MIRAFRA. 
159 
Genus MIRAFRA, Horsfield. 
MIRAFRA HORSFIELDII, Gould. 
Horsefield’s Bush Lark. 
Gould, Ilandbk. Bds. Aust., Yol. i., sp. 248, p. 404. 
« The nests of Mirafra horsf eldii are usually found during the 
months of November, December, and often as late as January and 
February. They are loose ragged structures, and not finished off 
nicely like those of Anthus australis. They are cup-shaped, and 
are composed wholly of grasses without any particular lining. The 
situation chosen is a little hollow scraped out by the side of a tuft 
of grass or straw, or behind a clod of earth ; the front edge of the 
nest is alone smoothed down—the back part being left ragged and 
often drawn forward as if to help to conceal the eggs. The nest 
is about two inches and a-half in diameter by one inch in depth. 
On the 4th of February 1861, we took a nest from a hay-field at 
Macquarie Fields containing three eggs, which is the usual number. 
They are in length from eight to ten lines by from six to seven in 
breadth, and of a light earthy-brown, thickly marked over the 
whole surface with freckles of a much darker hue. Some specimens 
are darker in colour than others, and after a time the ground¬ 
colour becomes of a more yellowish tint, and the markings much 
duller and more indistinct.” (Ramsay , P.Z.S., 1865, p. 689.) 
This is the only species of Australian bird of which I know, that 
sings at night; especially is it to be heard on bright moonlight 
nights about mid-summer, flying slowly about high in the air, 
apparently filled with pleasure and delight at the continued sweet 
and varied notes at its command. 
Dimensions of eggs taken by me at Moonee Ponds on the 14th 
of January 1882 are as follows :—length (A) 0'79 x 0’55 inch ; 
(B) 0-78 x 0-59 inch ; (C) OffS x 0-5 inch. 
llab. Derby, N.W. Australia, Gulf of Carpentaria, Rockingham 
Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, New South 
Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia. ( Ramsay.) 
