390 ZOOLOGY. 



i8o. Ammomanes deserti (Licht.). 



Alauda deserti, Lichtenstein, Verz. d. Doubl. p. 28. 

 A. isabelKna, Temm. PI. Ool. 144, f. 2. 

 Melanocorypha isabelKna, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 306. 

 Ammommies deserti, Heugl. Joxira. f. Om. 1868, p. 226. 



Not rare to the west and north-west of Massowa, 

 in rocky and stony ground, amongst thin bushes. 



A specimen measures: wing 3 "7 in., tail 2'5, tarsus 

 8 "7, bill from nostril to point 0'42 in. 



i8i. Pyrrhulauda melanauchen, Cab. 



Coraphites melanaiushen, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 124. — Heugl, 



Joum. f. Om. 1868, p. 219. 



Pyrrhulauda crucigera, Eiipp. Syst. Uebeis. No. 313. — Brehm, 



Habeach, No. 101. 



Extremely abundant in all the sandy country near the 

 coast. These birds, like other species of the genus, are 

 true Larks and not Finches in all their habits: they always 

 live on the ground, very rarely indeed, if ever, perchiag 

 on bushes; they are social, several keeping about one spot, 

 but they do not exactly associate in flocks, and when 

 disturbed rise one after the other, not simultaneously, 

 and fly ofi" without keeping close to each other. In the 

 middle of the day several may be seen together in the 

 shade of a tree or a bush. They run, too, and do not 

 hop, and their flight is lark-like. Altogether, con- 

 sidering their flight, habits, and plumage, there can be 

 no question that they are true Larks and not Finches, 

 and the presence of a small first primary confirms this 

 position. 



The following are the measurements of a pair : — 



