MIRAFRA CHENIANA. 



Form, &c. — Figure rather robust. Head small ; bill short, stout, conical, 

 and pointed, the culmen arched from the base. Wings rounded, and when 

 folded reach beyond the commencement of the second third of the tail, the 

 third, fourth, and fifth quill feathers equal and longest, the second slightly 

 shorter, and the first rudimentary ; the tertiary quill feathers nearly as long 

 as the primaries, and rather longer than the secondaries. Tail even, or very 

 slightly rounded. Tarsi short and rather strong, anteriorly and posteriorly 

 scutellated ; toes moderately long and rather slender ; the claws of the fore 

 toes short, slender, and slightly curved, the claw of the hinder toe rather 

 long, strong, and nearly straight. 



Inches. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 5 



of the bill 



of the wings when folded ... 2 

 of the tail 1 



A second adult specimen of this species was obtained, but its sex was not 

 recorded. In size it was rather superior to the male specimen just described, 

 and the feathers of the upper parts are broadly edged with a colour 

 intermediate between orpiment and reddish orange ; the latter colour on the 

 breast is also much darker ; in other respects the two are similar. 



Only a few individuals of this species were seen, and those upon the extensive grassy plains 

 to the northward and eastward of Latakoo. It is a species which seems to prefer situations 

 which abound in long and rank grass, among which it runs like the quail, and flies like it 

 when disturbed to a short distance, and then suddenly descends, after which it cannot again be 

 got to take wing unless by the aid of dogs. It feeds upon seeds and small insects. 



