Birds of the Gold Coast Colony ^c. ' 295 
Specimens in this plumage would be typical Mirafra 
buculica of Hartlaub (Zool. Jahrb. ii, p. 327). 
At the end of December, these Larks were breeding at 
Gambaga, and our four specimens killed at that time are 
much worn in plumage, while another obtained in February 
is still more so. In this condition the tawny-buff edgings 
to the feathers of the breast and upper parts have nearly 
disappeared through abrasion, the blackish-brown centres 
to the feathers have become blotched ; while the breast and 
abdomen are white, the tawny wash having disappeared. 
The general appearance, therefore, of the plumage is much 
paler and the spots on the fore-neck and chest appear heavier, 
a state of things brought about by the tawny-buff edgings 
to the feathers having worn off. 
A specimen in the British Museum obtained at Kudurma 
(near Lado), Nov. 14, 1882, is identical with these birds, which 
in this plumage are typical of the subspecies H. m, giffardi. 
Furthermore, our specimens agree well in measurements 
with examples oi H. modesta in the British Museum, 
This Lark is by no means common and is a very local 
species. We came across it for the first time at Gambaga at 
the end of December, which was the breeding-season, A 
female, killed on the 29th of that month, contained eggs 
fully formed. It frequents waste land close to kopjes, under- 
neath the rocks of which the bird nests. During the 
breeding-season it is next to impossible to flush it, and the 
only time that we saw it on the wing was in May, when the 
old birds were in flocks, frequenting the newly-sown fields of 
guinea-corn. They emit a small piping note. 
28. Emberiza affinis Heugl. 
Emberiza qffinis Heugl. J. f. O. 1867, p. 297 ; Shelley, B, 
Afr. i. p. 18. 
A scarce bird and only once obtained, at Gambaga. 
29. Emberiza cABANisi (Beichen.). 
Emberiza cabanisi Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. p. 503 ; Beichen, 
J. f. O. 1891, p. 390 (Togoland) ; Beichen. J. f , O. 1897, 
