MIRAFRA AFRICANA. 



pale orange-coloured brown, more or less shaded with dark liver-brown, and 

 each distinctly edged with white, the inner margin of which is bounded by 

 a dark liver-brown line. Tail intermediate between umber and broccoli- 

 brown, the outer vanes of the two lateral feathers of each side cream-yellow. 

 Eyebrows sienna-yellow ; eyes clear brown. Bill clear yellowish brown, 

 shaded with chesnut-brown. Legs, toes, and claws intermediate between 

 buff orange and flesh-red. 



Form, &c. — Figure rather full. Head small; bill lengthened, subconical, 

 moderately strong, and the culmen towards tip slightly curved ; nostrils 

 uncovered. Wings rounded, and when folded, reach nearly to the middle 

 of the tail, the fifth quill feather rather the longest, the third and fourth 

 equal and scarcely shorter than the fifth, the second about three lines shorter 

 than the third, and the first not exceeding an inch in length ; the tertiary 

 and secondary quill feathers nearly of equal length, and about half an inch 

 shorter than the primaries. Tail slightly rounded. Legs and toes stout, the 

 former anteriorly and posteriorly scutellated ; claws of anterior toes, short, 

 rather strong, and slightly curved, claw of hinder toe long, slender, pointed, 

 and slightly curved. 



Inches. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 7 



of the bill 



of tlie wings when folded ... 3 

 of the tail 2 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Lines, 



6 



10 



9 



4 



Inches. 



Length of the tarsi I 



of the outer toe 



of the middle toe 



of the inner toe 



of the hinder toe 



of the claw of hinder toe ... 



Lines . 



o 

 O 



6 



H 

 31 



The colours in both sexes are the same, — only those of the male are 

 brightest. 



This bird, as far as ray experience goes, is principally confined to the Eastern districts of the 

 Cape Colony, and specimens are most readily procured upon the grassy plains which exist near 

 Algoa Bay, or between it and Graham's Town. Over these flats it is thinly distributed, and 

 rarely are more tiian two individuals found together. It feeds upon seeds and small insects. 



