ALATJDENMG. 421 



M. Javanica is found in Java, and in some of the other islands 

 of Malayana, and appears to be the only species of this group 

 known throughout the Malayan Archipelago. M. Ilorsfeldi, 

 Gould, from Australia, has been already alluded to. There are, 

 perhaps, several of this genus found in Africa, but some that are 

 referred to it by Dr. Smith, appear to belong to the genus Mega- 

 loplwnus of Gray (Braclvonysc, Swains), as well as some of the 

 Alauda of Smith. This merely differs from Mirafra in having 

 weaker bills. 



2nd The True Larks. 



These have the nostrils covered with a tuft of incumbent 

 bristle-like feathers. They frequent more open ground than the 

 Bush-larks, and do not endeavour to conceal themselves further 

 than by squatting close to the ground. There are several forms 

 among the true Larks, some of them having their bills nearly as 

 strong as in Mirafra. 



The first two genera have their plumage nearly uniform, and, 

 scarcely, if at all, striated ; their bills are thick and Finch-like, and 

 were it not for their tufted nostrils, they might be ranked with the 

 Mirafra; and, indeed, two of them were described under that 

 generic appellation. 



Gen. Ammomanes, Cabanis. 



Char. — Bill short, thick, compressed, arched at culmen, acute at 

 the tip, which is slightly bent over ; gonys ascending ; wings long, 

 straight, 1st quill minute, 2nd not so long as the 3rd and 4th, 

 which are the longest, and 5th is nearly equal ; tertiaries not elonga- 

 ted beyond the secondaries ; tail rather long, slightly emarginate ; 

 tarsus and feet moderate ; hind claw large. These birds have a 

 remarkable rufous coloration on the back, tail, and under parts ; 

 frequent open bare fields and plains, and do not congregate. 



758. Ammomanes phsenicura, Feanklin. 



Mirafra, apud Franklin, P. Z. S. 1831 — Sykes, Cat. 100 — 

 Jekdon, Cat. 188 — Blytii, Cat. 747 — Hoesf., Cat. 722—Aggiya, 

 H. — JReytal, II., of some — Ambali-juri-gada, Tel., sometimes Dowa- 

 pitta, i. e. Road bird. 



