MIRAFRA AFRICAN OIDES. 
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 seutellated ; claws 
of anterior toes short, rather strong, and slightly pointed ; the claw of hinder 
toe slender, slightly curved, and pointed. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
Length of the tarsi 
the tip of the tail 
6 
0 
of the outer toe 
H 
of the bill 
0 
of the middle toe 
H 
of the wings when folded . . . 
3 
6 
of the inner toe 
n 
of the tail 
2 
6 
of the hinder toe 
. . 0 
2 
of the claw of hinder toe . 
. . 0 
4 
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. 
