208 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Sub-Family, ALAUDIN-ffil, or Lark, 



have the bill short, more or less lengthened, conical ; the 

 wings with the tertials generally as long as the primaries ; 

 the claws lengthened, more or less curved, and the hind one 

 very long, and generally straight. 



Genus ALAUDA, Linn. 

 Bill nxoderate, conical, with the culmen slightly arched to 

 the tip, and compressed on the sides ; the nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and hidden by the frontal plumes ; wings lengthened, 

 with or without a short spurious quill, and with the third 

 quill generally the longest ; tail moderate, and slightly emar- 

 ginated ; tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, and slender ; 

 toes moderate and divided, and the hind claw lengthened, 

 and more or less straight. 



416. Alauda Crassirostris, vieii. ; Nat. Diet. 



D'Hist. Nat., 1, p. 373 ; Brachonyx Crassirostris, 

 L'Alouette d gros bee, Le Vail., PI. 193 ; Cuv., Vol. 

 2, p. 119; Alauda Magnirostris, Staph.; Duhbelde 

 Leeuwirk of Colonists. 



Feathers of upper surface thoroughout, dark burnt-umber- 

 brown, margined with a lighter shade ; outer tail-feather, 

 on each side broadly margined ; the inner less so ; the neck 

 and breast marked in the same manner, but the dark parts 

 of each feather are narrow, and the margins broader, and 

 with a decided yellow tinge, which prevails over the whole 

 belly and chin. Length, 61"; wing, 4" 3'"; tail, 3.'" 



This fine lark is abundant tliroughout the colony, frequenting 

 equally the cultivated and bush-covered lands. It feeds on insects 

 and seeds ; and makes a rough nest in a depression of the soil, under 

 the shelter of a low bush, or large clod of earth, and lays four or five 

 eggs, of a very pale cream colour, profusely dotted throughout with 

 small light-brown and purple spots : axis, 11'"; diam., 8'". 



417. Alauda Ferruginea, Sm., Zooi. s. Af., pi 29. 



Head, back, and sides of neck, back, rump, shoulders, 

 and two centre tail-feathers, bright ferruginous-red ; under 

 parts, dull white ; chin, breast, throat, and flanks mottled 

 with dark-brown spots ; a blackish line commences at the 

 base of the lower mandible, and terminates below the points 

 of the ears; eyebrows, dirty-yellow. Length, 7" 5'"; wing, 

 4" 1'" ; tail, 3" 2'". 



Habitat : Arid plains to the southward of the Orange River, called 

 the Bushman Flats. Is very wary, shy, and difficult of approach. 



