CERTHILAUDA SUBCOEONATA. 



Form, &c. — Figure rather slender. Head small, and above very flat. Bill 

 subtriangular towards the base, and slightly convex on the sides towards the 

 point; the cuhnen is slightly curved from the base to the point, and the 

 lower mandible is also arched in the same proportion ; point of bill rather 

 flat and subacute. Wings rounded, and when folded reacli beyond the com- 

 mencement of the second third of the tail, the third quill feather the longest, 

 the second, fourth and fifth equal, and rather shorter, the first about half the 

 length of the second. Tail square or very slightly rounded. Taisi robust, 

 and anteriorly and posteriorly scutellated : toes strong, moderately long, the 

 hinder one shortest. Claws of the toes directed forwards, slender, pointed 

 and slightly arched, the claw of the hinder toe long, strong, straight and 

 pointed. 



DBIENSIONS. 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 8 6 



of the bill 1 4 



of the wings when folded ... 4 6 



of the tail 3 2 



Inches. 



Length of the tarsus 1 



of the outer too 



of the middle toe 



of the inner toe 



of the hinder toe 



of the claw of hinder toe ... 



Lines. 

 4 



4i 

 64 

 5 

 3 

 7i 



The diff"erences of colour in the sexes (if any exist) are not known to me. 



The few specimens of this species which have come under my observation, were procured 

 from the arid Karroo plains of the middle and eastern districts of the Cape Colony. On 

 examining them I was at first disposed to regard them as a variety of Certhilauda Africana ; 

 but on perceiving the extension of the eyebrows, the greater length of llie bill, and its moie 

 falciform shape, I began to suspect them to belong to a distinct species ; and when all the 

 differences between tliem and the common species were noted and considered, I came to the 

 conclusion to view them as being specifically different. 



