244 PASSER MOTITENSIS. 



Passer motitensis. 



Passer motitensis, Smith, 111. Z. S. Afr. Birds, p. 114 (1848) Cape Col.; 

 Sharps, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 324 (1888) Damara, Cape Col. Matabele ; 

 Fleck, J. f. 0. 1894, p. 410 Damara, Ngami ; Shelley, B. Afr. I. 

 No. 262 (1896); Nehrkorn, Kat. Eiers. p. 109 (1899) egg; Stark, 

 Faun. S. Afr. B. i. p. 162 (1900). 



Adult male. Forehead, crown, and back of neck ashy grey ; sides of 

 forehead white ; from above and behind the eye, extending over the sides of 

 the neck, is a large, pale cinnamon patch of the same colour as the back, 

 scapulars and lesser wing-coverts ; mantle with clearly-defined broad black 

 shaft-stripes ; upper tail-coverts pale brown ; tail uniform dark brown ; 

 remainder of wings dark brown ; median-coverts with white terminal 

 margins ; greater coverts and inner secondaries broadly edged with rufous 

 buff, the former with some partial white ends ; primaries and primary- 

 coverts very narrowly edged with rufous buff; inner lining of wings brown 

 with the inner edges of the quills buff and the under wing-coverts mostly 

 white ; a patch in front of eye, chin and throat black ; cheeks, ear-coverts 

 and sides of throat white ; crop, breast, thighs and under tail-coverts whitish 

 buff. Iris dark brown ; bill liver brown ; tarsi and feet paler brown. Total 

 length 5-9 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3-4, tail 2-5, tarsus 0-75. S > 12. 1. 67. 

 Damara (Andersson). 



Adult female. Duller and slightly paler ; crown a little browner ; patch 

 from the eye over sides of neck buff; no black on throat. Wing 3-1 inches. 

 ? , 2. 10. 66. Damara (Andersson). 



The Greater South African Sparrow ranges from south of 

 the Cunene and Zambesi rivers into Cape Colony, 



Andersson writes : " This species is found at Lake Ngami ; 

 and I also met with it at Otjimbinque, at Omapju, and near 

 Otaiovapa. I first met with its nest at Omapju, on January 5, 

 1867 ; it was placed on the top of a thorn bush, about seven 

 feet from the ground ; and I subsequently met with several 

 other nests during the same month. The nesfc is large, and is 

 composed of coarse grass outside, and fine grass within, and 

 has an additional lining of feathers and other soft and warm 

 materials ; it is furnished with a long entrance, sometimes 

 a foot or more in length, which ends in a deep and wide 

 hollow. The eggs are from three to six ; but the most 



