta, Niger, Gaboon, Malimba, Aruwhimi, Angola, Katumbella,
Damara-land, Orange river, Natal, Transvaal, Mosambique,
Zambesi, Nyasa-land, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Pangani, Ndi,
Lamu, Somali-land and Abyssinia.
The type of Pyrgita gularis, Less., came from Senegambia.
Dr. Rendall records the species as very common at the Gambia
river, where he kept some as cage-birds and found them very
hardy, active and wild. It is strange that Mr. Biittikofer did
not collect any Sparrows in Liberia, for on my way out to the
Gold Coast with Mr. T. E. Buckley, during the few hours we
stopped at Sierra Leone, we saw this species, which appeared
to be as plentiful there as on the Gold Coast, where we found
it extremely common, and takes the place of our House
Sparrow and is equally bold, and prefers the towns to the
surrounding bush-country. At Accra, Dr. Reichenow found
a nest of these Sparrows begun on August 10th, had five eggs
in it on the 25th, and fine young birds by the end of September.
The eggs were brownish white, strongly freckled with pale
dusky chestnut brown, and measured 0°75 x 0°6.
Captain Boyd Alexander found these Sparrows common
from Gomieri down to Accra, but absent further inland.
The type of P. diffusus thierryi, Reichen. was procured by
254 PASSER DIFFUSUS.
Lieutenant Thierry in Mangu, the hinterland of the German
Togo colony.
In 1883 I recognised that the name P. simplex (Swains.
nec Licht.), by which these West African Sparrows were then
generally known, could not be employed, so suggested that of
P. occidentalis, not being then aware that they had previonsly
received the name of Pyrgita gularis from Lessow in 1839.
The type of my P. occidentalis is the late Mr. Forbes’ specimen
from Lukoja on the Niger, where, according to his notes, it was
one of the commonest birds, but Dr. Reichenow considered it
to be scarce in Camaroons. In 1861 Hartlaub mentioned a
specimen from St. Thomas’ Island, but the locality is no
doubt incorrect, as the species has been omitted from all
the more recent lists of birds from that island. In Gaboon it
is known to the natives, according to Marche, as the ‘‘ Band-
tschogoi,” and at Humbe, in Benguela, Anchieta informs us
it is called * Embolio”’ or “ Kimbolio.”
According to Andersson’s observation these Sparrows are
scarce in Damaraland but more abundant on approaching the
Okovango river, and Mr. Fleck met with them in the Kalahari.
The type of the species was discovered by Sir Andrew Smith
in the country between the tropics and the Orange river, and
I met with it at Wellington in the south of Cape Colony.
Throughout the eastern half of the continent, to as far north
as the junction of the Atbara with the Nile, the species appears
to be as evenly distributed as on the west side, but it gives way
to some extent to P. crassirostris in the Masai district. For
the specimens from the Uganda district Dr. Reichenow has
proposed the name of P. diffusus ugande, on account of the
rufous shade on the mantle and the wing being long, characters
which would readily be matched by examples in the British
Museum from the Gold Coast, Natal and the Zanzibar district.
Mr. Jackson procured specimens only at Ntebi and Nandi, and
a
PASSER CRASSIROSTRIS, 25%
in Somaliland it also appears to be scarce, although it is abun-
dant throughout Abyssinia, according to Lord Lovat. Dr.
Ragazzi likewise calls the species plentiful in Shoa, and
Antinori remarks that it takes the place of our House
Sparrow in the villages, and breeds there in May under the
roofs of the houses. Mr. Pease calls it the Common Sparrow
of the upper countries, but not seen by him on the maritime
plains. Heuglin met with the species at Kordofan and from
the Blue Nile to Bogos and Takah, the country on the right
bank of the Atbara, which is the most northern known range
for the species. He describes the nest as like that of other
Sparrows, composed of grass, &c., and well lined with horse-
hair and feathers ; but they frequently take possession of other
birds’ nests, generally those of the Weavers. He gives a
figure of the ege (Orn. N. O. Afr. pl. 48, fig. 2), and calls it
similar to that of P. domesticus, measuring 0°8 x 0°72. Mr.
Kuschel describes eggs of this species from the Gold Coast, as
being of a stout oval form, with thin shells and a moderate
gloss, but very variable in colour, the ground being white or
rusty yellow. Those with the white ground have dusky violet
or brownish red spots, clustered together at the thick end so as
to almost hide the pale ground colour, while those of a rusty
yellow shade lack the violet marks, but the obtuse end is
covered with brownish red spots. They measure 0°77 to 0°78
x 0°63 to 0°64.
Passer crassirostris.
Pyrgita crassirostris, Heugl. J. f. O. 1867, p. 299 Fazokl.
Pseudostruthus gongonensis, Oust. Le Naturaliste, 1890, p. 274
Gongom.
Passer gongonensis, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1901, p. 618, Omo R. Akara.
Passer diffusus gongonensis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45 Nairobe.
Passer swainsoni (nec Riipp.) Shelley, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 589 Melinda ;
Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 619 Kibwesi, Hlgeyw.
256 PASSER EMINI.
Adult. Similar in colouring to P. diffusus, but differs in having the head
and under parts slightly browner, and being a larger bird with a much stouter
bill. ‘Iris hazel; bill black; feet pale brown” (Jackson). Total length
6:6 inches, culmen 0:6, wing 3:8, tail 2:8, tarsus 08. g and ?. Mt. Kenya
(Delamere.)
The Thick-billed Sparrow inhabits Eastern Equatorial
Africa between 5° S. lat. and 12° N. lat.
The most southern locality known to me for this species, is
the village of Gongoni near Mombasa; here M. Gierra pro-
cured the type of Pseudustruthus gongonensis. In the British
Museum there are four specimens which were presented to me
by Sir John Kirk from Melinda and Lamu; one of Hilde-
brandt’s from Kitui in Ukamba and five collected by Lord
Delamere from Kikuyu, Lake Barmgo and Msara on the north
eastern side of Mount Kenia.
Dr. Ansore has procured the species at Nairobe, and Mr
Jackson obtained others at Kibwesi and Elgeyu, where, accord-
ing to his notes, ‘“ this is the common Sparrow of the country.”
To the north of Lake Rudolf, Dr. Donaldson Smith met with
the species at the Omo river and in the Akara country. The
most northern range known for the species is Fazokl on the
Blue Nile, from whence the type came, and was labelled
Pyrgita crassirostris by Prince Paul of Wiirtemberg, and has
been well described under that name by Heuglin in 1867.
Passer emini.
Sorella emini, Hartl. J. f. O. 1880, p. 211 Lado; Fisch. J. f. O. 1885,
p. 1386 Ngurwman ; Hartl. Zool. Jahrb. 1886, p. 340 Lado; Reichen.
J. f. O. 1887, p. 72 Wembere ; Shelley, P. Z. S. 1888, p. 36 Lado,
Redjaf ; Reichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 196 (1894) Neum. J. f. O.
1900, p. 287 Kavirondo.
Passer emini, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 332 (1888) Lado ; id. Ibis, 1891,
p. 257 Njemps ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 270 (1896); Jackson, Ibis,
1899, p. 619 Elgeyu, Guasa-Molo R.
PASSER EMINI 957
Adult male in breeding plumage. Entire head, neck, body, lesser wing-
coverts, scapulars, upper and under tail-coverts and under wing-coverts
uniform rich deep cinnamon, inclining to chocolate brown on the head and
throat ; remainder of the wings and the tail blackish brown, with rather
narrow buffy edges to the feathers, widening and inclining to cinnamon
on the inner greater covyerts; under surface of quills with whitish inner
edges. ‘Iris brown; bill black; tarsi and feet reddish brown.” Total
length 4:8 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°45, tail 1:5, tarsus 0-6. 3, 22.
6. 81. Lado (Emin).
Adult female. Top and sides of the head and the neck ashy brown,
with a rather obscurely marked eyebrow, from the nostril to the nape pale
cinnamon, and a wash of that colour on the sides of the upper neck; upper
back slightly browner and strongly streaked with broad, blackish shaft-
stripes; scapulars, middle and lower back pale cinnamon, with the upper
tail-coverts browner. Wings and tail dark brown, with narrow pale brown
edges to the feathers; lesser wing-coverts more uniform rufous brown ;
median coverts tipped with white, forming a partial bar; under surface
of wing, with the coverts and inner edges of the quills white, and the rest
of the quills dusky brown; chin and throat cinnamon, passing into pale,
ashy brown on the sides of the lower neck, chest and flanks ; abdomen and
under tail-coverts buff. ‘Iris brown; bill blackish; paler on the lower
mandible ; tarsi and feet reddish brown.” Total length 4°75 inches, culmen
0:35, wing 2°45, tail 1:6, tarsus 0°6. 9, 22. 6.81. Lado (Emin).
Male, in imperfect plumage. Somewhat similar in plumage to the adult
female, but chiefly differs in the throat and under surface of the body being
white, irregularly mottled with deep cinnamon feathers, most numerous on
the upper throat, and the top and sides of the head and neck similarly
mottled; the white ends to the median coverts much broader, and the
under wing-coverts mottled with deep cinnamon. ¢, gf, 18. 2.84. Lado
(Emin).
Emin’s Sparrow inhabits Central Africa between 4° S. lat.
and 10° N. lat.
The most southern range known to me is the Wembere
plateau to the south of Victoria Nyanza, where Fischer col-
lected specimens, as well as at Neuruman, where he found them
in small flocks with other Finches feeding in the cornfields.
It ranges westward to the White Nile where Emin procured
specimens at Redjaf and Lado, at which latter place he dis-
covered the type.
To the north-east of Victoria Nyanza Mr. Jackson found
(May, 1902. 17
258 PASSER LUTEUS.
these Sparrows very plentiful at Njemps in July, and fairly so
at Elgeyu in August, and he procured two specimens at the
Guasa Molo river in September. Mr. Neumann records it
from Kavirondo, and Antinori has obtained an adult male
at Daimbi in Shoa, which is the most northern known range
for this species.
Passer luteus.
Fringilla lutea, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 24 (1823) Dongola.
Passer luteus, Sharpe Cat. B. M. xii. p. 340 (1888) Abyssinia ; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 271 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egq;
Witherby, Ibis, 1901, p. 247 Kawa; Rothschild and Wollaston, Ibis,
1902, p. 10 Shendi.
Adult male. Entire head, neck and under surface of the body canary
yellow ; upper back and scapulars deep cinnamon; lower back yellow par-
tially washed with cinnamon ; upper tail-coverts ashy brown. Wing mostly
brownish black with the least series of coverts dusky yellow ; median and
greater coverts with rufous-tinted buff ends; quills with pale edges, narrow
and buff on the primaries, much broader and of a cinnamon shade on the
secondaries ; inner lining of wings dusky brown with brownish buff inner
edges to the quills, and the coverts mostly white. Tail blackish brown
with pale tawny brown edges; under tail-coverts brownish buff with dark
centres. Iris brown; bill horn colour; legs pale brown. Total length
5 inches, culmen 0-4, wing 2:5, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°65. ¢, 26. 6. 50.
Khartoum (J. W. von Miiller).
Female. Differs in the forehead, crown, back of neck, back, scapulars
and least series of wing-coverts being pale brown; under parts buff shaded
with brown on the sides of the head and sides of the neck and body. Total
length 4:4 inches, culmen 0°4, wing 2°5, tail 1:9, tarsus 0°65. ?, Sennaar
(M. Parreyss).
he Abyssinian Golden-Sparrow inhabits the Abyssinian
district between about 10° and 20° N. lat.
According to Heuglin, in habits and note they much
resemble our common House-Sparrow. He found them in the
early summer in large flocks along the Blue Nile, in Kordofan
and Southern Nubia, to as far north as the Nile between Berber
and Dongola. In June and July he met with them in great
al lt al ee ie Re a ets
rus.
0
10
5
‘ser euch
Ls
ae:
i
a flavigula.
7
PASSER EUCHLORUS. 259
numbers at the town of Khartoum, perching on the walls and
roofs of the houses, and in September and October they
resorted to the open country in thousands with their young.
The nest is of an oval form, deeper than wide, composed of fine
dried grass and firmly fixed to a bough from two to twelve feet
from the ground. They lay three to four eggs, which are
white spotted with brown, very similar in colouring to those of
our common House-Sparrow, and measure 0°75 x 0°55.
The Hon. N. C. Rothschild and Mr. A. F. R. Wollaston
found these beautiful yellow Sparrows exceedingly abundant at
Shendi, increasing in number towards the end of March.
* Flocks of fifty and upwards might be seen at any time flying
northwards along the river-bank; they were never seen to
proceed in the other direction. hey are very partial to water,
and might sometimes be seen in enormous flocks bathing in the
shallow pools of the river.”
On the White Nile, according to Mr. Witherby, ‘This
species was common and well distributed. Generally to be
found in small flocks of twenty or so, it was very wild, and
frequented the bushes and trees in the more open country.
When flying it has a twittering Linnet-like note, while in the
trees it chirps like a House-Sparrow. We saw an enormous
flock of these birds in some tall bushes on the river-bank near
Kawa. They were exceedingly restless, rising in clouds from
the bushes as we approached and settling again further on,
only to rise when we neared them.”
Passer euchlorus. (FI. 28, fig. 1.)
Auripasser euchlora, Bp. Consp. i. p. 519 (1850) Abyssinia, Arabia.
Passer euchlorus, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 341 (1888) den ; Shelley,
B. Afr. I. No. 272 (1896); Yerbury, Ibis, 1896, p. 27; Hawker,
Ibis, 1898, p. 375 Aden; Nehrkorn. Kat. Hiers. p. 109 (1899) egg.
Fringilla albeola, Mill. Naum. 1851, p. 29“ S. Africa.” !
Auripasser muelleri, Bp. Notes, Orn. Coll. Delattre, p. 17 (1854).
260 PETRONIA.
Adult male. Entire plumage, with the exception of the wings and tail,
bright canary yellow. Lesser, median and greater-coverts, as well as the
under-coverts of the wing yellow, slightly whiter than the body; primary
coverts, quills and tail-feathers dusky brown with broadish pale edges of
brownish buff; a partial grey tinge on the wings. Iris brown; bill and legs
pale brown. Total length 4-8 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2°3, tail 2-0, tarsus
065. 9g,15.3.95. Hl Khawi (Yerbury).
Adult female. Differs in the upper parts being pale brown where they
are yellow in the adult males; mantle with a few obscure dark streaks ;
under-parts and sides of head buff, slightly browner on the ear-coverts and
with a partial faint tinge of yellow on the throat; under wing-coverts buff.
Total length 4:4 inches, culmen 0°35, wing 2:3, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°65. ?,
2.10.99. El Khawi (Percival and Dodson).
Immature male. Exactly like the adult female, with the exception of the
forehead being yellowish white. g, juv. 4. 10.99. Hl Khawi.
The Arabian Golden Sparrow inhabits Arabia and Kastern
Abyssinia.
All that I know regarding the occurrence of this species
in Africa, is that one of Hemprich and KEhrenberg’s types,
in the Berlin Museum, is labelled as coming from Kastern
Abyssinia, and the type of Fringilla albeola, nominally from
8. Africa, must have been a cage-bird, if the locality is correct.
Its true home is Southern Arabia, here Mr. Hawker shot
one in company with a flock of P. domesticus near Lahej,
where it is very common according to Colonel Yerbury, who
further writes: “One or more big flocks have established
themselves now in Aden itself, breeding in the thorny trees at
the tanks and alongside the gaol wall. They are gregarious
and build a thick nest of thorny twigs.”
Genus VII. PH TRONTIA.
Very similar to Passer in general structure, but is characterised by the
nostrils being exposed and the wings more lengthened. A yellow patch at
the base of the throat is a useful character for distinguishing members of
this genus.
Type.
Petronia, Kaup. Naturl. Syst. p. 158 (1829). . . . P. petronia.
Xanthodira, Sundey. Gify. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. Stockh. 1850,
PLOT ce os cans a, eicce (oe en one eee ROM tatae
PETRONIA DENTATA, 261
The genus ranges over Africa generally, northward into Central Europe
and eastward to China. It comprises six known species, of which three
are confined to Tropical and South Africa.
KEY TO THE SPECIES.
a. Smaller: wing 2-9 to 3:1 inches; less yellow
Gnmihesuhrodiee ss +s te 4... dentate
1.a Patch above the ear-coverts rufous . . . ad.
bt Patch above the ear-coverts sandy buff. . jw.
b. Larger : wing 3-2 to 3-5; more yellow on the
throat.
ct. Mantle uniform; no pale eyebrow . . . pyrgita.
dt. Mantle mottled ; a large buffeyebrow . . flavigula.
Petronia dentata.
Xanthrodira dentata, Sundey. Gify. K. Vet.-Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850,
p- 127; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Genov. 1884, p. 176; 1888, p. 277 Shoa;
1901, p. 777 Bissao.
Petronia dentata, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 295 (1888) Abyssinia ;
Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 253 (1896) ; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1899, p. 414
Gambaga ; Grant, Ibis, 1900, p. 134 S. Abyssinia ; Alexander, Ibis,
1902, p. 296 Gold Coast.
Pyrgita dentata, Rendall, Ibis, 1892, p. 219 Gambia.
Pyrgita nigriceps, Licht. Nomencl. Ay. Berol. p. 47 (1854) Bahjooda.
Fringilla (Passer) lunatus, Heugl. Syst. Uebers, p. 42 (1856) Abyssinia.
Petronia albigularis, Brehm. Naum. 1856, p. 877 Sennaar.
Passer canicapillus, Blyth, Ibis, 1865, p. 46 Hab. ?
Pyrgita fazoglensis, Heugl. J. f. O. 1867, p. 299.
Adult. Upper parts uniform brown with the crown greyish; a broad
rufous eyebrow extending back from the eye shades off into the brown on
the back and sides of the neck; wing-coverts like the back but with faintly
marked paler edges to the median and greater coverts; quills and tail-
feathers darker brown with narrow pale edges; under-surface of wings
brown with the coverts and inner edges of the quills whitish. Chin, upper
half of throat, breast and under tail-coverts white, shading into pale brown
on the sides of head and throat, lower throat and sides of body; on the
middle of the throat is generally visible a pale yellow patch. ‘ Ivis reddish
brown ; bill dusky with base of lower mandible flesh colour; feet dusky
262 PETRONIA DENTATA
ash,’ Heugl. Total length 4:5 to 4:9 inches, culmen 0°45, wing 2'9 to 3:1,
tail 2:0, tarsus 0°6. Gambaga; 3, 29.7. 98. Abyssinia; 9, 31. 7. 68-
o ?, 15. 8. 68.
Young. Differs in having the crown, back and sides of neck uniform
brown and the eyebrow sandy buff; mantle partially mottled with blackish
brown and broad pale or whitish ends to the median and greater-coverts and
the inner webs of the quills somewhat broadly edged with rufous buff.
Gambaga; 2,9. 1.99. White Nile; 9,5.00. Abyssinia; ¢, 24.7. 68.
Five other specimens in the British Museum are intermediate between the
adults and young described, but none of these have any grey on the head.
Were it not that the specimens have been sexed by their collectors, one
would have expected the grey crowned birds with the rufous eyebrow and
uniform backs to have been adult males and the others adult females and
immature birds. Against their being specifically distinct, is that both forms
range across northern tropical Africa from 0° to 40° E. long. and have been
found at the same places.
The Lesser Rock-Sparrow inhabits northern Tropical
Africa between about 9° and 18° N. lat.
The occurrence of this species in West Africa was first
made known to us by Dr. P. Rendall, who procured it close
to Bathurst on the Gambia river, and Sig. Fea has obtained
specimens on the Bissagos islands at Bulamo and Bissao.
At Gambaga, about 250 miles due north of Cape Coast Castle,
Captain W. Giffard collected a male and two females in
January, August and November, 1898, and Col. H. P.
Northcott has presented to the British Museum a male and
an apparently young female killed at the same place in
January and July. Captain Boyd Alexander has, more re-
cently, met with the species at Walwali, Gambaga and Karaga,
so these birds must be not only resident but also plentiful
in this district.
These Sparrows cross the continent, for they range over
Abyssinia generally, but I cannot trace them further south
than 9° N. lat. In this latitude, on the Nile near the mouth
of the Seraf river, Captain H. M. Dunn obtained a specimen,
and Lord Lovat shot one at Maritchi in South Abyssinia. In
cent
PETRONIA PYRGITA. 263
9
Shoa according to Dr. Ragazzi it is abundant, and he collected
specimens at Farré, and Antinori others at Ambo-Karra.
FromNorthern Abyssinia there are specimens in the
British Museum collected by Dr. Blanford and Mr. Jesse at
Rairo, Anseba, Gelamet, Bejook and Waliko.
Heuglin met with them alone the Blue Nile and _ its
tributaries, near the White Nile, and in the Abyssinian low-
lands. They were found in pairs or small flocks along the
openings in the woodlands or perched on the bushes in the
deserts, generally near water. The type of Pyrgita nigriceps,
Licht., he informs us, was really procured in the Desert of
Bahjooda, which separates Ambukol from Khartoum, and was
incorrectly labelled as coming from Egypt. He further
remarks that in habits and note they resemble our House-
Sparrows, and that their eggs, which he found in a Weaver-
bird’s nest, were pure white.
Petronia pyrgita.
Xanthodina pyrgita, Heugl. J. f. O. 1862, p. 30 Sennaar.
Petronia pyrgita, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 296 (1888) Abyssinia ;
Reichen. Vég. D. O. Afr. p. 195 (1894) Teita; Sharpe, P. Z. 8.
1895, p. 469 Somali; Shelley, B. Afr. I. No, 254 (1896) ; Elliot,
Field-Columb. M. i. No. 2, p. 34 (1897) ; Lort Phillips, Ibis, 1898,
p. 397; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 63 Somali; Jackson, Ibis, 1899,
p- 619 Ravine; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 287 Loita Mt. ; Sharpe,
P. Z. S. 1901, p. 302 Somali; p. 618 Akara; Grant and Reid,
Ibis, 1901, p. 624 S. Abyssinia; Rothschild and Wollaston,
192, p. 10 Shendi.
Xanthodira pyrgita, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 229 Ndi; Fisch. and Reichen.
J. f. O. 1879, p. 353 Tana R. ; Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 136 Arusha;
Wapokomo.
Gymnorhis pyrgita, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 408 Somalz.
Adult male. Upper parts uniform ashy; lesser wing-coverts like the
remainder of the feathers of the wings and tail dark brown, with rather
narrow brownish white edges; under surface of the wings brown with
264 PETRONIA PYRGITA.
the coverts and inner margins of the quills whitish ; sides of the head
and neck brown like the crown, with an indistinct pale patch behind and
round the eye; chin and centre of throat white ending in a pale yellow
patch ; sides of throat, crop and sides of body pale ashy brown ;
centre of breast, thighs and under tail-coverts white. ‘Iris light brown ;
bill horn; legs dark grey.’ Total length 5:7 inches, culmen 0:45, wing 3:2,
tail 2°5, tarsus 0°7. ¢, 25.11.97. Daboloc (Hawker).
Heuglin’s Rock-Sparrow ranges over Hastern Africa from
the Pangani river into Abyssinia.
The most southern range known to me for this species, is
the Pare mountains of Central German Hast Africa. Here
Fischer met with it, as well as in Arusha, near Lake Naiwasha,
and in the Wapokomo country on the left bank of the Tana
river. Hildebrandt procured a specimen at Ndi in Teita, and
Mr. Neumann one on the Loita mountain. Mr. Jackson
obtained the only one he saw at the Eldoma ravine: “it was
hopping about the ground, and resembled a Sparrow in its
habits.” The species appears to be very generally distributed
over Somaliland as specimens have been collected there by
most of the naturalists who have visited that country. On
the label of a specimen shot by Mr. J. Bennett Stanford at
Lehilla, in June, 1897, is written: “Common on high ground,
native name ‘ Anass.’”? Dr. Donaldson Smith, during his
expedition to Lake Rudolf, procured specimens in the Akara
country as well as in Somaliland.
In Southern Abyssinia Mr. Pease collected specimens at
Daira Aila, where they were rather shy and not frequently
seen. Further north Dr. Blanford procured the species in
Eastern Abyssinia, at Lower Sooroo, and Ksler has collected
several specimens at Ailet. Heuglin records it as occurring
singly in the wooded parts of the western slope of the Bogos
highlands near Barka, and likens their note to that of our
Yellow- Hammer.
The Hon. N. C. Rothschild and Mr. A. F. R. Wollaston
PETRONIA FLAVIGULA. 265
procured two specimens at Shendi on the Nile, which is the
most northern locality yet known for this species, and they
remark: “This was a rare bird at Shendi; besides the
specimens obtained we saw no others. They were found at
the top of a tall acacia tree on the west bank of the Nile, and
when the first was shot the second flew to the ground and
pecked its dead mate most savagely.”
Petronia flavigula. (Pl. 28, fig. 2.)
Xanthodira flavigula, Sundev. Cify. K. Vet. Ak. Férh. Stockh. 1850, p. 98,
Transvaal ; Reichen. J. f. O. 1887, pp. 72, 305 Uswre, Leopoldville ;
Sousa, Jorn. Lish. 1886, p. 167 Caconda ; 1888, p. 228 Quindumbo.
Petronia flavigula, Reichen. Vog. Deutsch O. Afr. p. 195 (1894) Kakoma,
Igonda ; Shelley, B. Afr. I, No. 255 (1896) ; id. Ibis, 1898, p. 379;
1899, p. 282 Zomba ; Alexander, ¢. c. p. 564 Zambesi.
Petronia petronella, Bp. Consp. i. p. 513 (1850) S. Afr. ; Sharpe, Cat. B.
M. xii. p. 297 (1888) Damara, Cape Col. Natal, Tete ; Shelley, Ibis,
1893, p. 27; 1894, p. 22 Zomba; Marshall, Ibis, 1896, p. 246 Mashona;
Sharpe, Ibis, 1897, p. 513 Zulw; Marshall, Ibis,1900, p. 239 Mashona ;
Stark, Faun. 8. Afr. B. i. p. 157 (1900) ; Ivy, Ibis, 1901, p. 19 nest.
Xanthodira dentata (nec. Sundey.) Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 229 Ndi; Bohm,
J. f. O. 1883, p. 201; Schalow, ¢. c. p. 364 Kakoma; Bohm. J. f. O.
1885, p. 60 Gonda.
Adult. Upper parts brown, rather darker on the crown, and mottled
with blackish brown on the mantle; a broad whitish eyebrow extending back
from the front of the eye. Wings darkish brown; the paler edges to the
feathers broaden out into whitish ends on the median and greater coverts,
and form two ill-defined bands on the wings; quills with narrow pale rufous-
tinted edges; their under surface brown, with narrow pale inner edges to
the quills, and the coverts pale brown, partially mottled with white. Tail
dark brown with obsolete narrow whitish edges. Under parts very pale
brown, passing into white on the chin, upper throat, centre of breast and
under tail-coyerts, and into dark brown between the ear-coverts and the
eyebrow; a distinct pale yellow patch between the base of the white throat
and the crop. ‘Iris umber brown; bill dusky brown, with the under
mandible pale; tarsi and feet dusky ash.’ Total length 6:0 inches, culmen
0-55, wing 3:5, tail 2:5, tarsus 0°75. 2.7.84. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres).
Young. Similar to the adult, but without the yellow throat spot. ¢,
26.10. Pinetown (T. L. Ayres).
266 PETRONIA FLAVIGULA,
The Southern Rock-Sparrow inhabits Africa to the south
of about 3° 8. lat.
On the Congo, Bohndorff procured the species at Leopold-
ville. In Benguela specimens have been collected by Anchieta
at Caconda and Quindumbo, and it is called by the natives “Sue-
sue.” Andersson procured others at Elephant Vley in Damara-
land, and wrote: ‘‘I have only met with this species near the
Okavango river.” In the British Museum there are specimens
from Eland’s Post, Kingwilliamstown, and Pinetown near
Durban, and they are apparently common in these districts.
In the Transvaal, according to Mr. T. Ayres, “ this species
affects the wooded and warm country where rocks abound,”
and during his journey into Mashonaland he found them in
August and September near the Umfuli river “ frequenting
the high trees, and feeding much as the Tomtits do, hanging
about the outer twigs and eating the young buds, &c.; as
however, food of all kinds is scarce for birds, this may not be
a usual habit. They are now mostly in pairs and their loud
Sparrow-like note, often repeated in the early morning, attracts
attention to them.” In Mashonaland Mr. Guy Marshall records
them as abundant at all seasons, generally seen feeding in small
flocks on the ground, but occasionally searching the trees and
bushes for insects like Tits. With regard to their habits Stark
writes: ‘ This species appears to feed very largely on insects,
which it finds in crevices of rocks and in the bark of trees. It
also eats small seeds of grass and various weeds. It builds
a large sparrow-like nest of dry grass and feathers in the hole
of a tree or rock, and lays three or four eggs, which resemble
those of the Cape Sparrow, but they are slightly larger as a
rule, and more sparingly but distinctly spotted with dark slaty
brown.”
Mr. Ivy, a resident at Grahamstown, writes: ‘‘I have
found many nests of this species in the decayed centres of
PETRONIA FLAVIGULA. 267
the branches of the euphorbia trees. The bird makes a small
opening in the bark, and on a deposit of a few feathers and
down in the hollow of the branch, lays from three to four dull
brown unspotted eggs. It breeds in companies, and the eggs
are difficult to obtain, as the branches of the euphorbias are
high up above the ground, and though heavy are brittle and
rotten.” He further remarks that the eggs are very unlike
those of Passer arcuatus.
In the British Museum there is a specimen from Tete on
the Zambesi, and Captain Boyd Alexander obtained a pair in
the wooded country near the Kafue river. To the north of
the Zambesi specimens have been collected at Zomba, Kakoma,
Igonda, Usure (3° 30'S. lat.), and Ndi in the Teita country,
which is the furthest north that I can trace the species.
With regard to the correct name for this species: when
Bonaparte described it under the title of Petronia petronella
he referred to it Xanthodina flavigula, Sundev., thus proving
that the latter name has priority.
abyssinica, Galerida, 110
re Galerita, 107, 110
acutirostris, Calandrella, 129, 131
Aéthocorys, 117
affinis, Crithagra striolata, 211
» Emberiza, 142, 148
iy Fringillaria, 148
, Pyrrhulauda, 79
ni Serinus, 211
africana, Alauda, 28
7, Mirafra, 32, 50, 51, 54
africanoides, Mirafra, 32, 58, 60
akeleyi, Ammomanes, 96
Alemon, 15, 18
Alario, 177
alario, Alario, 213
» Fringilla, 213
» serinus, 180, 213
Alauda, 17, 117
Alaudee, 1
Alaudide, 14
alaudipes, Alesmon, 19
A Certhilauda, 18, 19
5 Upupa, 19
Alaudula, 17, 138
albeola, Fringilla, 259
albescens, Alauda, 34
albicauda, Mirafra, 33, 66
albifrons, Coraphites, 79
‘5 Crithagra, 210
“ Serinus, 180, 210
albigularis, Crithagra, 223
xf Petronia, 261
A Serinus, 180, 223
albofasciata, Certhilauda, 18, 22
algeriensis, Ammomanes, 100
alopex, Mirafra, 32, 60
INDEX I.
Latin Names.
alpestris, Otocorys, 140
ameliz, Macronyx, 2, 12
Ammomanes, 16, 92
anderssoni, Calandrella, 128
FP Megalophonus, 123
a Tephrocorys, 123
angolensis, Crithagra, 219
he Fringilla, 217
a Mirafra, 33, 68
u Serinus, 180, 217
apiata, Alauda, 41
0 Corypha, 30
= Megalophonus, 30
Pr Mirafra, 31, 41
arcuata, Fringilla, 248
arcuatus, Passer, 233, 248
arenicolor, Alauda, 105
3 Ammomanes, 94, 103
athensis, Calandrella, 129, 132
PA Spizocorys, 132
athi, Mirafra, 32, 50
», Mirafra africana, 50
| atrigularis, Crithagra, 219
atrogularis, Linaria, 217
aurantia, Alario, 214
aurantiigula, Macronyx, 2, 10
Auripasser, 232
australis, Megalotis, 76
o Pyrrhulauda, 75, 76
barbata, Crithagra, 193
barbatus, Serinus, 194
berlepschi, Otocorys, 140
bifasciata, Alauda, 19
bimaculata, Alauda, 121
Melanocorypha, 121
”
aurifrons, Fringilla (Dryospiza), 193
bistrigata, Crithagra, 214
blanfordi, Tephrocorys, 123, 128
Botha, 16, 104
bouvreuil, Loxia, 214
brachydactyla, Alauda, 129
a Calandrella, 129
braucoensis, Passer, 241
breviunguis, Alauda, 28
5 Certhilauda, 18, 28
es Heterocorys, 28
buckleyi, Calandrella, 67
5 Mirafra, 33, 67
bucolica, Heliocorys, 107, 113
5 Mirafra, 113
burtoni, Crithagra, 209
55 Serinus, 180, 209
5 Strobilophaga, 209
butyracea, Crithagra, 193, 197
3 Fringilla, 199
ve Loxia, 193
butyraceus, Serinus, 179, 193, 197
cabanisi, Emberiza, 142, 150
a Fringillaria, 150, 151
4 Polymitra, 150
cesia, Emberiza, 143, 155
caffrariensis, Emberiza, 156
Calandrella, 17, 128
Calandrina, 121
Calendula, 17, 115
Calendulauda, 30
canicapilla, Poliospiza, 226, 228
canicapillus, Passer, 261
canicollis, Crithagra, 186
AF Serinus, 178, 186
cantillans, Mirafra, 33, 64
capensis, Alauda, 2, 28
- Certhilauda, 18, 28
5 Emberiza, 156
5 Fringillaria, 148, 156, 158
3 Macronyx, 1
capistrata, Crithagra, 185
A Emberiza, 164
5 Fringillaria, 164
INDEX.
capistrata, Polymitra, 164
capistratus, Serinus, 178, 185
castanopterus, Passer, 232, 234
Certhilauda, 16, 18
cheniana, Mirafra, 33, 65
Chersophilus, 16
chloropsis, Crithagra, 203
Chrysomitris, 169, 175
chrysopogon, Crithagra, 197
chrysopyga, Crithagra, 193, 197
cinctura, Alauda, 101
is Ammomanes, 94, 101, 103
3 Melanocorypha, 101
cinerea, Alauda, 123
» Crithagra, 223
» Tephrocorys, 122, 123
cinereicollis, Fringilla, 186
cinnamomea, Ammomanes, 57
citrinella, Emberiza, 142
citrinelloides, Chrysomitris, 182, 189
ae Serinus, 178, 182
clamosa, Alauda, 41
codea, Alauda, 34
collaris, Mirafra, 33, 70
conirostris, Alauda, 133, 135
.; Calandrella, 129, 133
55 Spizocorys, 133, 135, 136
cordofanica, Mirafra, 32, 57, 60
cordofanicus, Passer, 233, 246
coronata, Certhilauda, 25
Corypha, 30
crassirostris, Alauda, 115
5 Calendula, 107, 115
% Crithagra, 196
i Passer, 234, 255
o Pyrgita, 255
cristata, Alauda, 108
» Galerida, 106
» Galerita, 108
», Ptilocorys, 106
Crithagra, 177
crocea, Alauda, 4
croceus, Macronyx, 1, 4, 10
crocopygia, Poliospiza, 222
269
270
crocopygius, Serinus, 180, 222
damarensis, Mirafra, 32, 58
daubentoni, Spermophila, 214
delamerei, Pseudalemon, 119, 120
dentata, Petronia, 261
5 Pyrgita, 261
a Xanthodira, 261
deserti, Alauda, 98
,» Ammomanes, 92, 93, 98, 99, 100
desertorum, Aleemon, 19
35 Alauda, 19
difficilis, Botha, 105
diffusa, Pyrgita, 251
diffusus, Passer, 233, 234, 251
domestica, Fringilla, 239
domesticus, Passer, 232, 233, 239
donaldsoni, Serinus, 179, 207
doriz, Certhilauda, 19
dorsostriata, Crithagra, 191
dorsostriatus, Serinus, 178, 191
elegans, Melanocorypha, 103
elegantissimus, Geocoraphus, 45
ellioti, Galerita, 107, 111
Emberiza, 142
Emberizine, 141, 142
emini, Passer, 233, 234, 256
», Sorella, 256
erythrochlamys, Alauda, 95
- Ammomanes, 93, 95
erythrophrys, Passer, 241
erythropygia, Alauda, 74
A Mirafra, 74
i Pinarocorys, 71, 74
Erythrospiza, 169, 170
euchlorus, Auripasser, 259
"3 Passer, 233, 259
fagani, Serinus, 219
fasciolata, Alauda, 46
fazoglensis, Pyrgita, 261
ferruginea, Alauda, 94
re Ammomanes, 93, 94
INDEX.
ferruginea, Melanocorypha, 57
fischeri, Megalophonus, 43
* Mirafra, 31, 43
flava, Crithagra, 199
,, Galerita, 110
flavicollis, Macronyx, 2, 11
flavifrons, Serinus, 194
flavigaster, Macronyx, 5
flavigastra, Emberiza, 143
Polymitra, 143
flavigula, Petronia, 265
Serinus, 180, 221
“6 Xanthodira, 265
flaviventris, Crithagra, 199, 200
7 Emberiza, 142, 143
3 Fringillaria, 143
9 Passerina, 143
Polymitra, 143
4 Serinus, 179, 180, 199, 200,
203
flavivertex, Crithagra, 189
53 Serinus, 178, 189
flegeli, Poliospiza, 228
forbesi, Emberiza, 148
» Fringillaria, 148
fremantlei, Pseudaleemon, 119
fremantlii, Calendula, 119
Fringille, 140
Fringillaria, 142, 155
fringillaris, Mirafra, 33, 63
Fringillide, 141
Fringillinz, 141, 169
frontalis, Coraphites, 79
» Pyrrhulauda, 75, 79
fuelleborni, Macronyx, 1, 9
filleborni, Macronyx, 9
fusca, Alauda (Galerita) arenicola, var.,
112
Galerida, 106
Galerita, 17, 105
garrula, Certhilauda, 22
Geocoraphus, 30
giffardi, Heliocorys modesta, 113
Oy ee Ee
gilletti, Mirafra, 31, 35
githaginea, Erythrospiza, 170
¥ Fringilla, 170
ne Pyrrhula, 170
Glycispina, 142
gongonensis, Passer, 255
* Passer diffusus, 255
s Pseudostruthus, 255
grayi, Alauda, 103
» Ammomanes, 94, 103
grisescens, Mirafra, 54
gularis, Linaria, 226
Py Passer, 252
» Poliospiza, 225, 226
» Pyrgita, 252
guttata, Alauda, 34
hemilencus, Passer, 233, 238
hansmanni, Passer, 241
harrisoni, Pyrrhulauda, 85
hartlaubi, Crithagra, 197
aA Serinus, 179, 197
Heliocorys, 17, 113
Heterocorys, 15, 18
hispaniolensis, Fringilla, 235
e Passer 232, 235
hortulana, Emberiza, 143, 154
. Glycispina, 142
hova, Alauda, 61
» Mirafra, 33, 61
huillensis, Serinus, 178, 190
humilis, Fringilla, 226
hypermetra, Mirafra, 32, 48
hypermetrus, Spilocorydon, 48
Hyphantospiza, 172
ictera, Crithagra, 193
» Fringilla, 193
icterus, Serinus, 193, 197
imberbis, Crithagra, 203
op Serinus, 179, 180, 200, 203
impetuani, Emberiza, 159
Fringillaria, 156, 159
insularis, Fringillaria, 164
INDEX.
| insularis, Passer, 233, 238
intercedens, Mirafra, 32, 60
isabellina, Alauda, 98
33 Galerita, 110
a Poliospiza, 230
| italiz, Fringilla, 236
» Passer, 232, 236
jagoensis, Passer, 233, 241
3 Pyrgita, 241
jessei, Certhilauda, 19
kilimensis, Crithagra, 210
53 Hyphantospiza, 174
PA Linurgus, 172, 174
lagepa, Alauda, 34
leucoparea, Pyrrhulauda, 75, 77
leucopareia, Coraphitis, 77
leucoptera, Crithagra, 224
leucopterus, Serinus, 180, 224
leucopygia, Crithagra, 216
leucopgius, Serinus, 180, 216
leucopygos, Serinus, 216
leucotis, Loxia, 86
“ Pyrrhulauda, 75, 81, 86, 90
lichtensteini, Passer, 250
Linurgus, 169, 171
louise, Rhynchostruthus, 208
os Serinus, 179, 208
| Lullula, 17
| lunatus, Fringilla (Passer), 261
| lusitana, Alauda, 100
5g Ammomanes, 94, 100
lutea, Fringilla, 258
luteus, Auripasser, 232
» Passer, 234, 258
Macronyx, 1
maculicollis, Serinus, 191
madaraszi, Serinus, 178, 186
magnirostris, Alauda, 116
major, Emberiza, 142, 151
, Fringillaria, 151
272
major Poliomitra, 151
marginata, Mirafra, 64
marshalli, Serinus, 179, 200
massaicus, Megalophonus, 40
Megalophonus, 30
melanauchen, Coraphites, 79
- Pyrrhulauda, 79
melanocephala, Alauda, 90
es Pyrrhulauda, 75, 90
Melanocorypha, 17, 121
melanops, Chrysomitris, 182
A Fringilla, 182
melanosoma, Pyrrhulauda, 76
meridionalis, Certhilauda, 19
minor, Alaudula, 139
, Calandritis, 139
Mirafra, 16, 30
modesta, Galerita, 113, 116
53 Heliocorys, 107, 113
montana, Fringilla, 237
montanus, Passer, 232, 237
5 Salicipasser, 232
mosambicus, Crithagra, 194
Motacillide, 1
motitensis, Passer, 233, 244
muelleri, Auripasser, 259
musica, Fringilla, 216
neevia, Alauda, 38
», Mirafra, 31, 38
nigrescens, Mirafra, 33, 69
nigricans, Alauda, 71
Mirafra, 71
rf Pinarocorys, 71
nigriceps, Chrysomitris, 181
Pyrgita, 261
Pyrrhulauda, 75, 81
eA Serinus, 177, 181
nivosa, Aleemon, 33
Calendulauda, 30
Certhilauda, 33
Mirafra, 31, 33
2
”
”?
”
rh)
occidentalis, Megalophonus, 52, 54
INDEX.
_ occidentalis, Passer, 252
Passer diffusus, 252
”
| olivacea, Hyphantospiza, 172, 174
55 Pyrrhospiza, 174
olivaceus, Coccothraustes, 174
of Linurgus, 172, 174
orientalis, Emberiza, 151
Emberiza major, 151
fe Fringillaria, 150, 151
Otocorys, 17, 139
otoleuca, Fringilla, 90
”
| pecilosterna, Alauda, 40
Mirafra, 31, 40
| pallida, Ammomanes, 103
Galerita, 111
”
| pallidior, Mirafra, 54
Poliospiza, 230
”
| parvirostris, Ammomanes lusitanica, 96
Passer, 169, 232
payraudei, Pyrrhula, 170
personata Aéthocorys, 118
Alauda, 118
Crithagra, 214
7 Spilocorys, 118
petronella, Petronia, 265
Petronia, 169, 260
Pheospiza, 172
pheenicuroides, Ammomanes, 93, 96
A Mirafra, 96
Pinarocorys, 16, 71
planicola, Alauda, 52
Pa Megalophonus, 52
plebeia, Alauda (Megalophonus), 40
», Mirafra, 31, 40
Plocealauda, 30
Ploceide, 141
poliopleura, Emberiza, 142, 149
a Fringillaria, 149
Poliospiza, 169, 225
Polymitra, 142
prestigiatrix, Alauda, 57
pretermissa, Alauda, 112
Galerita, 107, 112
”
”
”
Pseudalemon, 17, 118
Pseudostruthus, 232
Ptilocorys, 106
punctigula, Serinus, 197
pyrgita, Gymnorhis, 263
» Petronia, 263
», Nanthodina, 263
», §anthodira, 263
Pyrgitopsis, 232
pyrrhonota, Brachonyx, 46
Pyrrhulauda, 16, 75
raytal, Alaudula, 138
raze, Calandrella, 129, 137
», Spizocorys, 137
regulus, Ammomanes, 103
reichardi, Poliospiza, 226, 229
reichenowi, Poliospiza, 219
x Serinus, 180, 219
reidi, Fringillaria, 156, 158
rendalli, Anomalospiza, 196
1) Crithagra, 196
Rhamphocorys, 16
Rhynchostruthus, 177
riebecki, Rhynchostruthus, 207
rostratus, Megalophonus, 52, 54
rufa, Fringillaria, 164
rufibrunnea, Poliospiza, 172
rufibrunneus, Linurgus, 172
ruficauda, Crithagra, 214
ruficeps, Alauda, 126
», Megalophonus, 123
» Tephrocorys, 123, 126, 128
rufidorsalis, Passer, 239
rufilatus, Buserinus, 172
rufipilea, Alauda, 46
» Mirafra, 31, 46
rufobrunneus, Ligurnus, 172
rufocinctus, Passer, 246
35 Passer motitensis, 246
rufocinnamomea, Mirafra, 31, 45
rufocinnamomeus, Megalophonus, 45
rufopalliata, Certhilauda, 25
rufula, Certhilauda, 22
[May, 1902.
INDEX. 973
rippelli, Galerida, 112
rutila, Galerita, 57
sabota, Mirafra, 31, 36, 60
salicaria, Pyrgita, 235
salicarius, Passer, 235
salicicola, Fringilla, 235
Ph Passer, 235
Salicipasser, 232
salvini, Certhilauda, 19
samharensis, Ammomanes, 93, 99
saturatior, Fringillaria, 161
sclateri, Calandrella, 129, 136
scotops, Crithagra, 184
» serinus, 178, 182, 184
selbyi, Crithagra, 223
senegalensis, Alauda, 108
a Galerida cristata, 108
KS Galerita, 107, 108
bs Ptilocorys, 108
semitorquata, Aleemon, 25
FA Certhilauda, 18, 25
septemstriata, Emberiza, 162
Ps Fringillaria, 156, 162, 164
Serinus, 169, 176
serinus, Serinus, 177
sharpei, Mirafra, 32, 49
sharpii, Serinus, 203
shelleyi, Passer, 233, 247
signata, Pyrrhulauda, 75, 85
simplex, Fringilla, 250
* Geocoraphus, 64
‘ Mirafra, 64
a Passer, 233, 234, 250, 252
sincipitalis, Pyrrhulauda, 79
smithi, Pyrrhulauda, 87
» Pyrrhulauda leucotis, 87
socotrana, Fringillaria, 156, 168
socotranus, Rhynchostruthus, 207
a Serinus, 179, 207
somalica, Alauda, 132
5 Calandrella, 129, 132
Sorella, 232
spadicea, Pyrgita, 252
274
Spilocorydon, 15, 30
Spilocorys, 15, 129
Spizalauda, 106
spleniata, Alauda, 123
Af Tephrocorys, 122, 123
starki, Calandrella, 129, 135
striaticeps, Poliospiza, 226
striatipectus, Poliospiza, 229
strigilata, Crithagra, 199
striolata, Crithagra, 211
- Emberiza, 161
x3 Fringillaria, 156, 161
rf Poliospiza, 211
53 Pyrrhula, 211,
striolatus, Macronyx, 5
ss Serinus, 180, 211
subcoronata, Certhilauda, 25
sulphurata, Crithagra, 204
is Loxia, 204
sulphuratus, Serinus, 179, 204
swainsoni, Passer, 251, 255
+ Pyrgita, 251
tahapisi, Emberiza, 164
a Fringillaria, 156, 164
Tephrocorys, 17, 122
thierryi, Passer diffusus, 252
thomensis, Linurgus, 172, 173
Pe Pheospiza, 173
INDEX.
thomensis, Poliospiza, 173
tigrina, Mirafra, 43
tobaca, Fringilla, 217
torrida, Mirafra, 45
totta, Chrysomitris, 175
3 Woxia, 175
transvaalensis, Mirafra africana, 52, 54
tristriata, Fringilla, 230
as Poliospiza, 226, 229
a Serinus, 229
tropicalis, Mirafra africana, 52, 54
ugandz, Passer diffusus, 252
uropygialis, Carpodacus, 220
verticalis, Megalotis, 83
- Pyrrhulauda, 75, 83
vittata, Fringillaria, 156, 158
whytei, Serinus, 180, 213
wintoni, Macronyx, 12
Xanthodira, 260
xanthogastra, Emberiza, 143
xantholema, Serinus, 191
xanthopygia, Crithagra, 221
= Poliospiza, 220
xanthopygius, Serinus, 180, 220
—
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INDEX II.
English Names.
Bunting, Cabanis’s Golden-breasted, 150 ; Lark, Abyssinian Pale Crested-, 110
Common Golden-breasted, 144
Greater Golden-breasted, 152
Somali Golden-breasted, 149
- Swainson’s Golden - breasted,
148
Canary, Abyssinian Black-headed, 181
Angola, 218
Black-faced, 186
Blanford’s, 190
Brimstone, 205
Burton’s, 209
Cape, 187
Cape White-throated, 223
Common Yellow-fronted, 194
Damara White-throated, 222
Decken’s, 203
Donaldson’s, 207
Fischer’s Streaky-backed, 192
Huilla, 191
Jackson’s Brown, 210
Madarasz's, 186
Marshall’s, 201
Mountain, 214
Reichenow’s, 219
Riippell’s Masked, 183
Riippell’s Yellow-rumped, 220
Senegal Yellow-fronted, 198
Shoa, 221
Socotra Golden- winged, 208
Somali Golden-winged, 208
Streaky Brown, 211
Sundeyall’s, 184
Swainson’s, 200
White-rumped, 216
White-throated Brown, 225
Whyte’s, 213
Abyssinian Red-capped, 127
Angola, 69
Athi, 51
Athi short-toed, 132
Black-eared Sparrow-, 76
Black-masked Shore-, 140
Blanford’s Red-capped, 128
Blyth’s Desert-, 97
Botha’s, 105
Buckley’s, 68
Cabanis’s Sabota-, 40
Cape Bar-tailed, 42
Cape Long-billed, 29
Cape Verde Sparrow-, 82
Cape White-breasted Sabota-, 34
Chestnut-headed Sparrow-, 86
Collared, 71
Common Chestnut-backed Spar-
row-, 87
Common Short-toed, 130
Damara, 58
Dark Crested-, 112
Dalamere’s Short-tailed, 120
Dusky, 72
Eastern Calandra-, 121
Elliot’s Crested-, 111
Ferruginous Desert-, 94
Finch-like, 63
Fischer’s Bush-, 43
Fisher’s Sparrow-, 78
Freemantle’s Short-tailed, 119
Gillet’s Sabota-, 36
Gould’s Desert-, 101
Gray’s Desert-, 104
Great long-billed, 20
Grey backed Sparrow-, 84
276 INDEX.
Lark, Grey-collared Long-billed, 26
Heuglin’s Little Crested-, 114
», Hova, 62
Hume’s Short-toed, 131
», Kordofan, 57
», Latakoo, 66
Lesser Short-toed, 139
,, Lichtenstein’s Desert-, 98
», Loeru, 61
,, Masai Sabota-, 40
», Masked Sky-, 118
,, Pale Desert-, 100
Pale Spotted-tailed Desert-, 103
,, Raza Island Short-toed, 137
», Red-backed Desert-, 95
», Red-billed Short-toed, 134
» Reichenow’s Dusky, 70
,, Reichenow’s Large Red-winged,49
,, Rufous-crowned Bar-tailed, 47
» Rufous Long-billed, 23
, Rufous-naped, 53
;, Rufous-tailed Bush-, 74
5, vabota, 37
», samhar Desert-, 99
», salvadori’s Cinnamon, 45
5, sclater’s Short-toed, 136
,, Senegal Crested-, 108
Sharpe’s Large Red-winged, 50
», Short-clawed, Long-billed, 28
> singing Bush-, 65
3, somali Fawn-coloured, 60
», somali Short-toed, 133
5, southern Fawn-coloured, 59
» Southern Red-capped, 124
», Stark’s Short-toed, 135
», stickland’s Sabota-, 39
», Thick-billed Crested-, 116
» White-fronted Sparrow-, 80
,, White-shouldered Sparrow-, 91
White-tailed, 67
tenn: claw, Abyssinian, 11
» Cape, 3
,», Common Yellow-throated, 5
», Fiilleborn's Yellow-breasted, 9
Long-claw, Pangani Orange-throated, 10
», Rosy-breasted, 12
Ortolan, 154
», Cretzschmar’s, 155
Rock-Bunting, Cape, 157
3 Lark-like, 159
3 Red-winged, 163
5 Reid’s, 159
; Socotra, 168
* Southern Cinnamon-
breasted, 165
Striolated, 161
Rock- Se, Heuglin’s, 264
5 Lesser, 262
5 Southern, 266
Seed-eater, Cape Streaky-crowned, 226
5 Reichard’s 229
5 Riippell’s, 230
- Senegal, 228
Short-tailed Finch, Fraser’s, 174
5 yf, Kilimanjaro, 175
bes » Prince’s Island, 173
a Saint Thomas, 173
Siskin, Cape, 176
Sparrow, Abyssinian Golden-, 258
ea Abd-el-Kuri, 239
“ Arabian Golden-, 260
a Berbera, 234
Cape, 248
2 Common Grey-headed, 253
a Common House-, 240
eS Desert, 250
Ps Emin’s, 257
He Greater South African, 244
4 Italian House-, 236
5 Kordofan, 246
Pr Santiago, 242
5 Shelley’s, 247
= Socotra, 288
3 Spanish, 235
a Thick-billed, 256
Tree, 237
Trumpeter Bullfinch, 170
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