on Birds fi'om Shendi, Sudan. 7 
Delta, a series would be obtained presenting every inter- 
mediate sta^e between the very pale and the very dark 
forms. It is not our intention to enter into a controversy 
on the vexed question of nomenclature^ but it seems to be 
a somewhat arbitrary proceeding to give a subspecific title to 
any one of these intermediate forms rather than to any other. 
We found these Crested Larks common along the river- 
banks, especially where the land was cultivated. The male 
bird has a pleasing little song, not unlike that of the Wood- 
Lark, which he often utters when perched on the top of a 
bush or small tree. Two nests, found on February 24th and 
February 27th respectively, contained two and three half- 
fledged young ; we did not succeed in obtaining eggs. 
10. Ammomanes deserti (Licht.). 
373 c^ , 248 c^ , 139 ? , 283 ? . 
A few pairs of these birds frequented the rocky hills in 
the desert, about ten miles east of Shendi. They were very 
shy and difficult to approach, taking short flights from one 
rock to another, very much as Rock-Pipits do. A newly 
built nest of grass, lined with hair, was found on a ledge in 
a low clifl"; it seemed to belong to a pair of these birds, but 
we had no opportunity of revisiting it. 
This species was originally described by Lichtenstein from 
specimens obtained in Upper Egypt. All our specimens are 
alike, and they differ from examples obtained at Assuan 
in having the breast practically unspotted, and in being 
of a much redder colour. These differences are perfectly 
noticeable when the bird is seen on the wing. We are not 
prepared to maintain that these forms should be distin- 
guished by subspecific or varietal names, but from a logical 
point of view they certainly ought to be so distinguished, if 
that honour is to be conferred (as it is) on many of the 
Crested Larks, &c. 
11. Ammomanes ciNCTURA ARENicoLOR (Sund.). 
378 pullus. 
We obtained only one example of this species, on 
March 17th. 
