120 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



varied with yellow and white ; four middle tail-feathers 

 black, the rest becoming more white as they become lateral. 

 Length, 6" 9"'. 



" Kare, and only found in EafFraria," according to Le Vaillant ; but 

 in reality an Indian species, found also in Ceylon, where I was very 

 familiar with it. It could not, therefore, have escaped my notice if it 

 had occurred in any of the numerous collections of Cape birds which 

 I have examined. 



Genus ANTHUS, Bechstein. 

 Bill more or less straight and slender, with the culmen 

 almost straight, or slightly curved, and the sides compressed 

 to the tip, which is emarginated, the lateral margins straight 

 and inflexed ; the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, placed in a short, broad groove, with the opening 

 rounded, and partly closed by a membrane ; wings moderate, 

 with the first three quills equal and longest ; tail moderate, 

 and emarginated ; tarsi longer than the middle toe, rather 

 slender, and covered in front with broad, transverse scales ; 

 toes long, and rather slender ; with the lateral toes equal, 

 and the outer one slightly united at its base ; the hind toe 

 long ; the claws of the anterior toes rather short and curved, 

 and that of the hind toe very long and acute. 



223. Anthus Capensis, Linn, pi. Eni, so 4, Fig. 



2 ] Cuv., Vol. 6, p. 479 ; Macronyx Capensis^ Swain., 

 Nat. Lib, Vol 9, p. 216 ; L'Alouette Sentinelle, Le 

 Vail, Pi. 195-6; Kallcoentje of Colonists, lit. Little 

 Turkey. 



Upper parts, variegated dark-brown, the feathers having 

 light edges ; wing and tail-feathers the same ; the edges of 

 some of the former being yellow, others white ; three outer 

 tail-feathers more or less tipped with white ; over the eye a 

 bright orange line ; from the corners of the bill rise two 

 black stripes, which extend down the sides of the chin, and 

 unite in front on the lower part of the throat ; all within 

 this is a brilliant, shining, crimson-orange ; below it the 

 centre of the breast and belly is orange ; sides and flanks 

 cinereous ; edges of shoulders bright orange ; toes very long 

 and stronfjc, the hinder one armed with a claw 9"' long. 

 Length, 7" 9'" ; wing, 3" 9'". 



This handsome lark is common throughout all the open country of 

 the colony : it would be better to say the forest itself is the only place 

 where it is not to be found. In its habits it resembles the sky-lark, 

 except that it does not soar, sing, or congregate in flocks. Instead of 

 perching on clods of earth, — such luxuries not being common in this 

 laud, — it mounts a white-ant's heap, and keeps a look-out for its 

 enemies from that eminence. It is usually found in pairs, and when 



