MIRAFRA SABOTA. 37 



and primary-coverts ; four inner primaries and four outer secondaries with 

 white terminal edges ; under surface du«ky ash, with partial buffy white 

 inner edges to the quills and the coverts, mottled with sandy bulif edges 

 to the feathers. Tail-feathers blackish brown, with sandy buff edges of a 

 slightly darker shade on the centre than the outer ones, and much narrower 

 on all the others ; outer feather with the base of the shaft and the whole 

 outer web pale. Eyebrow and cheeks buff, ear-coverts tawny brown 

 margined above by a black stripe extending to the nostril ; two partial 

 black lines on the side of the upper throat ; under surface generally buff, 

 mottled on the lower throat and crop with triangular spots of dark brown, 

 which colour forms an ill-defined dark patch on the crop next to the sides 

 of the neck. "Iris dark hazel; bill horn colour; tarsi and feet flesh 

 colour." (T. E. Buckley.) Total length 5-9 inches, culmen 0-5, wing 3-4, 

 tail 2-2, tarsus 0-9. S. Africa (Smith). 



The Sabota Lark inhabits South Africa south of the 

 Zambesi and east from about 25° E. long. 



Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, in 1890, recorded the range of this 

 species as extending into Masailand, solely because Dr. 

 Reichenow referred to one of Fischer's specimens from Loeru 

 as M. sabota, J. f. 0., 1887, p. 74. In the Vog. Deutsch. 0. 

 Afr. p. 203 (1894) Dr. Reichenow omits the present species, 

 and the only Mirafra he mentions from Loeru is M. afiicanoicles. 



According to Sir Andrew Smith, who discovered the type, 

 " this Lark was procured on the arid Karroo plains north of 

 Latakoo, and was found in tolerable abundance towards the 

 Tropic of Capricorn. It was generally observed in localities 

 abounding with small shrubs, on which it was frequently 

 observed to perch, particularly in the early part of the morning, 

 when it was in the habit of practising, like its congeners, 

 vertical flights into the air. It whistles occasionally when 

 perched upon the underwood ; but there is nothing in its 

 note to attract attention." 



In Natal Mr. T. Arnold obtained the species at Weenen, 

 and the Messrs. Woodwards have collected specimens in Zulu- 

 land, at Ulundi and the Black Umfolosi river. 



To the north of the Vaal river there are sevei-al of Mr. 



