Family.—FRINGILLIDÆ.
Sub-Fam.—ALAUDINÆ.
Melanocorypha cinctura. Gould.
M. Fæm. fuscescenti rufa; gulâ abdomineque medio pallidioribus; remigibus ad apicem nigrescenti fuscis; rectricibus singulis maculâ albâ ovatâ nigrescenti fuscâ ad apicem notatis.
Long. tot. 5¾ unc.; alæ, 3¼; caudæ, 2¼; tarsi, ¾; rost. ½.
The whole of the plumage, bill, and feet, sandy rufous brown, which is lightest on the throat and centre of the abdomen; primaries near their extremities passing into blackish brown; and each of the tail feathers with a large oval spot of blackish brown near the tip.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (September.)
This bird inhabits the most arid plains of lava; it runs, and in its habits resembles, in many respects, a lark.
Pyrrhalauda nigriceps. Gould.
P. supra fuscescenti albâ, plumis medio obscurioribus; fronte, genis lineâque pectoris utrinque albis; corpore infra lineâque à basi rostri supra oculos ad occiput transiente nigris; caudæ plumis mediis nigrescentibus fuscescenti albo marginatis, plumis externis atris.
Long. tot. 4⅝ unc.; alæ, 2⅞; caudæ, 1⅝; tarsi, ⁶⁄₁₀; rost. ⁴⁄₁₀.
Upper surface brownish white, with the middle of the feathers darker; the front, cheeks, and a line on each side of the breast white; beneath the body, and a line from the bill passing over the eyes to the hind head, black; the tail with the middle feathers blackish, margined with brownish white, the outer feathers deep black; the bill and feet pale.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (September and January.)
Like the last species, this bird inhabits sterile lava plains; it runs like a lark, and generally goes in small flocks.
Sub-Fam.—PYRRHULINÆ.
Spermophila nigrogularis. Gould.
S. capite corporeque supra, alis caudâque fusco cinereis; loris gulâque nigris; lineis à rostri angulis per collum utrinque descendentibus, pectore abdomineque mediis, tegminibusque caudalibus inferioribus cinereo albis.
Fem.? supra olivaceo fusca, subtus pallidior.
Long. tot. 3 unc.; alæ, 2¼; caudæ, 2; tarsi, ⅝; rostri, ⁵⁄₁₆.
Male.—Head, all the upper surface, wings and tail, brownish grey; lores and throat black; lines from the angle of the bill down each side of the neck, centre of the chest and abdomen, and the under tail coverts greyish white; bill light horn colour; feet dark brown.
Female?—The whole of the plumage olive brown above, and lighter beneath; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Monte Video. (November.)