Birds from South Africa. 521 



again in October, so that it probably rears several broods in 

 the year. The young when half-grown leave the nest and 

 run after their parents ; the bill at that stage is very small, 

 and shews no sign of its future development. 



The nests of this species are small, and are placed among 

 the grass on the level ground. The eggs are two or three 

 in number ; they are speckled with buff and grey all over, 

 but most thickly near the larger end, where the spots form 

 a zone. 



11. Certhilauda semitorquata. (180.) 

 Certhilauda semitorquata Shelley, B. Afr. iii. p. 25. 

 Bloemfontein and Ingogo. This bird is found on the tops 



of the kopjes, generally in pairs. The note is a plaintive 

 whistle. 1 took a nest and two eggs on Oct. Gth. The nest 

 was placed in a tuft of grass between stones on the top of a 

 kopje. The eggs were stone-coloured, faintly but profusely 

 marked with blotches of very light brown and pale grey. 



12. MlRAFRA RUFIPILEA. (195.) 



Bloemfontein. Bill horn-coloured above, fleshy below ; 

 legs fleshy ; iris bright hazel-brown. Common on the veldt, 

 especially in the longer grass. It rises some twenty feet 

 into the air with a curious rattle of the wings; it then 

 extends them and descends slowly with a shrill whistle. 

 This bird sometimes conceals itself in the grass, and it is 

 very difficult on such occasions to flush it again. 



13. MlRAFRA AFRICANA. (206.) 



Bloemfontein. Iris hazel-brown ; legs flesh-coloured : 

 bill — upper mandible horn-coloured, lower flesh-coloured. 

 This Lark is very loth to fly, and generally runs when chased. 

 In winter the few seen were generally single specimens. 



14. Pyrrhulauda australis. (229.) 

 Bloemfontein. Male : iris crimson ; bill whitish grey. 



On one occasion only I saw about twenty of these birds in a 

 flock on the veldt, and obtained a single specimen. 



15. Pyrrhulauda verticalis. (232.) 

 Bloemfontein. Iris bright hazel-brown ; bill greyish white : 



