LONGCLAWS 201 



In the neighbourhood of Brandfort, Orange Free State, 

 we found the Chestnut-backed Lark fairly common in April, 

 1906, although it was still in pairs. 



The Genus Mirafra contains a large number of species 

 which do not admit of any concise descriptions, conse- 

 quently, we have not the space at our disposal for the neces- 

 sary detailed account, and must refer the reader to Stark 

 and Sclater, vol. ii., " Birds " in the " Fauna of South 

 Africa " series, for a full account of the family. They 

 usually nest under a tuft of grass or other herbage, building 

 a cup-shaped structure in a slight depression in the soil. 

 We append a photograph of the Rufous-headed Lark 

 (Mirafra rufipelia) taken near Springfontein, Orange Free 



State. 



LONGCLAWS 



The next family is the Motacillidce, containing three 



genera of well-known birds in South Africa. The first of 



these are the Longclaws (Macronyx), of which this country 



possesses three species easily distinguishable from one 



another by their vernacular names. 



The Orange-throated Longclaw (M. capensis) is fairly well 

 distributed over the higher veld of South Africa, excepting 

 the western territories. It is known as the Cut-throat Lark 

 or Kalkoenje (little Turkey). 



The next species is the Yellow-throated (M. croceus), 

 which is the commoner bird in low-lying districts, such as 

 Natal, Zululand, &c. C. G. Davies, C.M.R., reports it as 

 scarce in Pondoland, except near the Natal border, and we 

 have found it decidedly so in the Pretoria District, Transvaal, 

 notwithstanding what Barratt has written to the contrary. 



The last species is the Pink-throated Longclaw (M. 

 amelice), which has, however, most of the underparts of a 

 pink colour in addition to the throat. 



