42 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



Range in summer, circumpolar. Breeds in Europe, in Scandi- 

 navia south to 60°, N. Finland, Russia north of 65°, Iceland, 

 Scottish Mountains (small numbers). Migrates ; occurs in winter 

 N. and C. Europe generally ; few to Mediterranean shores, 

 occasional N. Africa, Canaries, Madeira, Azores. 



ALAUDID^— Larks. 



Sides of tarsus covered with scutes ; chiefly ground birds, 

 rarely perching; good runners; most are good songsters, 

 singing when soaring ; nest on ground ; eggs greyish to 

 yellowish white, thickly spotted olive brown or ashy brown. 



Rhamphocorys. 



Bill Finch-like, nbove much curved, cutting edge lower 

 mandible toothed in middle ; hind claw slightly curved. 



Rhamphocorys clot-bey (Bonaparte). Thick-eilled 

 Lark. 



(^ Above sandy grey, a white spot under eye, ear coverts 

 and sides of neck black, with white spot in centre ; secondaries 

 tipped white (conspicuous in flight), tail feathers, except central 

 pair, which are like back, white with black tips ; beneath white 

 with black spots (thickest in middle). Bill large and massive, 

 sandy brown. Legs and feet sandy brown. Wing 123-127. 

 Tarsus 24. Bill 18 long, 13-15 high at base (H.). 9 somewhat 

 smaller than ^ and less grey above. 



Residejit. — N. border of Sahara, Tunis and Algeria to Libyan 

 Desert. 



Melanocorypha. 



Bill strong, high, compressed sideways: hind claw as 

 long as hind toe, and straight, 



Melanocorypha calandra calandra (L.). Calandra 

 Lark. Fr. Calandre ; Ga'. Kalanderlerche ; Ital. Calandra. 



^ $ Above grey brown with dark centres, secondaries tipped 

 white ; beneath white ; large black patch on either side of neck, 

 breast buff with dark streaks, flanks buff, under wing coverts and 

 axillaries brownish grey, outer tail feathers pure white, remaindei; 



