264 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 
CERTHILAUDA RUFULA (Vieill.) =GarruLa, Smith. Gar- 
rulous Lark. 
Male, shot 6th January. Irides dark hazel; bill dusky 
brown, paler on the lower mandible and on the edges of the 
upper ; tarsi and feet pale. Insects contained in the stomach. 
Female, shot 22nd January. Irides and bill somewhat 
lighter than inthe male. Culmen °7 in. in male, 5 in female. 
These Larks are found in small companies; they rise 
abruptly, and as abruptly settle again amongst the grass ; 
when on the wing they constantly utter a low chirruping 
note. 
ALAUDA CINEREA (Vieill.). Rufous-capped Lark. 
Male, shot 30th May. Irides dark ashy umber ; bill dark 
brown towards the tip, yellowish towards the base ; tarsi and 
feet reddish brown. 
Female, shot 21st May. Irides dark ashy; bill light 
brown, darker towards the tip; tarsi and feet dark ashy 
brown. 
These Larks have been much more plentiful than usual 
this last winter. This species is now one of the commonest 
Larks in these parts. 
(Mr. Ayres sends an adult male of this species, in which 
both mandibles are abnormally prolonged, and cross each 
other in consequence.—J. H. G.] 
MEGALOPHONUS CHENIANUS (Smith). Latakoo Lark. 
Male, shot 3rd January. Inrides light reddish umber ; bill 
pale, with a decided yellow tinge and. yellow at the gape, but 
dusky brown on the upper mandible, except at the edges ; 
tarsi and feet pale pinkish. 
This is emphatically our Sky-Lark; rising in the air to a 
considerable distance, fluttering, it pours forth its hymn of 
praise and does not weary. It enlivens the open grass veldt 
in particular localities*, making the whole country joyous on 
bright days ; and as these Larks are numerous, one then hears 
a continuous song ; they must, however, be more or less mi- 
* One of these localities is on the rising slopes in the open country a 
mile or two from Potchefstroom, 
