302 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Fringillaria fiaviventris (Vieil.), Golden-breasted Bunting. — 

 Reid obtained two specimens at " Guinea-Fowl " Kop, near Lady- 

 smith, on the 21st August ; there were a good number about, fre- 

 quenting the bush at the base of the hill. 



Fringillaria capensis (Linn.), Cape Bunting. — Not uncommon 

 in the Newcastle district, where we all obtained specimens, in July 

 and October. 



Fringillaria tahapisi (Smith), Bock Bunting. — Specimens ob- 

 tained at Newcastle by Butler, and at Ladysmith by Reid, in June, 

 July, and August. 



Ccrthilauda rufula (Vieil.), Rufous Long-billed Lark. — Ex- 

 tremely abundant about Newcastle, found in small flocks about 

 the open veldt, generally where there are ant-hills, or loose rocks 

 among the grass. Flies low and rapidly, displaying its white- 

 tipped tail very conspicuously, and dropping with astonishing 

 suddenness into the grass. Nest very small indeed, placed under 

 a slightly projecting lump of eartb, orbit of coarse stunted grass. 

 Eggs three, very variable in colouring, the ground colour being 

 white, more or less distinctly speckled and blotched with brownish 

 ash or brown : they measure '7 in. by '5 in. In some the 

 markings are fine, in others they take the form of large obscure 

 blotches. 



Alccmon semitorquata (Smith), Grey-collared Lark. — A very 

 abundant species on the rocky " kopjes." The male has a 

 curious way of rising suddenly and silently from its perch on a 

 rock, in a nearly perpendicular direction, for a height of twenty or 

 thirty feet. Just at the summit of its flight it gives a long-drawn 

 whistle, " phe-e-ew," not unlike that of the Clapper Lark ; then, 

 with wings nearly closed, descends in a slanting direction to 

 another neighbouring rock to repeat the manoeuvre in a few 

 minutes' time. Reid shot one in the very middle of this singular 

 performance, so there is no question as to correct identification of 

 the bird ; moreover, Mirafra apiata is not found near Newcastle, 

 and there is no cracking of the wings as with that well-known 

 species. The male bird is considerably larger than the female, 

 and has the iris greyish brown ; in the female it is brown. 



Tcphrocorys cinerea (Gin.), Red-headed Lark. — Found in 

 abundance throughout the colony, though somewhat local and 

 attaching itself to particular spots, as described by Layard in the 

 first edition of the ' Birds of South Africa.' These neat little 



