MIRAFRA AFRICANOIDES. 



Form, &c. — Figure moderately stout. Bill conical, strong, and rather 

 elongated ; the nostrils uncovered. Wings rounded, and when folded, reach 

 to the last third of the tail, the third, fourth, and fifth quill feathers equal 

 and longest, the second a little shorter than the third, the first about an 

 inch and a half shorter than the second. Tail even, or slightly emarginate. 

 Legs and toes robust ; the tarsi anteriorly and posteriorly scutellated ; claws 

 of anterior toes short, rather strong, and slightly pointed ; the claw of hinder 

 toe slender, slightly curved, and pointed. 



Inches. 

 Lens^h from the point of the bill to 



the tip of tlie tail 6 



of the bill 



of the wings when folded ... 3 

 of the tail 2 



DIMENSIONS, 



Lines. 







61 



6 



6 



Inches. 



Length of the tarsi 1 



of the outer toe 



of the middle toe 



of the inner toe 



of the hinder toe 



of the claw of hinder toe .... 



Lines. 

 1 



n 

 n 



The female is coloured like the male, only the tints are less bright. 



Specimens of this bird are occasionally to be procured to the south of the Orange River, but 

 most readily on the arid open plains which lie between that river and the tropic of Capricorn. 



The colours of the primary and secondary quill feathers, and their distribution, are the same 

 in this and the last described species ; but in other respects the differences are palpable. The 

 present species, besides being considerably smaller than the last described, has longer wings 

 in proportion to its size, and a shorter, stronger, and more conical bill. The colours of the 

 under parts, as well as of the tertiary quill feathers and the outer vane of the outermost 

 feather of each side of the tail, are very different. 



