AFES. 385 



Measurements taken in the flesh : whole length 6*75 

 in., closed wing 3-85, tail 2-12, tarsus 1-12, hind toe 

 0"5, claw 0'3, bUl in front 0'5 in. 



174. Certhilauda desertorum (Stanley). 



Alauda desertorum, Stanley, Salt's Journey, App. p. Ix. 

 Certhilauda desertorv/m, Eiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 304. 

 Alcemon deseHorwm, Heugl. Joum. f. Om. 1868, p. 230. 



Rather common about Zulla, but comparatively rare 

 near Massowa. The flight of this bird did not appear to 

 me at aU Plover-like ; it was certainly not the least 

 similar to that of other Larks ; but although more rapid, 

 there was something in the mode of flight which always 

 reminded me of a Hoopoe, and the two conspicuous 

 white wing bands greatly increased the resemblance. It 

 is not a wary bird, but when running it is very swift. It 

 keeps to comparatively open spots, and is usually solitary 

 or in pairs. I only once saw three together, and then 

 two appeared to be young birds. 



The biU varies much in length, and appears to be 

 longest in the male. I append measurements of four 

 specimens :■ — 



Wing. Tail. Bill, Tarsus, 

 in, in. in. in. 



1. Male 50 38 11 1-3 



2. „ 4-8 3-6 1-0 1-22 



3. Female 4-3 32 0-85 1:22 



4. „ 4-25 3-0 0-85 1-3 



Much doubt appears to overshroud the synonomy of 

 this bird. It was originally described by Lord Stanley, 

 from a specimen brought by Mr. Salt from AmphUa, on 

 the Abyssinian coast, and was characterised as greyish 

 sandy brx»wn. A more rufous race inhabiting Nubia, which 



c c 



