KUNGL. SV. VKT. AKADKMIKNS HANDLINGAR. HAND 47. iVO 5. I I 3 



etc), it was rather common, and it never failed to excite my admiration when, like a flash 

 of golden light, it flitted among the monotonous grey thornbushes in lliis country, where 

 almost everything else seemed to have löst its colours by the power of the scorehing sun. 



The Golden Pipit appears to be to some degree sociable because if one male was 

 seen, as a rule one or two more were almost invariably flushed close by. When <>n i 1m- 

 wing the whole bird looks rich yellow in consequence of the brightness of the spread wings 

 and tail, but they seem to disappear when they alight and these organs are again suddenly 

 folded. They perch very often in bushes and trees and wag their tail almost like a M o- 

 tacilla. 



It is a member of the Somali-fauna. 



Alaudidse. 



Mirafra poecilosterna (Rchw.). 



Rchw. III, p. 331. 



Common in the thornbush north of Guaso Nyiri (Njoro, Thera, and other places). 

 Specimens shot at Njoro 2& U and at Guaso Nyiri below Chanler Falls 12 /s had swelled 

 testicles. 



When Reichenow published lus standard work »Die Vögel Afrikas» this Lark was 

 only known from »Ukamba bis Klein- Aruscha ». Its northern boundary-line has now 

 been pushed far beyond these limits. C. von Erlanger ' found it in the northeast along 

 Lower Juba river in several localities, and in the northwest I found it in the localities 

 mentioned. In consequence of these facts and because it appeared to be a typical bird 

 of the thornbush-country I a ni inclined to regard it as a representative of the Somalifauna, 

 in spite of that it was first described from the country further south. 



Mirafra fischeri (Rchw.). 



Rchw. III, p. 339. 



Very common on grass-covered land from Fort Hall to Blue Post. Male specimens 

 shot at Punda Melia the first days of April had swelled testicles. These Larks were very 

 often heard »drumming » wåth their wings in the air as has repeatedly been described. 



The specimens I secured had a very rich rufous brown colouration which might suit 

 them well in the Kikuyu country where the soil consists of a dark red clay which is often 

 seen between the tufts of grass. 



Mirafra africana athi Hart. 



Rchw. III, p. 315. 



Around Nairobi in cultivated fields, and on grassy plains this Lark is common. A spe- 

 cimen shot at Punda Melia 22 /i 191 1 is strongly rufous and might be termed a »rufous phase ». 



1 Journ. f. Ornith. Jahrg. 1907, p. 42. 



K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. Band 47. N:o 5. 15 



