410 Mr. T. Ayres on the Ornithology of Transvaal. 
Megalophonus cinereus (Vieill.). Lesser Rufous-capped 
Lark. 
Male_, shot Januury 2nd. 
Female,, shot July 16th; both near Potchefstroom. 
These Larks are easily distinguished when in the field by 
the chirruping note they utter on rising. 
Alauda conirostris^ Sundev. Pink-billed Lark. 
Male. Irides hazel; bill pale ashy, with the ridge very 
light brown ; tarsi and feet pale flesh-colour. Total length 
5f inches, bill from gape tarsus |, wing J, tail 1|. 
The bird sent was one of a pair, and was shot on 14th 
November on the open flats just outside the town of Potchef¬ 
stroom. Its stomach contained insects. 
[An unusually pale specimen of this scarce little Lark, the 
feathers on the under surface, and the broad margins on those 
of the upper, being a pale drab, instead of the usual dark 
rufous brown, and the normal pink tint being absent from 
the bill. The bird is commencing its moult; and some new 
feathers on the upper surface exhibit rather darker margins 
than the old ones, though less deeply coloured than in previous 
specimens which have come under my notice.—J. H. G.]. 
CoTURNix DACTYLisoNANS (Bodd.). European Quail. 
[Mr, Ayres forwards three adult specimens, killed re¬ 
spectively on 28th March and on 16th and 17th July. The 
first of these, a male, has the rufous portions of the plumage 
of a richer tint than I ever remember to have seen in a bird 
of this species.—J. tl. G.] 
Eudromias asiaticus (Pall.). Caspian Dotterel. 
Male, shot 19th September. Stomach contained beetles and 
other insects. These Plovers make their appearance in these 
parts at this season about the time when the first heavy rains 
fall, and are pretty plentifully scattered along the valley of 
the Mooi river, frequenting the bare grass-lands, which at 
this time of year are all but devoid of herbage, in flocks of 
from six to twenty or more. On rising they have much the 
appearance of Glareola melanoptera, and utter much the same 
short stridulous note of alarm ; they run with considerable 
swiftness. 
