4l(j BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The Larks may be sub-divided into the Bush-larks, the true 

 Larks, and the long-billed or Desert-larks. 



1st. Bush-Larks. 



These have the bill stout, with the nostrils not concealed by 

 feathers; the wings more or less rounded, and the tail short. 

 They are squat, heavy looking birds, which prefer more bushy 

 places than the true Larks, and seek concealment. 



Gen. MiRAFRA, Horsfield. 



Cliar. — Bill stout, thick, compressed ; the culmcn curved and 

 convex ; the tip slightly deflected ; commissure gently curving ; 

 wings rather short, 1st quill short, 2nd shorter than the 3rd, 

 4th, 5th, and 6th, which are nearly equal ; tail very short, even ; 

 legs rather long ; hind claw moderately long. 



The Bush-larks, as they may be called, are distinguished by 

 their rounded wings, short tail, and they have usually more or less 

 ferruginous on their wings. The edges of the mandibles are often 

 worn away about or beyond the middle. They are found in 

 India, including Malayana, Australia, and in Africa. 



754. Mirafra assamica, McLelland. 



P. Z. S. 1839— Blyth, Cat. 746— Horsf., Cat. 720— Ploce- 

 alauda typica, HoDGS. — Aggia H. — {Bliatal at M ultra ?) — Bhiriri 

 at Bhagulpore. 



The Bengal Bush-lark. 



Descr. — Above ashy brown, with an olive tinge; feathers of the 

 crown, interscapulars, and scapulars, with dusky brown centres ; 

 wings and tail dusky, the outer webs of the primaries, and the 

 edges of the secondaries, with the whole under surface, bright 

 ferruginous, fainter beneath ; under-parts fulvescent white, whiter 

 on the throat, and spotted on the breast ; a light superciliary 

 streak, and the ear-coverts speckled with dusky ; outer tail-feather, 

 with the exterior web, ferruginous, the others edged with the same. 



Bill dusky above, fleshy whitish beneath; legs pale licshy 

 brown ; irides hazel brown. Length 5^ to 5| inches ; extent 10^; 

 wing o{ ; tail 1| ; bill at front -^■^^ ; tarsus not quite L 



