Illustrations of Indian Ornithology. 



in the sun. When observed it hides itself behind a bush, and if followed, soon 

 contrives to conceal itself from the sportsman. 



Description. — Above dusky reddish brown, the feathers edged with fulvous; 

 beneath fulvous white, the breast spotted with brown ; feathers of the head lengthened 

 and rufous ; chin, throat, and superciliary streak, white ; quills bright ferruginous on 

 both webs, except at the tip, which is dusky brown ; tail dark brown, the feathers 

 edged with lighter, and the outermost one white on its external web. Bill horny brown — 

 irides brown — legs and feet fleshy yellow. 



Length about 5? inches — wing S^Vhs — tail 2j^ths — tarsus fths, bill at front 

 a^ths. 



This and another species are called in Teloogoo £eli jitta, the present one, 

 distinguished by its smaller size, being called chinna eeli jitta. The name is derived 

 from their note, which in both species is a kind of prolonged whistle. The nearly 

 allied species, M. Affinis, diflers in having the quills rufous on the outer web, and 

 the basal half only with a deep margin of the same, in its shorter tail, and dif- 

 ferently formed bill. It is exceedingly abundant in the West Coast, and throughout 

 the Carnatic, frequenting open spaces in the jungles, gardens, &c. he. Mr. Strickland 

 considers that this may be the Alauda Malabarica of the older authors, described from 

 Sonnerat's voyage, plate 113, fig. 1 ; and I accordingly inserted it in the 2d supplement 

 to my Catalogue just published,* under that name; but having again compared the 

 description, I agree with Mr. Blyth in applying this term to the crested lark, Alaicda- 

 deva of Sykes, which is not uncommon on the Malabar Coast, and shall retain the 

 name of Affinis, already indeed published by Mr. Blyth. 



* Madias Journal of Literature and Science, No. 31. 



