42 MIRAFRA A PI ATA. 



Immature. Similar to adult first described but browner and less rufous, 

 iruermost secondaries witli two couoeutric black lines, the next few with 

 partial bars and one submarginal black line ; rufous margins of outer 

 secondaries and the primaries broader and as nearly cross the outer web as 

 they do in M. fischeri. The tail differs in the barred character of the 

 centre feathers being reproduced on the others to a gradually diminishing 

 extent towards the outer feathers ; a distinct white eyebrow. Iris hazel, 

 bill dark horn colour with the basal two-thirds of lower mandible and edges 

 of upper one towards the gape buff; tarsi and feet pale flesh colour. 

 Total length 64 inches, culmen 0'5, wing 3-2, tail 2-3, tarsus 0-95. 

 ^ , 22. 1. 74. Stellendorf (Shelley). 



The Cape Bar- tailed Lark is apparently confined to Cape 

 Colon3^ Mr. Laj^ard writes : " This beautiful Lark, of whose 

 elegant colours it is impossible to convey any idea by mere 

 words, is common in all the western districts of the colony, 

 and is well known from its singular habit of rising fifteen 

 or thirty feet into the air, ^perpendicularly, making a sharp 

 crackling sound with its wings as it rises, uttering a long 

 shrill ' phew,' and then falling as abruptly to the earth. 

 This action it will repeat at intervals of a minute or two, for 

 an hour or more, chiefly during dull mornings, but in bright 

 weather it commences before and after sunset. It delights in 

 warm sandy soils ; but we met with it on the high table-land 

 of the Cold Bokkeveld in considerable abundance. It is not 

 met with at George, according to Mr. Atmore, but extends as 

 far as Port Elizabeth. ' Here,' writes Mr. Rickard, ' it is 

 common. It is most lively at sunset and sunrise, sometimes 

 heard when it is nearly dark. If on the ground near short 

 scrubby bush it will run into it and may be driven a long 

 distance before taking wing.' We have seen specimens also 

 from Kuruman." 



The egg, according to Mr. A. Nehrkorn, is greyish yellow 

 with spots of violet or rufous brown evenly distributed over 

 the surface and measures 0-88 x 0*6. 



