54 MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 



this species, as Alauda africana, Gm., 1788, is the same as 

 Gerthilauda capensis (Bodd., 1783), a bird I place in another 

 genus. The Rufous-naped Larks which I refer to, M. africana, 

 Smith, have been split up into five species, and although I 

 doubt these forms being even of subspecific value, T give the 

 following key to them as ornithologists are not all of one 

 opinion in such matters. The names M. grisescens and M. 

 palHdior have not been previously published, I have found 

 them written on the labels of some of the specimens in the 

 British Museum by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, which implies that 

 these skins should be noticed as possibly belonging to 

 distinct species. 



a. Plumage generally less rufous, South of 

 Cunene and Zambesi, 

 a'. Plumage fresher, darker, of a less sandy 

 shade, and much less rufous showing on 

 the crown. 

 a^ Generally : bill slightly longer ; dark 

 centres to feathers broader. 

 «* Generally: less rufous and bill slightly i africana, Smith; 

 larger. Cape Colony and Natal . . [rostrahis, Hartl. 

 h^ Generally : more rufous and bill slightly 



smaller. Transvaal travsvaalensis, Hartert. 



b- Generally : more ashy and bill slightly 



shorter. Between Limpopo and Zambesi 



b''-. Plumage, biU and hind claw much worn; 



feathers paler and of a more sandy shade ; 



much more rufous showing on the crown. 



i~" Damara palUdior, Sharpe. 



b. Generally more rufous. North of Cunene and j occidentalis, Hartl. ; 

 Zambesi \tropicalis, Hartert. 



The type of Megalophonus occidentalis, Hartl., is one of 

 Verreaux's specimens in the Bremen Museum from Gaboon, 

 where the species has also been procured by Marche and 

 de Compiegne. I have not seen the type, but it has been 

 carefully described and is apparently not distinguishable from 

 M. africana tropicalis, Hartert. This species seems to be rarer 



grisescens, Sharpe. 



