13. MIRAFKA. 601 



brown, externally rufous, giving them a conspicuous rufous aspect ; 

 the secondaries duskj' brown, externally rufous, with a zig-zag 

 subterraiual line of blackish and some further lines of black on 

 the centre of the feathers ; centre tail-feather rufous, with some 

 dusky shading near the shaft ; the remainder of the feathers blackish 

 brown, rather rufescent towards the ends, the penultimate feather 

 blackish on the inner web, tawny on the outer one, the outermost 

 feather tawny buff, with a dusky inner margin of blackish ; head 

 like the back, with blackish median streaks to the feathers ; eyebrow 

 and sides of face pale tawny rufous ; the ear-coverts spotted with 

 dusky brown, and inclining to chestnut on the hinder margin ; 

 throat and under surface of body tawny buff, with spots of vinous 

 chestnut on the lower throat ; the fore neck more distinctly spotted 

 with chestnut, with black central spots on the feathers. Total length 

 56 inches, culmen 0-65, wing 3-15, tail 2-1, tarsus 0-95. 

 Hab. East Africa. 



a. Ad. sk. Ugogo (.S'(V J. Kirk). Shelley Cull. 



(Type of M. torrida.) 



6. Mirafra hova. 



Hotahota, Flacourt, Hist. Maclag. p. 166 (1661). 



Mirafra hova, Hartl. J.f. O. 1860, p. 106 ; id. Beitr. Faun. Madag. 

 1861, p. 57 ; Eoch S, E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 275; E. Netvt. Ibis, 

 1863, p. 350 ; Scl. F. Z. S. 1863, p. 164; A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, 

 p. 836 ; Grand. Rev. Zool. 1867, p. 389 : Gray, Mand-l. B. ii 

 p. 121, no, 7803 (1870). 



Alauda hova, ScJil. F. Z. S. 1866, p. 424 ; id. 8f Foil. Faun. Madag , 

 Ois. p. 107 (1868) ; Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 221 (1877) ; Milne- 

 Edwards Sf Grandid. Hist. Nat. Madag., Ois. p. 456, pi. 183 fio- 3 

 pl8.184, 187fl. fig.5(1882). 



Adult male. Sandy brown, with black centres and pale edges to 

 the feathers ; wing-coverts and quills dark brown, with sandy-buff 

 edges, the primaries edged with tawny rufous, the outer ones and 

 the primary-coverts with ashy fulvous ; tail-feathers blackish, the 

 penultimate one with the outer web white, the outer feather smoky 

 fulvous or sandy buff on the inner web, whiter on the outer, the 

 inner web with an oblique mark of blackish brown from the base ; 

 head like the back ; lores and a broad eyebrow whitish, as well as 

 the feathers below the eye ; cheeks sandy buff, spotted with brown 

 on the hinder part; ear-coverts sandy white, brown along the uj^per 

 margin and largely spotted with black on the hinder margin ; throat 

 white ; remainder of under surface creamy buff or isabelline, washed 

 with tawny buff on the flanks ; the lower throat spotted with dusky, 

 and the fore neck and breast very thickly spotted with triangular 

 black markings ; under wing-coverts and axillaries tawny rufous or 

 pale chestnut ; the quills dusky below, rufous along the inner web. 

 Total length 5-5 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 3-2, tail 1-S, tarsus 

 0-85. 



