125 



Genus SPIZOCORYS, Sumlev. 



Spizocorys conirostris (Sunehv.). 

 (Tlate Vir. figs. 8 & 9.) 



Spizocorys conirostris, S/iivpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 564 (ISOO) ; 



Stark, Faun. S. Afr., Birds, i. p. 220 (1900) ; S/uirpe, Hand-l. v. 



p. ICo (1906). 

 Calandrella couirostris, Shellei/, B. Afr. iii. p. 133 (1902). 



Eggs of the rink-hilled Lark are of a somewhat pointed oval 

 shape and slightlj' glossy; the ground -colour is white or pale 

 greenish-white, spotted all over, especially round the larger end, 

 with olive-hrown and purplish-grey. In four eggs from Wolvehoek 

 the ground-colour is white and the markings are mostly very fine, 

 but in the set from Heilhron the ground-colour is pale greenish- 

 white and the markings are much bolder, many taking the form of 

 small rounded blotches. They vary from 'T-l to "8 in length, and 

 from '51 to -54 in breadth, 



X Heilhron, O.R.C., Xov. R. B. Woosnani, Esq. [C.]. 



2. Wolveho«k, O.K.C, Jan. R. R. Woosnam, Esq. [G.J. 



2. Wolvehoek, 8th Jan. R. B. Woosnam, Esq. [C.]. 



Genus ALAUDA, Linn. 

 Alauda arvensis, Linn. 



Alauda arvensis, Thien. Forfpflmiz. ges. Vog. p 377, tab. xxvi. fis'. 1, n-e 



(184o-o4) ; Baedeker, Bier Bur. Vog. tab. 66. lig. 4 (1855-63) ; 



Heicitsun, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 176, pi. xlv. fig. i (1856) ; 



Dresser, Birds Em: iv. p. 307 (1871); Seebokm, Brit. Birds, ii. 



p. 266, pi. 15 (1884) ; id.. Birds Japan. Emp. p. 118 (1890) ; Sharpe, 



Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 567 (1890) ; Oates, Fauna Brit. Ind., Birds, 



ii. p. 324 (1890) ; id., ed. Hume, Nests Sc Eqgs Iiid. Birds, ii. 



p. 220 (1890) : Seebokm, Egr/s of Brit. Birds, p. 256, pi. 58. 



figs. 11 & 12 (1896); Beg, Eier t'or/. Miffe/europ. p. 251, pi. 36. 



tifrs. 1-5 (1900) ; Dresser, Man. Pat. Birds, pt. i. p. 387 (1902) ; 



Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 166 (1906). 

 Alauda arvensis arvensis, Hartert, T'og. Pal. Faun. pt. iii. p. 244 (1905). 



Eggs of the Sky-Lark vary from a pointed to a blunt oval form, 

 but the majority are pointed and a few are pyriform. Many 

 specimens exhibit a high gloss, others are comparatively dull. 

 The ground-colour varies from dull white to grey and greenish- 

 white, and is, as a rule, profusely mottled with various shades of 

 brown and underlying purplish-grey or pale lavender. The 

 markings are frequently tinged with olive, and occasionally with 

 rufous ; and while in some specimens they are evenly spread over 

 the entire surface of the shell, in others they are disposed more 

 densely at the broad end and form a cap or zone. Specimens 

 measure from -85 to 1-02 in length, and from -61 to -72 in 

 breadth. 



