CERTIIILAUDA SUBCORONATA. 
Form, &c. — Figure rather slender. Head small, and above very flat. Bill 
subtriangular towards the base, and slightly convex on the sides towards the 
point; the culmen is slightly curved from the base to the point, and the 
lower mandible is also arched in the same proportion ; point of bill rather 
flat and subacute. Wings rounded, and when folded reach beyond the com- 
mencement of the second third of the tail, the third quill feather the longest, 
the second, fourth and fifth equal, and rather shorter, the first about half the 
length of the second. Tail square or very slightly rounded. Tarsi robust, 
and anteriorly and posteriorly scutellated : toes strong, moderately long, the 
hinder one shortest. Claws of the toes directed forwards, slender, pointed 
and slightly arched, the claw of the hinder toe long, strong, straight and 
pointed. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
the tip of the tail 8 6 
of the bill 1 4 
of the wings when folded ... 4 6 
of the tail 3 2 
Inches. 
Length of the tarsus 1 
of the outer toe 0 
of the middle toe 0 
of the inner toe 0 
of the hinder toe 0 
of the claw of hinder toe ... 0 
Lines. 
4 
4 ^ 
H 
5 
3 
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The differences of colour in the sexes (if any exist) are not known to me. 
The few specimens of this species which have come under my observation, were procured 
from the arid Karroo plains of the middle and eastern districts of the Cape Colony. On 
examining them I was at first disposed to regard them as a variety of Certhilauda Africana ; 
but on perceiving the extension of the eyebrows, the greater length of the bill, and its more 
falciform shape, I began to suspect them to belong to a distinct species ; and when all the 
differences between them and the common species were noted and considered, I came to the 
conclusion to view them as being specifically different. 
