294 
Dì J. V. MADARÁSZ 
Fani. ALAUDIDAE. 
Pyrrhulauda frontalis (Bp.) 
Alauda frontalis, Bp., Consp. Gen. Av. I. p. 512 (1850). 
Coraphites melanauchen, Cab., Mus. Hein. I. p. 124 (1851). 
Pyrrhulauda frontalis (Bp.) 
Pyrrhulauda melanauchen (Cab.) 
Reichw., Vög. Afr. III. p. 370., 371 (1904—1905). 
9 <J, 1 juv. Assab, I—III. 1907. 
$. Gib do, IV. 1907. 
The markings and colouring of the plumage of the series of birds of 
this species collected in Assab, of which eight examples are reproduced on 
plate VII., give evidence of the variability of this species. They are origi¬ 
nating from the same locality and season, consequently inpossible to sepa¬ 
rate specifically them, and therefore P. melanauchen (Cab.) cannot be- 
regarded as species or subspecies, which was separated from P. frontalis 
(Bp.) by Reichenow (Vög. Afr. III. p. 371) and other Authors. 
On the otherhand the series reproduced on the Plate shows also,, 
that the white markings on the front of these birds are not contant charac¬ 
ters verified conspicuously by the last two figures on the Plate VII., in which 
in the one the white front is restricted to a small spot, in the other again 
it is totally absent. 
The white frontal patch extends in one bird (fig. 1) over the eyes. 
This specimen is characterised also by the colour of the back, which 
is suffused with isabelline, wanting in the other ones. It is remark¬ 
able, that the black patch on the hind neck is totally absent in this spe¬ 
cimen only. 
The black patch on the hind neck in four specimens (fig. 2, 3, 4 and 
5) is more or less enlarged, whilst in three specimens (fig. 6, 7 and 8) it is 
broad encircling the neck, and confluent in the black colour of the fore 
neck and breast. ' 
Certhilauda desertorum (Stanl.) 
Alauda desertorum, Stanl., Selt’s, Trav. Abyss, p. LX. (1814). 
Certhilauda alaudipes desertorum (Stand.), Reichw., Vög. Afr. III. p. 349 (1904— 
1905). 
7 (J, 2 Ç. Assab, I, III. 1907. 
5 çj, 1 ?. Margebla, I—III, V. 1907. 
