observation in December. Tbe eggs, four in number, and of a
mottled brown, were deposited in a cup-sbaped nest, on tbe side of
a low busb, at tbe edge of a foot-patb. Wben we approached it
tbe bird crept away to a little distance, tben rose, flew a few yards,
and percbed on an ant-beap to watch us. As we were proceeding
to kill a Hycena, which had been caught in one of our traps, we
deferred taking tbe eggs until our return ; but coming home by a
different route, we bad to leave them till next morning, wben on
proceeding to tbe spot we found the young excluded. Tbe ben
bird, on this and several subsequent occasions, executed tbe same
manoeuvres to escape detection.
Mr. Atmore found it at Traka, and we procured several on tbe
Berg River. Mr. Andersson states that he observed this species
pretty frequently in Little Namaqua Land, but not to the north of
the Orange River : it perches on bushes as well as on the ground.
Adult in summer plumage.—Above brownish cinnamon, streaked
with black down tbe shafts of tbe feathers, these sbaft-streaks
disappearing on the rump ; bind neck with a scarcely perceptible
shade of greyish, slightly distinguishable on the sides ; wing-coverts
and quills dark brown, margined with cinnamon rufous, shading
off into a fulvous edging on the extreme margin of the greater
coverts and some of the secondaries, the innermost of which are
more broadly edged : upper tail-coverts rufous, with distinct blackish
shaft-streaks ; tail dark brown, with pale edgings of fulvous brown,
the two centre feathers broadly and the two outermost narrowly
margined with cinnamon-rufous: lores and a distinct eyebrow
creamy-buff; feathers in front of the eye blackish; under the eye
another line of creamy-buff feathers; ear-coverts cinnamon; cheeks
and throat dull white, varied with a few blackish spots; rest of
under surface buffy-white, slightly rufescent on the sides of the
body, the fore neck and breast thickly spotted with dark brown, the
spots becoming narrower and more longitudinal on the sides of the
breast and flanks ; thighs rufous ; under tail-coverts white, the
shafts rufous, the longest plumes rufous, with black shafts and a
whitish tip ; under wing-coverts ashy brown, like, the inner lining
of the wing ; “ bill light reddish brown, the lower mandible pale
buff-orange towards the base ; legs and toes intermediate between
broccoli and yellowish brown, and tinted with flesh red ; claws light
reddish brown; iris bright brown; eyebrow rusty white ” (Sir A.
Smith). Total length, 7 inches; culmen, 0'7 ; wing, 3'65 ; tail, 3'8;
tarsus, 1'05.
Winter plumage.—Entirely different from the summer dress.
Above ashy grey, with a slight sandy-coloured tinge, the black
central stripes broad but obscure, rather plainer on the middle of
the back and scapularies, which are rather broadly margined with
creamy white; wing-coverts dark greyish brown, with ashy margins
to least series, the greater and median series broadly edged with
whitish; quills dark brown, margined with ashy, the secondaries
broadly -edged with whitish; rump and upper tail-coverts rather
more distinctly washed with sandy-colour than the back, the latter
with dark brown shaft-stripes; tail-feathers dark brown, the centre
feathers shaded with greyish and plainly margined with ashy white,
the outermost feathers having also a slight edging of the same;
eyebrow and streak below the eye white; feathers in front of the
latter blackish; ear-coverts uniform ashy grey like the back, but
without dark shaft-streaks; hinder part of the cheeks washed with
ashy-grey ; fore part of cheeks and throat white, with an indistinct
moustachial line of blackish spots; sides of neck and under surface
of body white, with triangular blackish spots from the lower throat
to the breast, changing into longitudinal streaks on the sides of the
breast and flanks and under tail-coverts ; sides of the body inclining
to greyish, as also the thighs; under wing-coverts and wing-lining
entirely ashy brown. " Bill, legs, toes, and claws deep orange-
coloured brown, shaded with brownish red, the lower mandible
towards the base sienna yellow ” (Sir A. Smith).
Fig. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. pi. 87, figs. 1, 2.
503. H eterocorys br ev iu ng u is (Sund.) Short-clawed Lark.
Having the short and curved claw of an Alcemon, the present bird
has the bill shorter and stouter than in that genus, the bill when
measured from gape to tip being much shorter than the tarsus. The
nostrils are bare and not hidden by bristly feathers.
This species seems to be very rare, as we have never seen a
specimen in any recent collection. Sir Andrew Smith procured
two individuals, which are now in the British Museum; but he does
not appear to have named the species. The late Professor Wahlberg
obtained it in the Transvaal, and the following description is taken
from one of his specimens :—