268 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 



Crithayra striyilata, Swains. 



„ butyracea, Gray et Bp. nee Linn. — J. H. G.] 



38. (L. 423.) Megalophonus rufipileus (Vieill.). Fas- 

 ciolated Lark. 



Total length 5|, bill xi, wing 3, tarsus 1^, tail 2\ ; iris light 

 tawny^ bill pale, with the ridge dusky, tarsi and feet pale dusky. 



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. 



[Brachonyx jiyrrhonotha, Smith, and Aluuda fascioluta, Sun- 

 devall, appear to me to be synonyms of this species, which, in 

 'The Ibis^ for 1869, p. 295, I erroneously referred to its nearly 

 allied but more southern congener, M. apicatus (Vieill.). I 

 have to thank Mr. E. L. Layard for his kindness in pointing 

 out this error. — J. H. G.] 



39. (L. 435.) Certhilauda garrula, Smith. Garrulous 

 Lark. 



I found a nest of this Lark at Mamusa, at some little distance 

 from the river ; it was placed under a tuft of grass, and was com- 

 posed 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; and though I left 

 the nest for two days after finding it, no more eggs were laid. 



[The llev. H. B. Tristram, to whom these eggs were sent by 

 Mr. Ayres, informs me that he believes the larger one to be the 

 egg of one of the South-African Cuckoos. — J. H, G. 



48. (L. 537.) Pterocles gutturalis. Smith. Sombre 

 Sand-Grouse. 



Female: — Total length V2h inches, bill ly-^, tarsus 1|, wing 

 8, tail 3|. 



I found these birds about the river Limpopo in June; they 

 were in flocks which apparently consisted entirely of females. 

 I killed four out of a flight at one shot, with dust-shot, all of 

 which were hen birds. A few of them were breeding ; and I 



