1874.] LARKS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. 621 



all the feathers of the upper surface distinctly streaked with blackish 

 centres to the feathers, a little less plainly pronounced on the upper 

 tad-coverts, but very distinctly on the upper wing-coverts ; greater 

 wing-coverts brown at base, broadly margined with rufous, rather 

 lighter and more fulvescent than the back ; primary coverts and quills 

 ashy brown narrowly margined with rufous, the secondaries very 

 broadly bordered, and the centres to these feathers shaded with clear 

 grey; tad-feathers brown, narrowly margined with pale rufou* the 

 centre ones shaded with grey, the outermost feather rather more 

 broadly bordered than the other feathers, especially at the tip ; from 

 the nostril a distinct eyebrow, huffy white ; lores also buffy white 

 slightly mottled with blackish ; ear-coverts light rufous ; cheeks and 

 throat white, with a few scattered spots and tiny bars of black ; rest 

 of under surface isabelline fulvous, the flanks tinged with vinous'- the 

 breast broadly and distinctly streaked with black, becoming 'more 

 obscure on the sides of the body and flanks, the under tail-coverts 

 rather more rufescent, with dark brown centres to the feathers • 

 under wing-coverts pale isabelline, excepting the small plumes near 

 the edge of the wing, which are brown, with broad whitish edgings • 

 inner lining of wing ashy brown, tinged with isabelline near base of 

 inner web ; " bill pale sienna-yellow, tinged with flesh-red, the upper 

 mandible towards its base and its point shaded with pale reddish- 

 brown ; legs and toes pale sienna-yellow, tinted with flesh-red ■ claws 

 brownish red; iris brown" (Sir A. Smith). 



Total length 7'5 inches, culmen 0-8, wing 3'65, tail 3'35, tarsus 

 rOo. 



The description is taken from a specimen collected by Mr. T. C. 

 Atmore at Hope Town, which seems to-be in full plumage I have 

 before me three other sexed females, of which I give the principal 

 measurements : — r 



Long 



tot. culm. al. oaud. tars, 

 in. in. in. in. in 



1. $, Hope Town (T. C. At more). . 73 075 375 3-2 105 



2. 2, Griqualaud(T. C. At more) .. 6'9 08 375 3-2 \-Q 



3. 2, Objimbinciue (C. J. Andersson) 6 9 08 3/ 3-05 1-1 

 The above measurements are sufficient to show how worthless are 



the small differences in size of bill and tarsus where Larks are con- 

 cerned. The last specimen measured is in winter plumage j and this 

 differs so much from the summer dress as almost to appear to belong 

 to another species. It is much paler and more mealy than the 

 plumage described; and the characters of the two seasonal dresses 

 may thus be illustrated in a tabular form. 



Female (summer). Female (winter). 



Upper surface clear vinous Upper surface sandy isabelline 

 brown, with distiuct black stripes, with fulvous margins* to most of 



the dorsal feathers ; head and in- 

 terscapulary region with small 

 black shaft-stripes. 



