MIEAFEA AFriNlS. 
635 
vary as is the case in Ceylon, in size of bill ; the tints of the under surface coi-respond with those of our birds, 
and the striations on the chest are similar ; they are somewhat darker on the back ; the amount and distribution 
of the rufous on the primaries and secondaries are the same. The tarsus averages shorter* in these examples, 
ranging from 0-9 to I'O inch. A Travancore specimen has the bill very robust, and is more richly coloured than 
most Ceylon birds. In the India Museum is a skin from the Deccan, wliich has the wing 3-0 inches and the 
tarsus I'Oo ; it is somewhat slender in the bill, but not more so than females from Ceylon. 
M. erythroptera, Jerdon, is closely allied to the present species, diSering, as its name denotes, in the redder wing. The 
primaries and the secondaries, except the first of the former and the innermost of the latter (exclusive o t e 
“ tertials ”), are rufous right across both webs to near the tips ; the primary-coverts are rufous, and the greater 
secondary-coverts rufous on the outer webs and brown near the shafts. A specimen in the national collection 
measures — wing 3'0, tail 2-0 inches. ^ ir « • 
Mr. Hume has described the Burmese Bush-Lark under the name of M. miaroptera. It is smaller than M. ciffims, 
measuiing 2'6 to 2-8 inches in the wing, and it has no rufous on the outer webs of the primaries. 
3/. assamiea and M. caniillans are two other Indian Bush-Larks. The former, the Bengal Bush-Lark, differs from its 
congeners in the grey plumage and very thick bill ; the latter, the Singing Bush-Lark, is distinguished, says Jerdon, 
from other species by its slender bill and less amount of rufous on the wing ; a specimen before me (in the 
national collection) has the wing 2-9 inches. 
Distribution . — This interesting bird is widely distributed throughout the low country of Ceylon, the onh^ 
part of the low-lying districts in which it is not numerous being the damp south-western coast-region between 
Kalatura and Matara. In the east and throughout the whole northern half of the island it is very common, 
both in the interior and on the sea-hoard. In the North-west Province and in the drier parts of the Western 
Province it is likewise numerous, being one of the commonest birds to he seen even in the cinnamon-gardens 
of Colombo and Morotuwa; thence rmmd to Tangalla, beyond which it is again abundant, it is found 
in less numbers, and is chiefly confined, and that sparingly, to the sea-coast. Throughout the flat jungles 
between Haputale and the sea it is tolerably common. I am not aware that it is found in the Kandyan 
districts ; hut it may perhaps occur, as a rare straggler, in the lower parts of Dumhara. It is found near the 
base of the hills in the Kuruuegala neighbourhood. 
On the mainland, this Bush-Lark is chiefly confined to the southern portion of the peninsula. Jerdon 
remarks that it is “ found on the Malabar coast, in the Carnatic, in Mysore, and the southern part of the table- 
land, extending north to Groomsoor and Midnapore. Col. Tytler states that it occurs at Barrackpore, but it is 
certainly very rare in Bengal.” Mr. Ball asserts it to be tolerably abundant in Singhbhum, and records it 
from Midnapiu’, Manbhum, and Gumsur. It seems therefore to stretch from the Carnatic northwards in an 
easterly direction, avoiding all divergence towards Central India. I notice that the Eev. Dr. Pairbank does 
not record it from the Deccan, nor do Messrs. Davidson and Wendcr, although M. erythroptera is noticed by 
these gentlemen as very common there. It is abundant about Madras, and also inhabits B amisserum Island 
and the adjacent coast. Dr. Pairbank found it at the base of the Palanis. 
Habits . — This Lark loves grassy wastes, studded with trees and bushes, openly timbered plains, scrubby 
* Since this article was printed, I have received a letter from Mr. Hume containing a remark on this species, which, 
according to ornithological custom, I quote here;— “Have I ever pointed out to you that your Mirafra, which I call 
M. ceylonensis, is distinct from the Madras bird, Jf. affinis‘t It is a much larger, richer-coloured, longer-billed bird, 
with markedly larger logs and feet. I have just compared five examples from Colombo with a large senes of Madras 
specimens.” Now this bird varies in Ceylon. The five examples alluded to are all from Colombo ; and as regards size 
see my comparisons above. I do not find that South-Indian specimens are more richly coloured ; one from Travancore, 
which I obtained from Mr. Whitely, Woolwich, differs considerably in brightness of coloration from St. Thomas s Mount 
examples. Brightness of coloration in the Lark family is often dependent on age. The tarsus in Ceylonese birds is, as 
a rule longer, as I have above noticed, but short-legged insular birds equal long-legged continental ones. A male from 
St. Thomas’s Mount (wing 3-21) measures, tarsus 1-05 ; a good-sized female (wing 3'16) from Irincomalie measures. 
If on the whole, it be hereafter decided by general consent that the Ceylon species should stand distinct, it must be as 
a very close subspecies indeed; but I would hero remark that, above all birds. Larks are the most unsafe to tamper with. 
If we once begin to divide them up, there will be no end to subspecies. 
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