38 Mr. Austin Roberts on 



A nest with three fresh eggs was taken near Zoiitpan on 

 3rd November ; it was placed under a tuft of grass and 

 exposed to view. Another nest also with three fresh eggs, 

 taken at Wonderboom on 9th February, was more carefully 

 concealed under a tuft of grass, and was found, after the 

 bird was seen to rise from the ])lace, by carefully lilting up 

 the overhanging tufts. The nest is Lark-like, and not dif- 

 ferent from those of some other members of the genus. 

 The eggs are white, with a quantity of small^ clear, spots of 

 pale reddish, brown, and slate-blue, and measure 18-18-7 x 

 13*5-14 mm. Those taken at Zoutpan are a little more 

 thickly marked than those from Wonderboorn. 



Bushveld Lark (Mivafr'a sahota). — This is the commonest 

 Lark in the bu.-hveld, and often attracts attention by its 

 lively imitation of the calls of other birds ; it is more often 

 seen perched in trees than on the ground. Nests taken at 

 Zjutpan on the 3rd November were placed under the shelter 

 of tufts of grass and exposed to view. Three eggs seem to 

 form a normal clutch ; they are clearly spotted like those of 

 Antlius cajfer, but larger, measuring 195-20 x 15-15'3 mm. 

 " Sabota " is the Sechuana name for the Larks in general. 



Rufous-naped Lark [Mirafra africana), — A few individuals 

 were seen in the more open parts near the pan ; but they 

 were very wild, and despite long pursuits I failed to get a 

 specimen. The call of " (Jhiritu-eh" did not sound quite 

 the same as when uttered by the birds in the more open 

 country near Pretoria, and very likely the birds belong to 

 one of the [)aler races described by Sharpe. 



Finch-like Lark (AUmfra frinf/UIaris) . — I was not aware 

 of the presence of this Lark until the 18th November. On 

 or about that date they started singing, and on the 12th 

 December so many were to be heard that the monotony of 

 their calls was quite irritating ; they sing at all times of the 

 day, and individuals are to be heard throughout the night. 

 Their call may bo described as " (liloritwe,^' repeated scveial 

 times, either when the bird is hovering or when perched on 



