on Birds from Shendi, Sudan. 7 



Delta, a series would be obtained presenting every inter- 

 mediate stage between the very pale and the very dark 

 forms. It is not our intention to enter into a controversy 

 on the vexed question of nomenclature, but it seems to be 

 a somewhat arbitrary proceeding to give a subspecific title to 

 any one of these intermediate forms rather than to any other. 

 We found these Crested Larks common along the river- 

 banks, especially where the land was cultivated. The male 

 bird has a pleasing little song, not unlike that of the Wood- 

 Lark, which he often utters when perched on the top of a 

 bush or small tree. Two nests, found on February 24th and 

 February 27th respectively, contained two and three half- 

 fledged young ; we did not succeed in obtaining eggs. 



10. Ammomanes deserti (Licht.). 

 373 (^, 248 c?, 139 ?, 283 ? . 



A few pairs of these birds frequented the rocky hills in 

 the desert, about ten miles east of Shendi. They were very 

 shy and difficult to approach, taking short flights from one 

 rock to another, very much as Rock-Pipits do. A newly 

 built nest of grass, lined with hair, was found on a ledge in 

 a low cliff"; it seemed to belong to a pair of these birds, but 

 we had no opportunity of revisiting it. 



This species was originally described by Lichtenstein from 

 specimens obtained in Upper Egypt. All our specimens are 

 alike, and they difffer from examples obtained at Assuan 

 in having the breast practically unspotted, and in being 

 of a much redder colour. These differences are perfectly 

 noticeable when the bird is seen on the wing. We are not 

 prepared to maintain that these forms should be distin- 

 guished by subspecific or varietal names, but from a logical 

 point of view they certainly ought to be so distinguished, if 

 that honour is to be conferred (as it is) on many of the 

 Crested Larks, &c. 



11. Ammomanes cinctura arenicolor (Suud.). 

 378 pullus. 



We obtained only one example of this species, on 

 March 17th. 



