134 



ALATTDID^E. 



Genus MIRAFRA, Horsf. 



Mirafra nivosa (Swains.). 



(Plate VII. fig. 16.) 



Algernon nivosa, Sharps, ed. Layard, Birds S. Africa, p. 501 (1875-84) ; 



id., Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 522 (1890) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. 



p. 132 (1899) ; Stark, Faun. S. Afr., Birds, i. p. 230 (1900). 

 Mirafra nivosa, Shelley, Birds Afr. iii. p. 33 (1902) ; Sharps, Hand-l v. 



p. 170 (1906). 



Seven eggs of the Cape Lark are of a blunt oval form and 

 slightly glossy. They are cream-coloured, profusely mottled with 

 brown of two shades and grey. They measure from *82 to '95 in 

 length, and from -65 to -67 in breadth. 



2. South Africa. 



1. Northern Cape Colony (T. Atmore : 



Tristram Coll.). 

 4. Kuruman, 7th March. 



E. L. Layard. Esq. [P.]. 

 Crowley Bequest. 



R. B. Woosnam, Esq. [0.]. 



Mirafra hova, Hartl. 



Alauda hova, Cowan, Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edinb. vii. p. 149 (1882) 5 



Milne-Edwards Sf Grandidier, Hist. Nat. Madag., Ois. ii. p. 456, 



pi. 304. figs. 11, 11 a (1885). 

 Mirafra hova, Sharps, Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 601 (1890) ; Nehrk. Eat. 



Eiersamml. p. 134 (1899) ; Shelley, Birds Afr. iii. p. 61 (1902) ; 



Sharps, Hand-l. v. p. 172 (1906). 



The eggs of the Madagascar Bush-Lark are of a pointed oval 

 shape and very slightly glossy. They are greyish-white, profusely 

 speckled and blotched, especially about the broad end, with reddish- 

 brown, yellowish-brown, and purplish-grey. They measure from 

 74 to '87 in length, and from '57 to "61 in breadth. 



3. Madagascar (Tristram Coll.). Crowley Bequest. 



16. Betsileo, Madagascar. Rev. W. Deans Cowan [P.]. 



2. Mahanara, E. Madagascar, 14th Dec. Crowley Bequest. 

 ( W. D. C. : Tristram Coll.). 



Mirafra horsfieldi, Gould. 

 (Plate VII. fig. 17.) 



Mirafra horsfieldii, North, Nests $ Eggs Austr. Birds, p. 159 (1889) ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xiii. p. 604 (1890) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. 

 p. 134 (1899) ; Campbell, Nests 8f Eggs Austr. Birds, i. p. 501 (1901) ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 172 (1906). 



Two eggs of Horsfield's Bush-Lark are of a regular oval form and 

 slightly glossy. The ground-colour is greyish-white, thickly 

 speckled and finely marbled with greyish-brown and lilac-brown. 

 They measure respectively : '76 by -57 ; *79 by -56. 



2. Moonee Ponds, Victoria, 18th Dec. Crowley Bequest. 

 (A. J. North). 



