194 ALAUDID^ PYRRHULAUDA 



shelter of a low bush or grass tuffc. Their eggs, two to four in 

 number, are white, much spotted and freckled with pale brown ; 

 their note a shrill but not loud chirp. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Ear-coverts black P. australis, p. 194 



6. Ear-coverts white. 



a 1 . Upper surface ash-grey P. verticalis, p. 195 



5 l . Upper surface chestnut P. smithi, p. 196 



PyrrJiulauda australis. 



' *^*W>C * ?A -^ 



106. Pyrrhulauda australis. Dark-naped Lark. 



Megalotis australis, Smith, Rep. Exp. Centr. Afr. 1836, p. 49. 



Pyrrhulauda australis, Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr. pi. 24 (1839) ; Layard, 

 B. 8. Afr. p. 210 (1867) ; Gurney in Andersson's B. Damara Land, 

 p. 191 (1872); Sharpe, ed. Layard 's B. S. Afr. p. 493 (1884) ; id. Cat. 

 B. M. xiii, p. 651 (1890) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 17 (1896). 



Description. Adult male. Above, reddish-brown, the bases of 

 the feathers black ; wing-coverts and quills black edged with reddish- 

 brown ; upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers, (excepting the two 

 central which are brown), black ; entire head and under surface 

 black. 



Iris hazel ; bill horn-brown ; legs and feet flesh-coloured. 



Length 4-80; wing 3-10 ; tail 1-70 ; tarsus O60; culmen 0-40. 



Adult female. Above dusky brown, the feathers of the head and 

 neck edged with buff ; upper tail-coverts buff streaked with black ; 



