86 Mr. B, Alexander — Expedition 



of the higher plain levels near the coast, in flocks that vary- 

 greatly in size. On one occasion we saw as many as sixty 

 birds together. In these flocks there is a great percentage of 

 females. To discover the presence of these birds puzzled us 

 considerably at times. On the approach of footsteps they 

 emit a faint, piping, ventriloquial note, like that of a young 

 chicken, as they sit crouched together among the stones; 

 and their plumage being much like the colour of the soil, 

 it is almost next to impossible to discover them. They 

 generally sit very close, and resort to flight only when 

 absolutely obliged, then rising up close to one's feet to fly a 

 few hundred yards ahead, and alighting again. The male 

 has rather a pleasing little song, but somewhat monotonous. 

 It is uttered on the wing, and sometimes, but not often, on 

 the topmost twig of a tree. When singing on the wing the 

 bird rises in concentric circles, with a very jerky Pipit-like 

 flight, up to a height of not more than thirty feet, and 

 then hangs in the air for a few seconds, after which it stops 

 its song, and, with wings closed, drops to the ground again. 

 Their chief food is grass-seed, and throughout the day the 

 birds keep moving from one feeding-ground to another. 

 In February we found them moulting, the plumage of the 

 majority being in a poor state. 



This species, though nearly allied to P. melanauchen from 

 Nubia and India, appears to be well-founded. The male 

 diff'ers constantly in having the occiput and nape uniform 

 white, shading gradually into the sandy brown of the back, 

 and lacking altogether a black collar. The white also on the 

 forehead extends further over the crown. 



The female does not appear to have been described. It 

 scarcely diff'ers in plumage from the female of P. melan- 

 auchen. 



Adult male (Santiago) . Length 4*8 inches ; bill light bluish 

 liorn-colour; iris dark hazel; legs and claws flesh-colour. 



Adult female (Santiago). Length 4-3 inches; soft parts 

 same as in male. 



Seven specimens were obtained. 



