Rev. H. B. Tristram on African Birds. 435 



(Vicill.)'^ { — Alauda ruficapilla, A. Smith = ^. mficcps, Riipp.). 

 Strickland observes that his A. spleniata is allied to RiippelPs 

 A. ruficeps ; but that (Neue Wirbelthiere, pi. 38. fig. 1) has a 

 blacky not a rufous, patch on each side of the breast. I suspect 

 this arises from a little overcolouring in the plate ; for in some 

 of ray specimens of M. cinereus the rufous patch blends into a 

 brown-black spot at the top, just as in this little new species. 

 It is possible that A. ruficeps, Riipp., may be distinct ; but 

 A, spleniata, Strickl., and M. ruficnpillus, A. Smith, must 

 merge in M. cinereus (VieilL), a very inappropriate name, 

 which I would gladly reject but for the inexorable claims of 

 priority. 



Megalophonus under ssoni is nearly allied to M. cinereus in 

 coloration, but differs in its proportions, and bears a relation 

 to it similar to that which M. africanoides does to M. africanus, 

 and M. chenianus to M. sabota. The rufous colour, however, 

 is continuous, and not interrupted as in M. cinereus, and 

 the spots of brown black on each side of the neck are very 

 distinct. 



The range of this bii'd is considerable, as Mr. Blanford has 

 procured it in Abyssinia. His specimen is slightly more rufous 

 on the flanks than mine. 



Mr. Andersson forwarded the nest and eggs along with the 

 skin. The eggs are very sparsely spotted, for a Lark's, with 

 russet on a greenish-white ground, and are smaller than those 

 of any other South-African Lark. In their pale and sparse 

 coloration they resemble the eggs of Certhilauda africana. 



If I may be permitted to add a few other remarks on some 

 African birds, I would observe that, among the birds in Mr. 

 Blanford's Abyssinian collection is a specimen of my Certhilauda 

 salvini (Ibis, 1859, p. 57). Dr. Finsch has pronounced it to be 

 the type of a new species ; but I have, along with Mr. Gurney, 

 compared it with my type, and we are both agreed as to its 

 identity. At the same time, I do not think my species is more 

 than a local race. Dr. Finsch would distinguish the Abyssinian 

 bird also by the thickly-spotted breast. This is a most variable 

 character in Certhilauda desertorum and 0. salvini alike ; and 

 [Qu. (Gmel.) ?— Ed.] 



