Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornithology. 285 



and though, as far as I could judge, the males were in full 

 plumage, I was never certain which birds belonged to the nests 

 which I took. 



I think, however, that Mr. Layard's correspondents are 

 right in considering " that many of these birds do not assume 

 the yellow plumage in summer, and that they breed, or at all 

 events commence building, before assuming the breeding- 



[The following are particulars of the plumage of five males 

 of this species obtained by Mr. Ayres : — 



One shot in July, with no marks of breeding-plumage ex- 

 cept a little black on the cheeks, throat, and chin, especially 

 the latter, and a very slight tinge of yellow on the underparts. 



One shot in September in full breeding- dress. 



One shot 26th November, also in full breeding-plumage. 



Two shot 29th November, both in winter dress, except a 

 slight tinge of yellow on the under surface. 



Of four nests obtained by Mr. Ayres, one contained three 

 eggs of a light pink ground-colour sprinkled with spots of a 

 dark pink over the whole surface, some of these spots being 

 minute and others much larger. 



A second nest contained a single egg with similar spots on 

 a pale blue ground. 



In another nest there were three eggs with pinkish spots 

 of a fainter hue than the preceding ones, more thickly clus- 

 tered, and on a dull green ground. 



In the fourth nest were two eggs with spots similarly clus- 

 tered, but of a brighter and more rufous tint and on a pale 

 ground. — J. H. G.] 



38. Megalophonus rufipileus (Vieill.) . Fasciolated Lark 

 (vide Ibis, 1871, p. 268). 



This Lark has precisely the peculiar habits of M. apiatus, 

 mentioned in Mr. Layard's Catalogue, p. 206. 



One of the birds sent (a male) had evidently, from the ap- 

 pearance of the skin on the breast and belly, taken his share 

 in incubation ; it was shot about the end of March. 



x 2 



