LUSCINID^E. 121 



one flies off, uttering its peculiar " mewing " cry, the other is sure to 

 follow. It often perches on low bushes, amid which it runs with great 

 rapidity, leaving a scent so strong that even the best pointers will 

 " draw " after it for a considerable distance. 



The flesh of this bird is delicious eating, and on the hish plateau 

 about the Knysna, where they abound, a good shot might secure a 

 sumptuous dish in a very few hours. But powder and shot is too 

 expensive in these regions to be waited on such " small fry," and 

 perhaps the report of your gun will spring two or three bustards 

 within a few hundred yards. 



224. Anthus Flavigaster; Alauda Crocea, 



Vieil. ; Hartlaub, Orn. \V. Af., p. 73 ; Macronyx 

 Flavigaster, Swain., Nat. Lib., VoL 11, p. 215 ; Jard. 

 and Selby, 111. Orn., n. a, PL 22. 



ABOVE, varied with black and brown ; beneath, fine yellow, 

 with a broad black gorget on the breast ; bill slightly curved. 

 Length, 7" 6'" ; wing, 3" 4'" ; tail, 2" 5"'. 



Natal. 



225. Anthus Oathropse, 



GENERAL appearance, lark-like ; colour, rufous-brown ; the 

 centres of the feathers being dark and the edges lighter, 



five a mottled appearance ; wing and tail primaries very 

 ark-brown, with light rufous edges ; head finely mottled ; 

 stripe over the eye, light rufous-brown ; throat grey ; under 

 parts immaculate, dusky grey, ruddy on the Sink* ; bill dark 

 horn -colour, the lower mandible lightish; legs flesh-colour ; 

 eyes black. Length, about 4". 



Such is a description taken from a little pet the only specimen I 

 have seen of a small Anthus that is merrily hopping about in my 

 aviary, and known to the household by the familiar name of " Brownie." 

 " Brownie,'* from his engaging ways and sprightly song, is a general 

 favourite. He came into my possession more than six years ago, and 

 was brought from Swartlana. He usually commences his song the 

 earliest, but one, of all my birds : the " early bird " is a Java sparrow, 

 who with the faintest dawn begins a low guttural gobbling, ending in 

 a mellow but short pipe. As soon as I remove the cover from the 

 cage, " Brownie,, 1 ' who roosts on the ground, sometimes in a corner, 

 at other times behind the seed- box, mounts a large stone, placed in 

 the cage for his special benefit-, and pours out his voluble song, short, 

 certainly, but oft-repeated. Occasionally he will hop on the edge of 

 the cage, or mayhap on a perch, and then treat us to a stave ; but his 

 favourite singing-place is the stone. Sometimes,, when I am going to 

 bed, without any warning, " Brownie " will start off in full tide of 

 song : he is then usually on the ground. " Brownie," however, has 

 more than once been in disgrace. Among the many birds confined 



