MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 519 
Young.—Similar to the adult, but far deeper cinnamon, and every- 
where barred with black wavy lines on the upper surface, the head 
included ; tail with a broad centre of ashy brown followed by 
_ another subterminal line along the apical portion of the feather, this 
line evidently breaking up into the radiations from the shaft which 
are seen in the tail-feathers of the adult; ear-coverts cinnamon, 
thickly spotted with black; under surface of body isabelline, the 
throat with a few concealed brown bars, the flanks and thighs 
deeper rufous slightly mottled with brown barrings, the chest much 
deeper cinnamon, especially on the sides, the latter being slightly 
varied with blackish wavy lines, the centre of the chest sparsely 
spotted with blackish. Total length, 5°38 inches; culmen, 0-6; 
wing, 3°0; tail, 2°35; tarsus, 1:0. 
Fig. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. iv, pl. 198. 
512. Mrrarra areicana, Smith. Rufous-naped Lark. 
Megalophonus africanus and M. rostratus, Layard, B. 8. Afr. 
pp. 212, 213. 
In this and the remaining species of African Mirafre the tail is 
uniform with rufous edgings to the centre feathers. The entire 
base of the quills is rufous with the exception of the brown shaft, 
and the present species is told by its large size and by the rufous 
nape-patch. 
Sir Andrew Smith found this Lark in the eastern districts, 
frequenting the grassy plains between Algoa Bay and Grahamstown. 
It was generally seen in pairs, feeding on insects and seeds. Mr, 
Rickard tells us that it is rather rare at Port Elizabeth, but more 
numerous near Hast London. Mr. Arnot sends it from Griqua Land, 
and Mr. T. C. Atmore found it at Eland’s Post. We have received 
it from Mr. Moffat from Kuruman. From Natal Mr. Ayres writes :— 
“ This Lark is a stout, thickset bird, and runs with great swiftness 
on the ground amongst the grass, so that even with a good dog 
it is sometimes a difficult matter to flush it. From the frequently 
worn appearance of their claws, I fancy they partially obtain their 
food by scratching the earth, after the manner of the Rasores. IE 
undisturbed when rising, their flight is generally fluttering and 
noisy ; they also sometimes (but not always) utter a few sharp notes 
as they rise. They are fond of sunning themselves on the top 
of any convenient low bush, fluttering their wings every few seconds, 
