254 
Mr. W. L. Sclater on Birds collected 
Portuguese country. It frequents more or less open 
localities, sparsely bushed, or native clearings, and in the 
early mornings can be seen perched on the top of some 
bush or low tree, uttering at intervals a loud and somewhat 
prolonged whistle ; during the rest of the day it is silent and 
spends its time on the ground resting or searching for food. 
It was, apparently, not breeding in either locality at the 
time of my visits. 
The soft parts are :—Irides deep brown ; bill, upper 
mandible dark horn-coloured, lower fleshy; legs and toes 
darkish brown.] 
Mirafra africana transvaalensis. 
Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii. 1900, p. 45 [type from Rusten- 
burg]. 
Tv. Woodbush, Jan., Feb. (3) ; Pietersburg, Mch. (1) ; 
Turfloop, Mch. (1). 
[I can appreciate this race of Hartert’s, which, besides 
the more rufous coloration, has the bill decidedly smaller, 
averaging 11 against 18 mm. in the typical form. 
This geographical race was only found in the North- 
Eastern Transvaal, on the thorn-covered hill-sides. 
In habits, call, &c. it exactly resembles M. africana .] 
121. Mirafra cheniana. 
Tv. Pietersburg, Feb., Mch. (5). 
[This Lark was found only on the flat open grass veld 
near Witkop Hill, close to Pietersburg. 
There some numbers were seen, always singly; and the 
striking habit of the bird, soaring and singing in the 
morning and late afternoon, much after the manner of 
A. arvensis , at once drew my attention to it. During the 
heat of the day it is found among the longish grass, and 
can also be seen feeding on open sandy spots. The food, 
apparently, is principally of grass-seeds. 
As only males were secured, the bird must have been 
breeding, but no females could be flushed. 
The soft parts are :—Irides bright brown; bill, upper 
mandible horn-brown, cutting-edge of upper and lower 
