122 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



with him, are a pair of doves from Java : these he almost stripped of 

 their feathers, for the sake of nibbling the quill-ends, which are 

 rapidly passed through his little sharp bill, like canes through a sugar- 

 crusher, and with the same results. From this propensity, I fancy 

 " JSroifjiie '' must like a meat diet — worms and insects, perhaps ; he, 

 however, feeds upon canary-seed, and will eat groundsel and chick- 

 weed, and all that the canaries that are inhabitants of the same large 

 cage feed upon. I dedicate this, to me, new species to perpetuate the 

 name of the faithful companion of my labours for upwards of twenty 

 years, who has aided me with pen and pencil, and shared the pleasures 

 I have experienced in the study of the works of Nature. 



226. AnthUS SordiduS, Rupp. ; Faun. Abyss., t., 



39 ; Agrodroma Sordida ; Corydalla Sordida, Blyth ; 



Aathus Gouldii, Fr. 



Above, variegated lightisli hair-brown ; below, light buff, 

 tinted with rufous ; chest with some obscure dark-brown 

 markings ; vent whitish ; outer edge of exterior tail-feather 

 white. Length, 8"; wing, 4" 6'"; tail, 3". 



Several specimens of this pippit, received from Capt. Bulger, at 

 Windvogelberg, are the only examples that have fallen under my 

 notice. It has also been procured at Natal by Mr. Ayres. 



227. AnthUS BrachyurUS, Sund. ; Ofvers. Kongl. 

 Vet. Ak., Forhandl. 



Dark greyish-brown, variegated with blackish markings ; 

 belly white ; tail short, the outer feather half-whitish. 

 A small species, found at Natal. Ibis, Vol. 1863, p. 327. 



228. Anthus Leueophrys, vieiii. ; Gal. Ois, t., 



262 ; N. Diet, d' Hist. Nafc. XXVI., p. 502 ; Enkelde 

 Lewerk of Dutch Colonists. 



Above, immaculate greenish-brown ; in some specimens ashy ; 

 be'ow, pale yellowish-ash ; chest obscurely freckled with 

 brown ; chin white ; eyebrow yellowish-ash ; wing-feathers, 

 dark-ash, with pale margins ; tail, the same, the two outer 

 pair being the same colour as the under parts; eye brown. 

 Length, 7" ; wing, 3" 8'" ; tail, 2" T". 



This pippit is abundant througho\it the colony. It frequents open 

 country, either quite bare or covered with bush, on which it perches 

 reatlily. Feeds on insects and seeds. Mr. Atmore writes : " Plentiful 

 Qn karroo flats, particularly near Oliphant's River, — ^perches on 

 bushes, ,>&c." 



