APPENDIX 
333 
Bush-Larks 
Fischer’s Bush-Lark (Mirafra fischeri) is the thick-set, ruddy- 
brown bird, with short tail and short rounded wings, that 
makes the extraordinary vibrating noise already described 
at p. 249. This was in thin bush-country at Simba, in 
March; but in its breeding-season in November, Commander 
Lynes, R.N., tells me he heard and noticed it soaring quite 
300 ft. in air with undulating flight, like that of a snipe 
when “drumming”—but with this difference, that the 
vibrant rattle was only produced when on the up-grade, 
whereas snipe produce it only when dropping earthwards. 
Even at that great height the rattle was clearly audible ; 
indeed, at half-a-mile it sounded as distinct as when the 
bird was close by. The annexed diagram shows the line 
of flight. 
Starting from the ground at A, the bird mounts quickly to B. 
B to C—a few preliminary wing-beats. 
C to D—the “ clapper ” sound is produced. At D closes wings and 
drops to E. 
E to F—preliminary wing-beats repeated. 
F to G—“ clapper ” repeated—and so on. 
Finally, Mirafra descends to half-way by a series of steep down-grades, 
and completes remainder of descent to ground or bush by an almost 
vertical drop of great rapidity. 
Duration of “ clapper,” three seconds ; of whole performance, three to 
five minutes. 
Viewed from below, the outline of the bird on the wing resembles that 
of a Wood-Lark, with rather large rounded wings, the inner secondaries 
well clear of the body—thus allowing space for the requisite movement of 
the wing over so large an arc (180°) which produces the sound (Lynes). 
