LONGCLAWS 201 



All three species have the under-side black. 



They feed on seeds, and build their nests in a hollow under 

 a tuft of grass or small bush, laying three or four white eggs, 

 speckled and blotched with light brown. 



They assemble into flocks during winter, pairing of£ to 

 build in the spring. 



In the neighbourhood of Brandfort, Orange Free State, 

 we found the Chestnut-backed Lark fairly common in April, 

 1906, although it was still in pairs. 



The Genus Mirafra contains a large number of species 

 which do not admit of any concise descriptions, conse- 

 quently, we have not the space at our disposal for the neces- 

 sary detailed account, and must refer the reader to Stark 

 and Sclater, vol. ii., " Birds " in the " Fauna of South 

 Africa " series, for a full account of the family. They 

 usually nest under a tuft of grass or other herbage, building 

 a cup-shaped structure in a slight depression in the soil. 

 We append a photograph of the Eufous-headed Lark {Mira- 

 fra rwfipelia) taken near Springfontein, Orange Free 

 State. 



LONGCLAWS 



The next family is the Motacillidce, containing three 

 genera of well-known birds in South Africa. The first of 

 these are the Longclaws {Macronyx)] of which this country 

 possesses three species easily distinguishable from one 

 another by their vernacular names. 



The Orange-throated Longclaw (M . cajpensis) is fairly well 

 distributed over the higher veld of South Africa, excepting 

 the western 'territories. It is known as the Cut-throat Lark 

 or Kalkoenkje (little Turkey). 



