Genus—MIRAFRA. 
i 
Mibafea Horsfield, Ti'ans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), 
Vol. XIII., pt. I., p. 159, May 1821. Type 
(by monotypy) .. ., .. .. M. javanica Horsfield. 
Also spelts 
Myrafra Gray, List Genera Birds, p. 48, 1840. 
Geocorapkm Cabanis, Arcliiv. fur Naturg., 
Vol. XIII., p. .328, 1847 
New naino for ^lirafra Horsfield. 
Etoimus Gistel, Nating. TliieiT. Schul., p. x., 
(pref. Easter 1847) 1848 
New name for Mirafra Horsfield. 
Plocealauda Hodgson in Gray’s Zool. IVIisceU., 
p. 84, 1844; nom. nud. (P. typica). 
Bonapai-te Consp. Gen. Avium, Vol. I., 
p. 243, 1850 (before June 24th), as 
synonym of Mirafra assamica MacCleU. 
Type (by original designation and mono- 
^ypy) • • • • • • • • .. Mirafra assamica yiacCleUand. 
Small Larks with short stout bills, medium wings and tail, thin legs with 
medium feet. Larks are characterized among the small Passeriform birds 
by having the tarsus scuteUate beliind as well as in front. 
The bill is shorter than the head, stout and conical, the culmen arched, 
the tip sharp, wdth the edge of the upper mandible sinuate from the tip and 
expandhig basally to overlap the xmder mandible ; the tip anteriorly a little 
compressed, basaUy expanding into a triangular form ; culmen ridge rounded, 
nostrils circular ui small nasal gi'oove almost laidden by feathers advancing 
and with two to five strong nasal bristles showing, but no rictal bristles ; the 
lower mandible nearly as stout as upper, the depth of the bill at the base 
more than its width ; inteiTamal space triangular and feathered, rami divergent, 
more than half the length of the bill, the gonys a little ascending, not angulate. 
The wing rounded, the first primary short, less than half the length of 
the second which is very httle less than the third, fom^ih and fifth, while the 
sixth is little less and equalled in length by the secondaries ; the third, fourth 
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