THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Telegraph Station and at Mount Campbell, where they were found breeding in 
February ” 
From the Pilbarra Goldfield, IVIid-west Austraha, Whitlock wrote: “ The 
de Grey flows in a rather deep bed, with vast level plains on either side, almost 
treeless, and with only small patches of scrub. Here the Mirafra was to be 
foimd in scattered pairs, or even in little colonies of three or four pairs, 
throughout the plains as far as I was able to explore them. But they were 
most abundant in the neighbom-hood of a large claypan, which in average 
seasons always contains water, situate some ten or twelve miles from the main 
river. Herbage roimd this cla 5 ^an was quite luxuriant, and the closely- 
growing tufts of grass reached almost to my knees. In the early morning, 
whilst the atmosphere was fresh and comparatively cool, the song of the male 
resounded from all parts of the neighbomhood. I was much reminded of the 
rich Enghsh river valleys on a warm spring morning, when the air is filled 
with the song of the Skylark, for Mirafra is a Lark in its habits and song, 
though in some other respects it shows an affinity mth the Pipits (Anthus). 
It has the habit of ascending to a considerable height, and there remaining 
suspended in mid-air, from whence it pours forth its pleasing song. The latter 
resembles that of the Skylark, but is neither so melodious nor so loud, but 
is equally well sustained. Certain notes resemble those of Cinclorham'phus 
cruralis, other those of a Plover or Sandpiper, and other agam those of Emberiza 
miliaria {the European Bunting). It is quite possible the Sandpiper-like 
notes may have been imitative in this particular locality, for I learned that 
Plovers and Sandpipers were often abmidant at this claypan in the rainy 
months of the year. Like the Skylark, too, Mirafra will sing at night or long 
before daybreak, and on bright moonlight nights I fancied more than once, 
w'hen guided by the sound, I could detect the httle songster soarmg overhead. 
In the field Mirafra may readily be distuiguished from Anihus, both by its 
appearance and by its general behaviom’. In colour it is of a richer bro^vn, 
and its shorter tail gives it a less slender appearance than that of a Pipit. Its 
flight, too, is less midulatory, though it often puts me in mind of the jerky 
flight of Ayithus pratensis (the Emopean Meadow Pipit). Moreover, Mirafra 
usually alights behind cover, from wliich it frequently rmis out to take 
a peep at an mtruder. Agaui, it has not the habit, fike Anihus australis, 
of wagging its tail up and down. It rmis nimbly, but not so quickly 
as the latter species. 
“The foregomg remarks refer for the most part to the male, for, according 
to my observations, the female must be a skulker. I had the greatest difficulty 
in obtaining a pair’ of females for specimens, but, on the other hand, the males 
were easy to shoot. This may be true only during the breeding season. . . . 
152 
