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Show * 648 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE [Nov. 17, d, e, 3 $. Objimbinque, Damara Land, July 30th & 31st, 1866 (C. J. Andersson). f, 2 • Objimbinque, Aug.*4th, 1866 (C. J. A.). g, 3. Ombujavahami, July 6th, 1866 (C. J. A.). E mus. Brit.:-a, 2 ad. Koonguip River, Great Namaqua Land, July 12th, 1871 (C. J. A.), b, 3 ad. Hountop River, Great Namaqua Land, June 3rd, 1862 (C. J. A.). Emus. H. B. Tristram:-a, 3 • Objimbinque, July 16th, 1866 (C. J. A.), b, 3. Ombujavahami, July 8th, 1866 (Cf. J. A.). 19. MIRAFRA AFRICANOIDES. Mirafra africanoides, Smith, Rep. Exp. S. Afr. p. 47 (1836); id. 111. Zool. S. Afr. pi. 88. fig. 2 (1849). Megalophonus africanoides, Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 382 (1844); Bp. Consp. i. p. 244 (1850); Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 214 (1867) ; Gray, Hand-1. B. ii. p. 122 (1870); Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 198 (1872). Alauda africanoides, Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 71 (1871); Giebel. Thes. Orn. p. 290 (1872). Adult (type of species). Above sandy rufous, with narrow black shaft-stripes to the whole of the upper surface, the neck very slightly inclining to greyish ; wing-coverts dark brown, with narrow blackish shaft-stripes, margined with sandy rufous, inclining to fulvous on the extreme edge of the feathers; primary coverts dark brown, with broad margins of sandy rufous; quills ashy brown, rufous on the outer web and very conspicuous, the inner web also rufous, but separated for the entire length of the quill by the dark brown of the shaft, the secondaries ashy brown, especially the innermost, which are distinctly shaded with grey, all margined with sandy colour; upper tail-coverts pale ashy brown, broadly washed with whity brown; tail dark brown, the middle feathers washed with clear grey and broadly margined with sandy rufous, the others narrowly and almost imperceptibly edged with pale sandy, the outermost narrowly bordered with whitish for the whole length of the outer web; lores and feathers round the eye whitish, as well as a distinct eyebrow ; feathers in front of the eye dusky; ear-coverts bright sandy rufous; cheeks, throat, and underparts generally whitish, washed with sandy isabelline on the chest, the cheeks with a few indistinct dusky spots, the chest sparsely marked with triangular spots of dusky black ; under wing-coverts entirely rufous, as also the greater part of the inner web of the quills ; " bill yellowish brown, shaded on culmen with brownish red; tarsi and toes sienna-yellow, brightened with flesh-red; iris light chestnut" (Sir A. Smith). Total length 6*5 inches, culmen 0*6, wing 3*65, tail 2*7, tarsus 11. The above description is taken from the type specimen, which is still in the Museum, but appears rather worn. I have, however, examples in both summer and winter plumages, which are not very different. In the latter dress the bird is much more mealy and sandy, whereas in summer it is bright fawn-colour ; the chest also is more plainly spotted in summer, and the thighs are deep fawn- |
