Birds of the Gold Coast Colony S^c. 295 



Specimens in this plumage would be typical Mirafra 

 buculica of Hartlaub (Zool. Jahrb. ii, p. 327). 



At the end of December, these Larks were breeding at 

 Gambaga, and our four specimens killed at that time are 

 much worn in plumage, while another obtained in February 

 is still more so. In this condition the tawny-buff edgings 

 to the feathers of the breast and upper parts have nearly 

 disappeared through abrasion, the blackish-brown centres 

 to the feathers have become blotched ; while the breast and 

 abdomen are white, the tawny wash having disappeared. 

 The general appearance, therefore, of the plumage is much 

 paler and the spots on the fore-neck and chest appear heavier, 

 a state of things brought about by the tawny-buff edgings 

 to the feathers having worn off. 



A specimen in the British Museum obtained at Kudurma 

 (near Lado), Nov. 14, 1882, is identical with these birds, which 

 in this plumage are typical of the subspecies H, m. gijfardi. 



Furthermore, our specimens agree well in measurements 

 with examples of H. modesta in the British Museum. 



This Lark is by no means common and is a very local 

 species. We came across it for the first time at Gambaga at 

 the end of December, which was the breeding-season. A 

 female, killed on the 29th of that mouth, contained eggs 

 fully formed. It frequents waste land close to kopjes, under- 

 neath the rocks of which the bird nests. During the 

 breeding-season it is next to impossible to flush it, and the 

 only time that we saw it on the wing was in May, when the 

 old birds were in flocks, frequenting the newly-sown fields of 

 guinea-corn. They emit a small piping note. 



28. Emberiza affinis Heugl. 



Emberiza affinis Heugl. J. f. O. 1867, p. 297; Sheiley, B. 

 Afr. i. p. 18. 



A scarce bird and only once obtained, at Gambaga. 



29. Emberiza CABANisi (Reichen.). 



Emberiza cabahisi Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 503 ; Reichen. 

 J. f. O. 1891, p. 390 (Togoland) ; Reichen. J. f, O. 1897, 



