Birds from the White Nile. 411 
between 8 and 12 o'clock in the forenoon in small scattered 
flocks or families, — R. M. H.] 
29. Pyrrhulauda melanocephala. 
Alauda melanocephala Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 28 (1823). 
Fringilla otoleucus Teram. PI. Col. iii. pi. 269. figs. 2, 3 
(1824). 
Fyrrhulauda melanocephala Grant_, Bull. B. 0. C. xii. 
no. Ixxxii. p. 14 (1901) ; N. C. Roths. & Wollast. p. 8. 
a-c. (^ et (^ imm. Khartum, 25th Jan. Nos. 16-18. 
Iris dark brown; bill, legs, and feet pale horn-coloured. 
One of the most interesting points established by the 
present expedition was the existence of two closely allied, 
but perfectly distinct, species — Pyrrhulauda leucotis (Stanl.) ,\- 
and P. melanocephala (Licht.) — in the valley of the White 
Nile. Owing to want of material these two forms had been 
united in the ' Catalogue of Birds'* {cf. vol. xiii. p. 637). 
The differences between the males of the two species may 
be tabulated as follows : — 
P. melanocephala. 
Bill white. 
White hand across nape wide, 
0-25 inch. 
Chestnut of upper parts paler. 
Lesser wing-coverts white. 
P. leucotis. 
Bill dusky. 
White hand across nape narrow, 
0-1 inch. 
Chestnut of upper parts dark. 
Lesser wing-coverts hlack. 
Through the kindness of Dr. Beichenow I have ascertained 
that the type of Alauda melanocephala Licht. is identical 
with Fringilla otoleucus Temm. 
This species appears to be the western representative, 
extending to Senegal ; the true P. leucotis being confined to 
the countries east of the White Nile, where the ranges of 
the two species overlap. 
[The White-shouldered Finch-Lark is fairly common near 
Khartum. It generally frequents the paths and feeds on the 
grain which falls from loads. When disturbed it flies a short 
way and then crouches close to the ground. — B; M. H.] 
30. MOTACILLAFLAVA. 
Motacilla flava Linn.; Witherby, p. 241; Grant & Beid, 
p. 631 ; N. C. Boths. & Wollast. p. 5. 
