2S6 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



broadest ; top of head rufous, minutely mottled, and changing 

 into light ash-colour at the back ; cheeks and chin, white ; 

 throat, and crescent-shaped mark at back of head, jet-black ; 

 lower part of throat and breast rufous, with here and there a 

 bluish tinge ; large wing-feathers black, the nst bright 

 rufous ; under parts white. Length, 16" or 17" ; wing, 10^" ; 

 tail, 5". 



Several pairs of this handsome bustard were procured in the Free 

 State by Mr. Arnot ; but I know nothing of its habits. 



546. Eupodotis Ruficrista. (Smith.) z. s. a., 



PI. 4. 



Top of head, neck, and upper part of chest, blueish-ash, 

 darkest on the head ; ground colour of back deep rufous, mot- 

 tled with deep brown and black ; the prevailing marking on 

 this part is of a rufous colour, V shaped, with a black centre ; 

 chin and sides of head dirty- white ; head crested ; crest 

 deep ferruginous; under parts all black ; legs light-yellow. 

 Length, if; wing, 11" ; tail, 7". 



The female wants the crest on the head, and is otherwise less 

 brightly coloured. 



Does not occur within the colony ; but is found beyond the Orange 

 Eiver. Mr. Chapman procured it as far as the Great Lake. 



547. Eupodotis Mela>noga,siter;.QtisMelano- 



gaster, Riipp. ; Faun. Abyss., t. 7. 

 Above, fuscous yellow, transversely streaked, and with large 

 longitudinal black markings down the centre of many of the 

 feathers ; cheeks dirty- white ; chin, throat, a long line 

 extending down the neck, breast, belly, and quill-feathers of 

 wings and tail, black ; a band of the same colour springs 

 from above each eye, and joins at the occiput ; shoulder and 

 large portion of the wing, white. Length, 24" ; wing, 13" 

 4"' ; tail, 6". 



This bustard has not yet, that I am aware of, been found within the 

 colony. Hartlaub, on the authority of M. J. Verreaux, gives South 

 Africa as a habitat ; and it is included by Mr. J. H. Gurney as among 

 the birds received from Natal. Mr. Chapman procured it towards the 

 Zambezi. 



548. Eupodotis Afra. (Gmel.) Lath., Syn., PI. 

 69 ; Otis Atra, Linn. ; Black Koran, Shaw, Vol. 11, 

 p. 449 ; Knorhaan of Cape Colonists. 



Top of head, back, part of wings, and tail, brpwn-black, 

 varymg m mtensity, and crossed with irregular streaks of 

 rufous, paling into white ; stripe over the ©ye, reading to 



