PYKRHULAUDA VERTICALIS.
innermost toes rather longer than the hinder one, but shorter than the middle
one ; claws nearly straight, that of the hinder toe longest.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. I
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail ............ 5 6
of the b ill................................. 0 5^
of the wings when folded ...... 3 2
of the tail............................ 2 , 3
Length of the tarsus........
the middle toe..
the outer toe
the hinder toe .
the hinder claw..
Inches. Lines.
0 7£
3 i
Female.—Above dusky brown, all the feathers more or less broadly margined
with a colour somewhat intermediate between ochre-yellow and wood-
brown ; quill feathers intermediate between broccoli and wood-brown ; the
tertiaries and a few of the innermost secondaries margined externally and
tipt with pale-sienna-yellow. The outermost tail feather of each side pale
cream-yellow, with a dash of brown near the inner edge of the inner vane ;
the second feather margined externally with pale cream-yellow, the two
middle feathers approaching to wood-brown, their edges and tips lightest,
the remaining feathers of a uniform umber-brown. Eye-brows rusty white ;
chin and throat dull white ; breast rusty white with brown spots ; middle of
the belly brownish black ; sides of the belly and flanks dirty white, here
and there clouded with dusky tints.
The colours of the young bird are nearly similar to those of the female,
only the edgings of the feathers, particularly those of the head and shoulders,
are more defined and contrast stronger with the general colour than they do
in the female.
This species, like P y r r h u la u d a australis, inhabits the extensive arid plains of the more
southern districts of South Africa, and like it, congregates in large flocks. When feeding, the
numerous members of these flocks are widely scattered; but the moment one individual takes to
flight from alarm, all the others follow the example, and they move off in a body to another
locality. It is not their custom to fly far before they come to a halt, and the instant they reach
the ground they scatter in all directions, and run to and fro with great rapidity. When flying
they pursue a slightly undulating course, and on these occasions they frequently utter cries
similar to what they do when running upon the ground, and which consist of a shrill prolonged
chirp, nearly like to the sound which may be produced by shutting the teeth and drawing in
the breath while the lips are alternately pressecf together and opened. Soaring appears to be
less practised by this species than the la st; yet, nevertheless, individuals are occasionally to be
seen rising in the air and descending again almost perpendicularly. Like P . australis, it feeds
upon the seeds of grasses, &c.