2 54 CRESTED LARK. 



especially on dry sandy soils, except in Corsica, Sardinia and Malta, 

 in which it is nearly unknown. It is numerous in North Africa, and 

 as far south as Senegal on the west ; but there and elsewhere an 

 approach to the desert is generally accompanied by a more sandy 

 tint, and sometimes by an increase of size and a greater develop- 

 ment of bill. Allowing for these and other climatic variations, 

 which have led to the fabrication of at least thirty species and sub- 

 species, the Crested Lark may be said to range eastward from 

 Morocco to Abyssinia, Arabia, and Northern China. 



The nest, often commenced early in March, is usually placed in 

 some depression of the dry ground, such as a hoof-print, or amongst 

 herbage, but at times on an old wall or bank of earth, or even on 

 the ridge of a low thatched shed in the fields ; the materials employed 

 being dry grass and roots. The eggs, 4-5 in number, vary from 

 greyish-white distinctly spotted with brown and violet-grey, to 

 greenish-grey mottled with olive-brown : measurements "95 by "69 in. 

 Incubation, in which the male takes part, lasts a fortnight. The 

 Crested Lark is a tame and conspicuous bird, frequenting sandy 

 roads — in which it is fond of dusting itself — and running with great 

 rapidity : I have actually seen it glide beneath a horse when at a 

 slow walk, rather than take wing. Its flight is undulating and 

 resembles that of the Wood-Lark. The bird is not gregarious, and 

 is generally seen singly, or in pairs and family parties. The short 

 but rather liquid, flute-like and melodious song of the male is 

 generally uttered on the ground, though often during a short flight, 

 and occasionally from a bush ; the call-note may be syllabled as 

 coo-hai. The young are fed on insects and their larvae, but seeds 

 and grain form the principal food of this species, and in snowy 

 weather it may be seen examining horse-droppings &c. 



The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown with 

 darker streaks, and often with a sandy tint ; while the under parts 

 are buffish-white, with dark streaks on the gorget, and pale brown 

 markings on the flanks. The characteristics of this species are the 

 long, drooping, pointed crest, large bastard primary, orange-tawny 

 hue of the under side of the wing and inner portion of the quill- 

 feathers, and the absence of white from the tail — the feathers of 

 which are tawny brown and black. Owing to the shortness of its 

 tail and wings, the dimensions — length 7 in., wing 4-2 in. — are less 

 than those of the Sky-Lark, though the bird is rather more bulky. 

 The female is slightly smaller and darker than the male ; the young 

 bird has the feathers of the upper parts broadly margined with 

 white and buff, and fewer spots on the breast. 



