52 MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 



Zululand ; Jackson, Ibis, 1899, p. 624 pt. Ntcbi ; Harterfc in 



Ansorge's "Under Afr. Sun," p. 348 (1899) Biboka B. Uhamba; 



Nehrkorn, Kat. Eiers. p. 134 (1899) egg; Stark, Faun. S. Afr. 



B. i. p. 212 (1900) ; Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45 ; Marshall, 



Ibis, 1900, p. 244 Masliona ; Neum. J. f. O. 1900, p. 290 Lelela. 

 Mirafra africana africana, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 46. 

 Alauda planicola, Licht. Verz. Vog. Kaffernl. p. 14 (1842) S. Afr. 



(nom. nud.). 

 Megalophonus planicola, Fisch. J. f. 0. 1885, p. 137 Usaravio ; Eeichen. 



J. f. 0. 1887, p. 74 ShasU. 

 Megalophonus occidentalis, Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 153 (1857) Gaboon; 



Bouvier, Cat. Ois. Marche, &c. p. 27 (1875) Gaboon. 

 Megalophonus rostratus, Hartl. Ibis, 1863, p. 326, pi. 9 Natal. 

 Mirafra africana transvaalensis, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 45 



Bustenburg. 

 Mirafra africana tropicalis, Hartert, I. c. Trop. E. Afr. and Uganda. 



Adult male. Above mottled brown with broad blackish centres to the 

 feathers ; each feather of the crown with a large basal portion bright 

 cinnamon ; hind neck slightly paler than the back and the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts a little more uniform ; lesser wing-coverts uniform cinnamon, 

 remainder of the coverts slightly paler rufous with blackish centres, the 

 inner ones and the inner secondaries more coloured like the back and with 

 basal buff edges, next to which is a blackish submarginal line ; remainder of 

 the quills with the exception of the two outer ones have broad margins of 

 cinnamon, which colour extends entirely across both webs, but is intersected 

 by the dark shafts ; under wing-coverts fawn colour, slightly yellower than 

 the cinnamon of the quills, which have their ends dusky brown. Tail 

 dusky brown with sandy shaded edges ; outer feather with the shaft, outer 

 web and a terminal border sandy buff ; penultimate feather with a broad 

 sandy buff outer margin. A broadish eyebrow and sides of head buff with 

 minute dark brown spots on the cheeks and ear-coverts, the latter washed 

 with rufous inclining to dark brown along the upper margin ; throat white ; 

 breast and under tail-coverts buff, washed with rufous on the front of the 

 chest and with angular dark brown spots on the region of the crop. " Iris 

 light hazel, bill dusky above fading into pale yellowish flesh colour on the 

 lower mandible ; tarsi and feet yellowish flesh colour. Total length 6-9 

 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 3-7, tail 2-5, tarsus 1-2. <y , 29. 5. 75. Pinetown 

 (T. L. Ayres). 



Female. Similar in plumage to the male. Total length 6'5 inches, 

 culmen 0-65, wing 3-3, tail 2-2, tarsus 1-15. 2 , 7. 5. 75. Pinetown 

 (T. L. Ayres). 



Two Damara specimens, very much worn, differ in having the crown 

 bright cinnamon with partial blackish terminal shaft-stripes ; back paler, 



