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Sub-family SAXACOLIIOS. ? 

 Sub-genus DESSONORNIS. ? 



Bill moderate, slightly curved towards the point, upper mandible 

 notched ; nostrils basal, above membranaceous ; rictus slightly 

 bristled; wings moderate, rounded, fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 quills longest and nearly equal ; tarsi moderate, acrotarsia 

 indistinctly divided ; claws moderately curved. 



Dessonornis humeralis. Front and crown of head black, with a 

 greyish tint; neck and interscapulars dull bluish grey ; back 

 and rump rufous ; eyebrows white ; sides of head and neck 

 deep black ; flanks, vent, and under tail coverts rufous 

 yellow ; throat, centre of breast, and belly, pure white ; 

 wings black ; crossed by an oblique white stripe, two centre 

 tail feathers black, the rest black towards tips, bright rufous 

 towards quills. Length 6^ inches. Inhabits the banks of 

 the Marikwa, &c. 



Sub-family SAXACOLINJS. 

 Genus ERYTHROPYGIA. 



Bill moderate, slender, curved, and compressed towards the 

 point, upper mandible slightly notched ; nostrils basal, above 

 membranaceous; rictus slightly bristled; wings short, round, 

 fourth and fifth quills longest ; tail rounded ; tarsi moderate, 

 acrotarsia divided ; claws moderately curved. 



Erythropygia pectoralis. Top of head grey-brown; back dull 

 brown ; rump and tail coverts rufous ; eyebrows, chin, and 

 throat, white, the latter edged on each side with a black stripe ; 

 breast, belly, and vent, white, the former freely variegated by 

 longitudinal dark brown stripes ; flanks pale rufous ; wing 

 coverts brown and so tipt with white as to form two oblique 

 bars across each wing ; quills dark brown, outer vanes more 

 or less distinctly edged with white ; tail rounded, two centre 

 feathers black towards quills, edged with dull rufous, lateral 

 ones blackish, tipt with white. Length 6 inches. Inhabits 

 the country between the Orange Eiver and Kurrichaine. 



Erythropygia Paena. Top of head grey-brown; back pale 

 rufous brown ; rump and tail coverts bright rufous ; eyebrows 

 white ; chin and throat dull white, rest of under parts rusty 

 white ; quills brown,outer vanes edged towards bases with pale 

 rufous; tail rounded, two centre feathers dark chesnut towards 

 base, black towards tips, the lateral ones black towards quills, 

 white towards tips. Length 6 inches. Inhabits the country 

 between Latakoo and the Tropic. 



Genus ALAUDA. Auct. 



Alauda chuana. Colour above yellow rufous, with the 

 the middle of the feathers dark brown, and some of the 

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