PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE—HAAGNER. 495 
North, C. C., in 1894. Its brown coloration struck me as being of 
immense protective value, as the bird is not easily discernible when 
sitting against a rock or when creeping among the crannies between 
the stones. I also noticed this fact with respect to the rock bunting 
(Fringillaria tahapisi). Once, at Irene, on the 18th of April, I shot 
one and it fell among some loose stones; it took me fully a minute 
to find the bird, such was its protective coloring, although the body 
was not actually hidden. 
Family ALAUDID®. 
I have unfortunately given but little attention to this interesting 
group of birds, so can not do better than quote the remarks of Mr. Guy 
A. K. Marshall, F. Z. S., of Salisbury, Mashonaland, with reference 
to a member of the lark family. In an article in the Zoologist (vol. 
1900, p. 548), entitled “‘ Conscious Protective Resemblance,” he says: 
“There are few birds in this country which show a stronger apparent 
reliance on their protective coloring than the little rufous-capped lark 
(Tephrocorys cinerea) or the cape long-claw (Jacronyx capensis). 
They will readily permit one to approach within a few yards of 
them, and they will merely run on ahead in their curious crouching 
rat-like manner. This action is certainly of considerable protective 
value in their ordinary surroundings.” I concur fully with these 
remarks, as this bird is very common at Modderfontein, and I have 
often noticed that its plumage is decidedly assimilative in its coloring. 
To this bird I can add, from personal experience, the following 
species: Rufous-naped lark (Aftrafra africana), gray-collared lark 
(Alemon semitorquata), and the rufous long-billed lark (Certhilauda 
rufula), as Mr. Marshall’s observations in a measure also apply to 
these birds. 
Family MOorTaciniip&, 
Perhaps one of the most conspicuous cases of protective resemblance 
in this family is that of the cape long-claw, already referred to. 
This bird has a bright orange-red throat, but when it is in the 
crouching attitude so aptly described by Mr. Marshall this brightly 
tinted portion is invisible. 
The remarks on the Alaudidw may serve for most of the pipits, 
if not all, so I need not go into a reiteration. I will only draw atten- 
tion to the commonest local member of this family, the tawny pipit 
(Anthus rufulus). This bird’s coloration is strongly assimilative 
with regard to the surrounding sea of grass of its natural home. Its 
movements also closely resemble those of 7’. cinerea, already referred 
to, so that when it is crouching down, even among the more stubbly 
portions of the veld, it becomes all but invisible. This applies to 
A. pyrrhonotus and several other species as well. 
