52 



GENUS NEOCHMIA. Nostrils exposed, feathers partly hiding them. 



420. N. phaeton, Hombr. and Jacq. (Estrilda phaeton), Crimson Finch. 



Male. Crimson, tinged with brown on top of head and wings ; a 

 few white spots on sides. 



Female. Less red on under surface. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 8. 



FAMILY AL AUDIBLE : LARKS. 



Planta tarsi scutellated. 

 GENUS MIR AFR A. Nostrils exposed, with a superior membrane. 



421. M. horsfieldi, Old., Bush-Lark. 



Head grey, like the back, with blackish centres to the feathers. 

 Wing, 2-9 in. 



In the field like Anthus (390), but smaller, and with stronger bill. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. 



422. M. sec Hilda (Sharpe), Lesser Bush-Lark. 



Eyebrow isabelline or tawny -buff; shoulder of wing almost 

 entirely rufous, the median and greater coverts showing scarcely any 

 black bases to the feathers : first small primary, 0'5 in. in length. 

 Hab. : 6. 



Subdivision II. Passer es Abnormales. 



FAMILY ATRICHILDJE : SMOOTH-SKINNED BIRDS. 

 Furcula rudimentary. 



GENUS ATRICHIA. Wing is very tiny. Planta tarsi are more closely 

 scutellated than in any lark. 



423. A. Clamosa, Gld., Noisy Scrub-bird. 



General colour above dark chocolate-brown, waved with circular 

 markings of black, black and brown colours alternating ; tail 

 feathers black, varied with alternate wavy markings of brown and 

 black on margins ; lores and sides of face dusky-brown ; throat and 

 breast white, with a black patch on lower throat. 



Total length, 8 '5 in. ; culmen, 0'75 in. ; wing, 3 in. ; tail, 4'1 in. ; 

 tarsus, 1 05 in. 

 Hab. : 9. 



423A. A. rufescens, Ramsay, Rufous Scrub-bird. 



More rufous than A. clamosa, and has upper tail coverts and tail 

 feathers regularly barred with black ; underneath throat is whitish, 

 gradually becoming ashy ; centre of breast is black ; abdomen clear 

 orange-rufous. 



Total length, 6 '8 in. ; culmen, 0'6 in. ; wing, 2 "5 in. ; tail, 2 '8 in. ; 

 tarsus, 0'8 in. 



Hab. : 3, 4. 



FAMILY MENURID^E. 

 Tail feathers of extraordinary length, many devoid of booklets (radioli). 



GENUS MENUR A. Tail lyre-like. 



424. M. superba, Davies, Lyre-bird. 



Outer tail feather ashy-white on inner web, with rufous notches, 

 and tipped with black ; ashy-white below, the bars being reddish 



