92 AMMOMANES. 



banks of loose stony soil were covered with short dry grass. 

 The flock appeared to consist entirely of males, the majority 

 being immature birds. They were very shy and difficult to 

 procure ; and finally, with an erratic, dancing flight, they dis- 

 appeared in ever-increasing circles out of sight, but the next 

 morning they would be back again in the same place. The 

 note was a tiny " twit twit." They were evidently in breeding 

 condition at the end of February, and this possibly accounted 

 for the absence of females, which were probably on their 

 nests, while the immature birds most likely belonged to the 

 first broods. Their food consisted of grass seeds. 



Mr. Hartert, during his exploration of the valley of the 

 Niger, met with the species in February and March at Sokoto 

 and Wurno, where he found it not uncommon ; but I cannot 

 trace its range further south. 



The types of the species came from Senegarabia and Nubia, 

 but the only specimens I have seen from North-east Africa 

 were shot by Mr. Hawker at Khartoum, on January 25, 

 1901 ; these are two adult males, and an apparently adult 

 female, although labelled " young male." They agree per- 

 fectly with the figures of Temminck's Fringilla otoleuca, the 

 white lesser wing-coverts being an extremely well-marked 

 character ; and I have been informed by Mr. Ogilvie Grant 

 that the types of Alauda melanocephala, Licht., belong to this 

 species. 



Genus V. AMMOMANES. 



Sexes alike in plumage ; upper parts uniform, mostly of a sandy shade. 

 Bill moderate ; nostrils hidden. Wings with a large bastard-primary. 



Type. 

 Ammomanes, Cab. Mus. Heiu. i. p. 125 (1850) A. deserti. 



