MIRAFRA AFRICANOIDES.
F orm, &c.—Figure moderately stout. Bill conical, strong, and rather
elongated ; the nostrils uncovered. Wings rounded, and when folded, reach
to the last third of the tail, the third, fourth, and fifth quill feathers equal
and longest, the second a little shorter than the third, the first about an
inch and a half shorter than the second. Tail even, or slightly emarginate.
Legs and toes robust; the tarsi anteriorly and posteriorly seutellated ; claws
of anterior toes short, rather strong, and slightly pointed ; the claw of hinder
toe slender, slightly curved, and pointed.
DIMENSIONS.
Lines. Inches. Lines.
Length of the ta r s i...................... 1 1
0 of the outer toe................. 0 2^
6 | of the middle toe.............. ,. ... 0 4>\
6 of the inner toe . . . . . . . . . . 0 2|
6 pf the hinder toe. . . . . . . . . 0 2
of the claw of hinder toe . . . . 0 4
Inches.
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the ta il............ 6
of. the b i l l............................ 0
of the wings when folded . . . 3
of the t a i l .......................... . 2
The female is coloured like the male, only the tints are less bright.
Specimens of this bird are occasionally to be procured to the south of the Orange River, but
most readily on the arid open plains which lie between that river and the tropic of Capricorn.
The colours of the primary and secondary quill feathers, and their distribution, are the same
in this and the last described species; but in other respects the differences are palpable. The
present species, besides being considerably smaller than the last described, has longer wings
in proportion to its size, and a shorter, stronger, and more conical bill. The colours of the
under parts, as well as of the tertiary quill feathers and the outer vane of the outermost
feather of each side of the tail, are very different.