MIRAFRA RUFIPILEA. 47 



bastard-primary and broad ends to the other quills dusky brown. Sides of 

 the head sandy buff slightly mottled with brown, and shaded with rufous 

 on the ear-coverts ; sides of the upper neck and the under parts generally 

 sandy buff; the lower throat spotted with dark brown angular shaft-marks. 

 " Iris light hazel ; bill pale with the culmen dusky brown ; tarsi and feet 

 pale brown." Total length 5-9 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3-3, tail 2-1, tarsus 

 1-0. ? , 5. 10. 82. Rustenburg (T. Ayres). 



The Rufous-crowned Bar-tailed Lark ranges from Bloem- 

 fontein to Rustenburg in South Africa. 



All I know for certain regarding the range of this species 

 is that the British Museum contains a specimen from Bloem- 

 fontein obtained by Dr. Exton, and one shot by Mr. W". Lucas 

 near Rustenburg, botli of which were formerly in my own 

 collection. 



Sir Andrew Smith informs us that he procured only one 

 specimen, and having lost it, his description of Brachonyx 

 piirrlionota was taken from " hasty notes made at the time it 

 was killed." This hardly justified him in stating that this 

 species " inhabits arid districts on both coasts of Cape Colony, 

 but in no locality are specimens abundant." It appears to me 

 probable that this species is confined to the country which 

 intervenes between the range of M. apiata and M. fischeii. 

 The bird brought back from the Zambesi by Serpa Pinto 

 (if. riifipilea, Bocage Orn. Angola, p. 376) is certainly M. 

 fisclieri. 



In the Transvaal Mr. T. B. Buckley met with the true 

 M. riifipilea on the " High Veldt," and the following notes by 

 Mr. T. Ayres also refer to this species : " These Larks are 

 only found on the open plains, extending from Potchefstroom 

 to the bush at Mariqua ; they are generally two or three 

 together, and lie so exceedingly close that they can often be 

 knocked down with a stick." '' This Lark has precisely the 

 peculiar habits of M. apiata." 



" Male, shot January L5. Stomach contained caterpillars, 



