PYRRHULAUDA SIGNATA. 85 



southern districts of South Africa, and, like it, congregates 

 in large flocks. When feeding, the numerous members of 

 these flocks are widely scattered; but the moment one indi- 

 vidual takes to flight from alarm, all the others follow the 

 example, and they move off in a body to another locality. 

 It is not their custom to fly far before they come to a halt, 

 and the instant they reach the ground they scatter in all 

 directions, and run to and fro with great rapidity. When 

 flying they pursue a slightly undulating course, and on these 

 occasions they frequently utter cries similar to what they 

 do when running upon the ground, and wliich consists of 

 a shrill prolonged chirp." Mr. Ortlepp informs us that they 

 are plentiful near Colesberg, and, when the breeding season 

 is over, they are to be found on most of the extensive plains 

 of the neighbourhood, in large flocks. According to Stark: 

 " About the middle of August the flocks break up and the 

 birds separate in pairs, and about a month later commence 

 to build their nests. Some slight hollow is chosen by the 

 side of a tuft of grass ; this is lined with fine dry grass, 

 to which a few horse-hairs are occasionally added; and in 

 this slight nest two or three eggs are laid. These are of 

 a pale cream colour or dull white, somewhat thickly spotted 

 all over with two shades of pale umber brown. They 

 average 0-80 x 0-65." 



The British Museum contains a specimen from Griqualaud 

 and two collected by W. Lucas, at Rustenberg, in December. 



Pyrrhulauda signata. 



Pyrrhulauda signata, Oust. Bibl. Ec. baut. Etudes, xxxi. art. x. p. 9 



(1886) Somali; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii. p. 651, note (1890). 

 PyiThulauda harrisoni, Grant, Ibis, 1901, p. 286, pi. 7 Lake Biidolf. 

 Adult male. Most nearly allied to P. verticalis, with a large patch of 

 white on the crown, and the white ear-coverts connected by a broad white 



