254 Mr. W. L. Schitcr on Birds collected 



Portuguese country. It frequents more or less open 

 localities^ sparsely buslied, or native clearings, and in the 

 early mornings can be seen perched on the top of some 

 bush or low tree, uttering at intervals a loud and somewhat 

 prolonged whistle ; during the rest of the day it is silent and 

 spends its time on the ground resting or searcliing for food. 



It was, apparently, not breeding in either locality at the 

 time of my visits. 



The soft parts are : — Irides deep brown ; bill, upper 

 mandible dark horn-coloured, lower fleshy; legs and toes 

 darkish brown.] 



JNIirafra africana traxsvaalensis. 



Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii, 1900, p. 45 [type from Rusten- 

 burg] . 



Tv. Woodbush, Jan., Feb. (3); Pietersburg, Mch. (1) ; 

 Turfloop, Mch. (1). 



[I can appreciate this race of Hartert's, which, besides 

 the more rufous coloration, has the bill decidedly smaller, 

 averaging 11 against 18 mm. in the typical form. 



This geographical race was only found in the North- 

 Eastern Transvaal, on the thorn-covered bill-sides. 



In habits, call, &c. it exactly resembles M. africana.] 



121. MiRAFRA CHENIANA. 



Tv. Pietersburg, Feb., IMch. (5). 



[This Lark was found only on the flat open grass veld 

 near Witkop Hill, close to Pietersburg. 



There some numbers were seen, always singly; and the 

 striking habit of the bird, soaring and singing in the 

 morning and late afternoon, much after the manner of 

 A. arvensis, at once drew my attention to it. During the 

 heat of the day it is found among the longish grass, and 

 can also be seen feeding on open sandy spots. The food, 

 app.ireiiily, is principally of grass-seeds. 



As only males were secured, the bird must have been 

 breeding, but no females could be flushed. 



The soft parts are : — Irides bright brown; bill, upprr 

 mandible horn-brown, cutting-edge of u])pcr and lower 



