116 CALENDULA CRASSIROSTRIS. 



Alauda magairostris, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 27 (1826) S. Afr. 



Galerita modesta (nee Heugl.) Stark, Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 204 (1900) 

 Clan William. 



Adult. Very similar in general appearance to Galerita cristata, but with 

 a very much thicker bill, of which the basal half of the lower mandible is 

 buff and sharply defined ; the crest is much shorter, and the abdomen has 

 a faint tinge of yellow. Upper parts mottled, ashy brown with blackish 

 centres to the feathers; tail blackish brown, slightly paler, and more ashy 

 on the centre feathers ; outer feather with a narrow buff external and 

 terminal edge, and a very narrow whitish outer edge to the penultimate 

 feather ; under surface of the wing dusky ash, with partial, rather narrow, 

 rufous buff inner margins to the quills and the under wing-coverts mostly 

 buff, the feathers being broadly edged with that colour. Sides of the head 

 with a broad eyebrow, space under the eye and the cheeks buff; the 

 remainder blackish brown, mottled, with buff edges to the feathers. Under 

 parts buff, with a slight yellow shade on the abdomen ; an imperfect black 

 band down the sides of the throat, widening out somewhat between the crop 

 and sides of the lower neck ; lower throat, front of chest and flanks boldly 

 marked with blackish brown centres to the feathers. Iris brown ; upper 

 mandible dark horn colour, lower one buff with the end half dark horn 

 colour. Total length in the flesh 7 inches, culmen 0-65, wing 3-7, tail 2-3, 

 tarsus 1-1. 2 , 23. 1. 74. Stellendorf (Shelley). A male labelled " 29. 7. 62, 

 Little Namaqualand (Andersson)," is slightly larger : culmen 0-7, wing 3-8, 

 tail 2-4. 



Immature. Differs in the plumage of the upper parts being mottled 

 with partial white edges to the feathers inclining to spots, most strongly 

 marked on the middle of the crown and nape ; the buff on the outer pair 

 of tail-feathers extends over nearly the whole of the outer webs ; bill more 

 uniform dark brown. Wing 3-8 inches. Clan "William (Cape Mus.). 



The Thick-billed Crested -Lark inhabits western South 

 Africa, south of the Cunene river. 



According to Andersson, this species is pretty generally 

 diffused over Damara and Great Namaqua-lands ; it frequents 

 localities covered with grass and dwarf vegetation, and 

 frequently those which are of a rocky character. Mr. Layard 

 writes : " This fine Lark frequents equally the cultivated and 

 bush-covered lands. It feeds on insects and seeds, and 

 makes a rough nest in September in a depression of the soil 

 under the shelter of a low bush, or large clod of earth, and 

 lays four or five eggs of a very pale cream colour, profusely 



