112 Mr. B. Alexander — Expedition 



9. AljEMOn alaudipes (Desf.). 



This species frequents the sandy portion of the island near 

 the sea. Throughout the day we found it either singly or 

 in pairs, but, as a rule, the males kept to themselves, while 

 each female was invariably accompanied by a single imma- 

 ture bird, a fact from which it appears that a bird of this 

 species has no more than a single young one. This also seems 

 to be a general case with Ammomanes cinctura and Spizo- 

 corys razee. Hence we may reasonably infer that all Desert- 

 Larks lay no more than a single egg. 



AlcBmon alaudipes will sometimes perch on trees, while its 

 manner on the ground is very Thrush-like. It runs in front 

 of its pursuer, with head bent low, now and again stopping, 

 and then raising its head as if to listen. Its flight is slow and 

 clumsy, and rather Jay-like in action, while the broad white 

 bars on the wings are very conspicuous as the bird travels 

 forward, only to alight, however, a few yards ahead of the 

 spectator. Towards sundown individuals come together from 

 far and near and resort to a favourite spot for an evening 

 meal. 



Total length. Culmen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 



Ad. S (Boavista) . 

 Ad. § 



In life we had no difficulty in discerning the sexes, the 

 females looking always the smallest. The food chiefly con- 

 sists of locusts. Breeding takes place in September. We 

 obtained twelve specimens. 



10. Ammomanes cinctura. 

 Plentiful ; three specimens obtained. 



11. Pyrrhulauda nigriceps. 



More numerous than on any other island. They used to 

 get up close to our feet in clouds and fly forward a few feet 

 above the ground. 



