362 THE BIKDS OF HELIGOLAND 



colours and markings of the Lark family, it is nevertheless at once 

 distinguished from the two preceding species, A. calandra and 

 A. leucoptera, by the absence of the white colour on the inner web 

 of the outer pair of tail-feathers, and by the black colour of the 

 under wing-coverts. 



The breeding range of this species extends across the Steppes 

 of central Asia, whence in rare and exceptional cases it reaches 

 central Europe. The only authenticated instance of its occurrence 

 in Europe appears to be the bird shot in Heligoland. Blasius 

 states that in March 1850 three or four examples occurred near 

 Brussels. 



[I have much pleasure in being able to add to the preceding 

 account, that to-day(July 27, 1892) an extraordinarily fine old male 

 of this, so rare, species in central Europe was brought to me by 

 Jasper Kliffmann, the nephew of Claus Aeuckens, which had been 

 shot by him shortly before on the Upper Plateau. Accordingly 

 this species, so peculiar by reason of its summer plumage, is now 

 represented in my collection by an old pair. 



The whole plumage of this example is of a uniform deep black, 

 without the least trace of the light edges of the feathers in the 

 winter plumage. By way of contrast to the plumage, the colour of 

 the beak in the fresh bird is a quite light, whitish-bluish-grey, very 

 faintly shot with whitish sulphur yellow : the feet are of a uniform 

 black. 



The measurements of this old male are as follows : — Total length 

 from forehead to tip of tail, 7-64 ins. (194 inm.) ; length of wing 

 in repose, 5-30 ins. (134 mm.) ; length of tail, 2-83 ins. (72 mm.); 

 length of tail uncovered by wings, 78 in. (20 mm.). 



The measurements of the female are considerably less through- 

 out.] 



167.— Crested Lark [Hatjbenlekche]. 



ALAUDA CRISTATA, Linn. 



Heligolandish : Topped Lortsk = Cresf efi Lark. 



Alauda cristata. Nauniann, iv. 134. 



Crested Lark. Dresser, iv. 285. 



Alouette cochevis. Temminck, Manuel, i. 277, iii. 204. 



It is singidar that this species, Avhich is so common in Slcswick- 

 Holstein, counts here among the greatest rarities, scarcely a single 

 bird being seen during intervals of three or four years. How- 

 ever, Heligoland is in this respect a partner in misfortune with the 



