232 ALAUDID-33 CERTHILAUDA 



the shrub nearest to the point where it descends. It consumes 

 as food seeds and small insects." 



Layard writes : " We found it plentiful at Nel's Poort, in the 

 Karroo ; it first appeared in the neighbourhood of Beaufort. A 

 single nest fell under our observation in December. The eggs, 

 four in number and of a mottled brown, were deposited in a 

 cup-shaped nest, on the side of a low bush, at the edge of a foot 

 path. When we approached it the bird crept away to a little 

 distance, then rose, flew a few yards, and perched on an ant-heap 

 to watch us." 



Genus XI. CERTHILAUDA. 



Type. 

 Gerthilauda, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii, p. 344 (1827)... C. capensis. 



Bill lengthened, slender, both mandibles equally curved, the 

 culmen equal to or longer than the middle toe and claw ; the 

 nostrils basal, lateral, rounded and partly shut in by a membrane. 

 Wings long, the outer quills short, equal to or slightly longer than 

 the tarsus, the third, fourth and fifth nearly equal and longest. 

 Tail moderately long, even. Tarsus slender, much longer than the 

 middle toe ; toes moderately long, the inner and outer equal, the 

 middle-toe rather longer and slender, the hind-toe shorter ; front 

 claws moderately curved, hind-claw long, as long as its toe, and 

 straight. The Long-billed Larks, two species in all, are confined 

 to South Africa. They resemble members of the preceding genus 

 Alamon in their long and curved bill, but differ in having the hind- 

 claw almost perfectly straight instead of curved. 



The Certhilaudce inhabit stony or sandy plains and deserts, 

 but also grass-lands. They run with facility on the ground but 

 sometimes perch on bushes. They feed chiefly on insects, occa- 

 sionally on small seeds, build cup- shaped and rather flimsy nests 

 in hollows of the ground and lay four or five whitish eggs, sparingly 

 spotted and freckled with two or three shades of purplish-grey 

 and brown. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Ends of tail-feathers unspotted C. capensis, p. 233. 



b. Ends of tail-feathers spotted with white C. rufula, p. 234. 



