214 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



430. Megalophonus Africanoides ; Mira- 



fra Africanoides, Smith, Zool. S. A., PI. 88, f. 2. 



Head, superiorly, umber-brown, the feathers edged with a 

 reddish-orange ; back and sides of neck, dirty pale-brown, 

 with light edges to the feathers ; back brown, feathers edged 

 with light reddish-orange; rump and upper tail- coverts 

 greyish-brown, feathers edged with rusty- white ; chin, throat, 

 breast, and belly, rusty-white ; sides of breast and flanks 

 tinted with reddish-orange, and the middle of breast sparingly 

 mottled with triangular pale, umber-brown spots ; vent pure 

 white ; wing-feathers brown, more or less edged with wood- 

 brown, most distinct on the outer vane of the outermost 

 feather of each side ; the two middle feathers between broccoli 

 and umber brown ; eyebrows white. Length, 6" ; wing, 

 3" 6"' ; tail, 2" 6'". 



Specimens of tliis bird are occasionally to be procured to the south 

 of the Orange River, but most readily on the arid open plains which lio 

 between that river and the Tropic of Capricorn. — Dr. Smith, loc. cit. 



431. Meg^alophonus Chenianus; Mirafra 



Gheniana, Sm, Z. S. A., PI. 89, f 2. 

 Upper surface of head, brown, the feathera edged with rufous- 

 white ; back, and sides of neck, dull umber-brown, each 

 feather edged with rusty-white or wood-brown ; back and 

 rump, umber-brov?n, feathers edged with greyish- white, 

 tinted with pale reddish-orange ; chin and throat white, 

 speckled with umber-brown ; breast and flanks, pale reddish- 

 orange, the former vai'iegated with umber-brown stripes; 

 middle of belly and vent, cream-yellow ; under tail-coverts 

 white ; wing-feathers margined with reddish-orange, two 

 middle tail-feathers narrowly edged with rusty-white, the 

 two outermost of each side white, with more or less of the 

 inner edges of inner vanes umber-brown ; eyebrows sienna- 

 yellow ; ear-coverts, pale reddish-orange. Length, 5" 4'" ; 

 wing, 2" 10'"; tail, 1" 111'". 



Rare. Found on the extensive grassy plains to the northward and 

 eastward of Latakoo. Prefers situations abounding in long rank 

 grass, among which it runs. Feeds on seeds and insects. — Dr. A. 

 Smith, loc. cit. 



432. Megalophonus Lagepa ; Mirafra Lagepa, 



Smith ; Z. S. A., PI. 27., I 2. 

 Upper surface of head, neck, and back, reddish-orange, 

 variegated with short streaks of umber-brown ; under parts 



