quill feathers the longest, the fourth slightly shorter than the third, the
fifth rather shorter than the fourth, the second considerably shorter than the
fifth, and the first not half the length of the second. Tail even, or very
slightly emarginate. Tarsi and toes robust, the former anteriorly and posteriorly
scutellated ; claws of fore toes rather slender, short, and curved, the
claw of hinder toe very long, strong, and nearly straight,
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to v
the tip of the ta il.............. 8 3
of the bill............................ i 3
of the wings when folded . . . 4 3
of the ta il............................ 3 3
The female is coloured like the male.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the tarsus....................... 1 3
of the outer toe................... 0 4
— of the middle toe . ............... 0 7
of the inner toe......... ; . . . 6 4^
of the hinder to e ................. 0 4
of the claw of hinder toe . . . 0 6
Specimens of this species abound in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, and are partial to
localities whose soil is loose and sandy. .They seek their food among the brushwood with which
the parts they inhabit are generally more or less covered; and when not so occupied, are fond
of resting upon small hillocks, or even upon the tops of shrubs. According to Le Vaillant,
this bird lays from three to five eggs, of a dirty grey colour, dotted with fulvous, and makes
its nest on the ground at the base of a bush, constructing it of- dry herbs, and lining -it with
feathers.
CERTHILAUDA SUBCORONATA.- S m it h .
A ves.— P late X C .—F ig . 2 .
0 suprà' rufa, brunneo-strigata ; infra rufo-alba ; gulâ, gutture, perfore, ventre antioè Iateribusque fusco-
1 virvatis ■ remigibus reotricibusque griseo-bimmeis, flavo-brunneo-marginatis ; palpebns rufo-albis,
clongatis usque ad nucham; pedibus mbro-flavis, cameo-tinctis ; rostro brunneo, rubro-fusco
umbrato.
L ongitüdo e rostri apice ad basin caudæ 5 une. A lin .; caudæ 3 une. 2 lin.
C o lo ur.— The upper surface of the head, the interscapulars, and the back
intermediate between orpiment and reddish orange, and profusely mottled or
streaked with liver-brown, the central portion of each feather being of the
latter colour ; the back and sides of the neck dull wood-brown, variegated with
umber-brown spots. The lesser wing coverts pale orange-coloured brown,
with a liver-brown line in the course of th e . shaft, and tipped with white.
The primary and secondary quill coverts, and the primary, secondary, and
tertiary quill feathers greyish brown, the quill coverts narrowly edged with
pale yellowish brown, and tipped with white; the primary quill feathers
narrowly edged and tipped with light yellowish brown, the secondaries
edged with rusty white and tipped with pure white, and the tertiaries edged
and tipped with wood-brown. Chin and throat white, finely mottled with
short, dull, umber-brown streaks; breast, anterior part of belly and flanks
dull sienna-yellow, variegated with narrow umber-brown streaks arranged in
irregular rows ; hinder portion of belly, vent and under-tail coverts rusty
white, the latter each with a yellowish brown streak in the course of the
shaft. Tail feathers greyish brown edged and rather broadly tipped with
sienna-yellow, in some places tinted with Dutch-orange. Eyebrows rusty
white and prolonged so as nearly to meet on the nape. Legs and toes pale
buff-orange with a flesh tint. Bill light brownish red, shaded with umber-
brown. Eyes chesnut-brown.