NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Rufous Long-billed Lark {Certhilauda nifuld). (Vol. I., 

 p. 227.) 



Description. — Male : rufous above, streaked with brown, 

 some of the feathers edged with buff. Tail black, rufous near 

 the base. Wing coverts brown edged with white. 



Length, 6.0 ; tail, 2.6 ; wing, 3.7. 



Distribution. — All over South Africa. 



Habits. — Lives on the ground on the veld and low hillsides 

 in pairs. Prefers stony ground. The nest is cup shaped, and 

 constructed of grass lined with roots and finer grass, and placed 

 under a tuft of coarse grass or a small bush. Clutch, 2 to 3. 



Bar-tailed Lark {Mirafra apiata). (Vol. I., p. 227.) 



Description. — Dark brown above with hidden bars of black 

 and rufous. Central tail feathers blackish and mottled with 

 rufous. Crown ashy, slightly tinged with rufous. Wing quills 

 dull brown with ashy or rufous edgings. 



Length, 5.00; tail, 2.30; wing, 3. 00. 



Distribution. — Western parts of Cape and eastwards to Port 

 Elizabeth, and north-west to Angola. 



Habits. — Inhabits open country sparsely covered with bush, 

 on which it perches if alarmed. Runs with great rapidity. It 

 rises straight up into the air 20 to 30 ft., clapping its wings and 

 whistling in a sighing, melancholy way.. Hovering in mid-air 

 for a moment, it drops again to earth. 



The nest is the usual cup-shaped structure common to larks. 

 It is placed in a depression under a tuft of grass or stunted shrub. 



Cape Wagtail {Motacilla capejisis). (Vol. I., p. 232.) 



Description. — Dull brown and grey above. Eyebrows white. 

 Cheeks and throat white. A crescent of black on the lower 

 throat. Under surface yellowish-white. Iris hazel. Bill and 

 feet dull brown. 



90 



