ALAUDIDiE. 15 



I followed the arrangement of the Larks proposed by Dr. Bovvdler Sharpe 

 (Cat. B. M. xiii.) ; but on working out the " keys " to the genera and species, 

 I have somewhat altered my views. Alceinon and Hcterocorys are not, I 

 think, worth separating from Certhilauda, and I find no characters for 

 distinguishing Spilocorydon from Mimfra or Spizocorys from Galandrclla. 



The Alaudida I divide into two sections : those with ten primaries and 

 those with only nine. This character readily distinguishes the Calandrella 

 group from Alauda. By disregarding the character of an abnormally long 

 hind claw for Alauda, that genus would include not only A. arvcnsis and 

 its sub- species, but also Spilocorys jjcrsonata, Sharpe ; otherwise a new genus 

 would be required for the reception of this one species, which I consider 

 it would be folly to propose. 



In my key to the genera I have entered the names of all that I can 

 recognise and have placed, between brackets, those which have not been 

 met with in the Ethiopian Eegion. 



The genus Certhilauda runs very closely into Mirafra through the 

 iy^icaX Certhilauda capensis and Certhilauda nivosa, Swains. ; which latter is 

 a true Alirafra. 



I have restricted the genus Mirafra to birds in which the sexes are 

 similar in plumage and the upper parts always mottled. I therefore propose 

 the new generic name Pinarqcorys for the reception of Alauda nigricans, \ 



Sundev., and Alauda erylhrophygia, Strickl., in which the coloured pattern 

 of the wings is very dissimilar in the males and females, and the crown and 

 back uniform in old birds. 



I place Pyrrhidauda next, as it is the only other genus of the Alaudida 

 in which the sexes differ in the colouring and pattern of the plumage. 



The very remarkable genus Bhamphocorys may follow and be succeeded 

 by Ammomanes, leaving a number of nearly allied genera, all with the backs 

 mottled, to end the section of Larks which have ten primaries. These 

 include Botha, gen. nov., Lullula, Galcrita, Heliocorys and Calendula, which 

 constitute the Galerita group, and Alauda, Pseudalcemon and Mclanocorypha 

 belonging to the Alauda group. 



Among the specimens examined I have found an immature bird which 

 I cannot locate in any known genus, so make it the type of Botha, a new 

 generic name. In the structure of the wings, tarsi, feet and hind claws it 

 agrees well with Galerita, but the bill is very different and also the pattern 

 of the tail. Lullula, Galerita, Heliocorys and Calendula are scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable genera. Calendula in its almost obsolete crest approaches in 

 this respect to Alauda. 



I now come to the section of Larks characterised by having no bastard 

 primary, including Alaudula, Calandrella and Tephrocorys, extremely near 

 allies, and finish with the well-marked genus Otocorys. 



