258 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornitholoyy. 



119. (L. 407.) Passer diffusa. Smith. Southern Grey- 

 headed Sparrow. 



Male : — Total length Q\ inches, bill fV;> tarsus H, wing 3^, 

 tail 2i. 



During our visit to the bush, we met with this Sparrow, 

 though but sparsely. It feeds upon grass-seeds ; and its note 

 resembles the " chissick " of the common English Sparrow. 



[I agree with the opinion expressed by Mr. Sharpe (P. Z. S. 

 1870, p. 143) as to the specific distinctness of this Sparrow. — 

 J. H. G.] 



120. (L. 422.) Pyrrhulauda australis, Smith. Southern 

 Finch Lark. 



I found two nests of this bird, one in March, the other in 

 April ; each nest contained only two eggs, which, in one instance, 

 were somewhat incubated. 



One of these nests I found at Mamusa, on the Hartz river, the 

 other near BloemhofF, on a tributary of the Vaal river. 



The nest of this species is placed on the ground under shel- 

 ter of a clump of weed 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 light sepia-brown. 



121. (L. 420.) Pyrrhulauda smitiii, Bon. Smithes Pinch- 

 Lark. 



Total length 5| inches, bill f]-, wing 3i, tarsus |, tail 1|. 



We found these birds frequenting the open glades along the 

 banks of the Limpopo in companies consisting of sometimes as 

 many as fifty individuals. They were feeding on grass-seeds 

 after the manner of Finches. 



[I have followed Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub (Birds of East 

 Africa, pp. 467, 468) in treating this species as distinct from 

 its more northern ally P. leucotis. — J. II. G.] 



122. (L.410.) FRiNGiLLARiArLAVivENTRis(Viei]l.). African 

 Yellow-bellied Bunting. 



Male: — Total length 6 inches, wiug 3j, tarsus |, tail 2|. 

 We found this species rather common in some parts adjoining 

 the Limpopo ; its fiight and habits are those of a Bunting. 



