FRINGILLIDiE. 209 



Soars very frequently, particularly in the early part of the day, and 

 at sun rise whistles delightfully, generally at such times perching on 

 the summit of the highest bush in the neighbourhood. —Dr. A. Smith, 

 loc. cit. 



418. Alauda Oodea, Smith, Zooi. s. Af., pi. 87, 

 f. 1. 



Upper surface of body, head, and neck, rusty yellowish- 

 grey ; the two latter and interscapulars variegated with 

 streaks of brownish- red, washed with yellowish-grey ; chin 

 and throat, pure-white ; breast, white, spotted with brownish 

 red ; belly rusty- white ; flanks tinted with pale-brown 

 wing-feathers brownish-red, edged and tipped with white 

 two middle tail-feathers, reddish-brown, glossed with grey 

 the rest umber-brown, edged and tipped with rusty-white 

 eyebrows white ; ear-covers, light orange-coloured brown 

 iris hazel. Length, 6" 6"' ; wing, 3" 6"' ; tail, 2" 9"'. 



Generally, though sparingly, scattered over the Western Province, 

 particularly in the Karroo. Perch readily on bushes.— Dr. A. Smith, 

 loc. cit. 



Mr. C. A. Fairbridge procured a single specimen on the Cape Flats, 

 near Rondebosch. I found it plentiful at Nel's Poort, in the Karroo. 

 It first appeared in the neighbourhood of Beaufort. Nearer Cape Town 

 we did not observe it. A single nest fell under our observation in 

 December. The eggs, four in number, and of a mottled brown, 

 were deposited in a cap-shaped nest, on the side of a low bush, at the 

 edge of a foot-path. When we approached it the bird crept away to a 

 little distance, then rose, flew a few yards, and perched on an ant- 

 heap to watch us. As we were proceeding to kill a Hycena, which had 

 been caught in one of our traps, we deferred taking the eggs until our 

 return ; but coming home by a dijSferent route, we had to leave them 

 till next morning, when on proceeding to the spot we found the 

 young excluded. The hen bird, on this and several subsequent occa- 

 sions, executed the same manoeuvres to escape detection. " Common 

 at Traka." — Mr. Atmore. 



419. Alauda Tartarica, Pali.; Aiauda Muta- 



hilis, Forst. ; Tanagra Sibirica, Mus. Carls., t. 1 9 ; Le 

 Tracal, Le Vail., No. 191 ; Cuv., Vol. 2, p. 118. 



This lark cannot be mistaken for any other of the family* 

 Its entire plumage is black, transversely and irregularly 

 striated above and below with white. 



Le Vaillant states he procured it breeding in Great Namaqualand, 

 on arid plains, at the foot of craggy mountains. This is another of his 

 inventions. The bird is a native of Tartary. 



Genus PYRRHULaUDA, A. Smith. 

 Bill short, with the culmen arched, the sides much com- 

 pressed, the tip entire, and the lateral margins sinuated ; the 



