8 lion. N. C. llotlischild and Mr. A. F. R. Wollastou 



12. Pyrrhulauda melanocepiiala Lielit. 

 Pyrrlmlauda mdanocephala Liclit. Vcrz. Doubl. p. 25 



(1823). 



405 $, 167 $, 5 $, 93 $, 220 c^ , 181 ?, G ?, 49 ?, 

 162 ? , 40G ? , 7 ? juv., 169 $ juv., 233 (?) juv. 



Pijrrhulauda melanocepliula is the representative of the 

 true P. leucotis (Stanley, in Salt's Voy. Abyssinia, p. Ix, 

 1814), an Abyssinian bird, of which we have recently 

 examined a specimen obtained by Mr. A. L. Butler at 

 Gedaref in May 1901. It is, moreover, synonymous 

 with P. otoleuca (Temm.), 1824. {Cf. llartert, Nov. 

 Zool. vol. viii. p. 340, 1901 ; and Grant, Bull. B. O. C. 

 xii. p. 15, 1901.) 



This species is fairly common, frequenting the more open 

 patches of the scrub near the river-bank ; we never found 

 it very far from the water. It was noticeable how often the 

 birds went about in parties of three, nearly always consisting 

 of two males and one female. They are very Lark-like in 

 their habits, closely resembling, in note and flight, the Short- 

 toed Lark. 



On March 19th Ave found a nest of this species, con- 

 taining one egg; it was a very shallow depression in the 

 open sandy ground, about the size and depth of a watch- 

 glass, lined with a few pieces of dry grass. Visiting the 

 nest three days later, we expected to find in it three or 

 perhaps four eggs, but found instead that the single egg had 

 been hatched. Mr. H. F. Witherby mentions (Ibis, 1901, 

 p. 245) finding a nest of P. leucotis i^melanoccphala) con- 

 taining a single egg, so it may be presumed that one is the 

 full complement of eggs laid by this species. 



13. Pyrrhulauda frontalis Bp. 

 Pijrrhulauda frontalis Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 512. 



136 S> 140 S> 145 S, 175 S, 320 S, 135 ?, 168 ?, 

 318 ?. 



This is the Sudanese representative of P. melanauchen 

 (Cabanis), a bird which appears to be confined to the 

 Abyssinian coast of the lied Sea. In the 'Catalogue of 

 Birds,' P. mcdanaiichen and P. frontalis arc treated as being 

 synonymous ; but von Ilcuglin (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 671) 



