420 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



757. Mirafra cantillans, Jerdon. 



J. A. S. XIII. 960, and 2nd Suppl. Cat. 185— Blyth, Cat. 

 745 — HoESF., Cat. 719 — Alauda chendoola, apud Jerdon, Cat. 

 185 — AfjJiun or Acjldn, H. — Burutta ^ji^^a, Tel., also Aghiix 

 pitta, Tel. 



The Singing Bush-lark. 



Descr. — Above dusky brown, the feathers laterally margined 

 with rufescent brown ; wings and their coverts strongly margined 

 with rufous brown ; a pale eyestreak ; throat and below the ear- 

 coverts white, and the rest of the under parts pale rufescent, 

 darker on the breast, with a few indistinct small breast spots ; outer 

 tail feathers nearly all white, the penultimate white on the outer 

 web only. 



Bill dusky horny, fleshy beneath ; legs fleshy brown ; irides 

 dark brown. Length 5^ inches; extent 10; wing 2|; tail 2 ; 

 biU at front, y'^-; 1st primary | inch ; the four next equal, or the 

 2nd and 5th a trifle shorter ; bill not very thick ; feathers of head 

 elongated. 



This species is distinguished from the other Bush-larks by the 

 less amount of rufous on the wings, and this, with its more 

 slender bill, led me, from seeing a caged specimen, to consider it 

 a true Lark. It is very closely allied to M. Horsjieldi, Gould, 

 from New South Wales. 



The Aggun Bush-lark is generally spread throughout India, 

 but not very common, except in some localities. It is most 

 abundant in the Carnatic, the Northern Circars, and in some 

 parts of IMysore ; more rare in the table-land. It is found in 

 Bengal also, but rare ; common in Bchar, according to Buch. 

 Hamilton, and iii Central India, according to Tickell. It chiefly 

 frequents meadows and grass land near cultivation ; and it is said 

 to rise higher in the air than other MirafrcB ; thus, in its colours, 

 habits, haunts, and song, it is more Lark-like than any other 

 Mirafra. It is often caged, and much prized by the natives for 

 its pleasant little song, which is very sweet. It also imitates the 

 notes of other birds, though perhaps not so well as the Chandul, 

 Galerida cristata. 



