PASSERINE BIRDS. 



2CI 



They inhabit a large portion of Africa, including the eastern coast, and are remarkable not merely for 

 the smallness of their size, but for their short thick beak and very large wings. 



THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING LARK. 



The Black-headed Bunting Lark (Pyrrkulauda kucotis) is black upon the head and lower 

 portion of the body ; the back is reddish brown, the cheeks white, as is a line that passes over the 

 nape ; the hips are dirty white, the wing-feathers brown, whilst those of the tail are half white and half 

 brown ; the eyes are light brown, and the beak and feet light yellow. Its length is five inches, the 

 breadth nine and a quarter inches ; the wing measures nearly three, and the tail about two inches. 



This lively, elegant little bird is found extensively in all the African lowlands, beyond sixteen 

 degrees north latitude, flying about freely in the immediate vicinity of man, and only avoiding such 

 localities as high mountains or dense forests. In its habits it is by no means so brisk and alert as 

 the Desert Lark, and its appearance anything but trim, as it runs or sits with drooping head, and 



the desert lark [Ammomana deserft). 



wings hanging loosely from its side ; but its flight is easy, and its movements when upon the ground 

 far from clumsy, and very rapid. Its song is extremely simple, consisting generally of a monotonous 

 repetition of the syllables tit-tit, and is uttered both when perched and when upon the wing. Our 

 knowledge respecting the incubation of this species is extremely scanty, and we can only say that the 

 little mates are much attached to each other, keep themselves separate from their kindred during 

 the breeding season, and rejoin them when their parental duties are accomplished, forming parties 

 which occasionally become very numerous. The plumage of the young differs considerably from 

 that of the adult bir-ds. 



THE ALPINE LARK. 

 The Alpine Lark, or Shore Lark (Phileremos alpatris), is one of the liveliest members of 

 its family, both as relates to its plumage and disposition, and may be regarded as forming, with a 

 few other species, a distinct group remarkable for the elongation of the body, and two appendages 

 resembling feathery horns, with which the back of the head is furnished. The beak is straight, weak, 

 and of moderate size ; the wings long, with the second, third, and fourth primaries almost of equal 

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