566 ALAUDIDJ3. 



10. ALAUDA. „ 



Tjpe. 



Aliuida, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 287 (17G0) A. arveiisis. 



llauije. Tlie greater part of Europe and Asia, not penetrating to 

 the south of the Burmese covintries. 



Alauda arvensis and its allies. 



Tlie number of species of Sky- Lark has alwaj's been difficult to 

 determine. Any one comparing a specimen of the ordinary Euro- 

 pean species with a Sky-Lark from Japan or the plains of North- 

 western India, would say that the differences in size and colour 

 at once separate them ; but on carefully examining a series such as 

 the Museum now possesses, it would be found that every possible 

 intermediate link between these races is represented, and that no 

 exact line can be drawn between any of the "so-called species of 

 Sky-Lark. 



It may be convenient to divide them into two sections, repre- 

 sented by Aluuda arvemis and A. ijidrjvhi. In the latter section 

 the bill is thinner and the rpfous on the wing is more emphasized. 

 Were there no such form as A. I'lopns, these two Sky-Larks would 

 appear to be quite distinct, for the shape of the bill in A. arvensis 

 is different from that of A. guJgula*, while in form of bill A. canta- 

 rella resembles A. arvensis, but in plumage it differs in being 

 greyer. There are many specimens, however, of which it is im- 

 possible to say whether they should be referred to A. arvensis or 

 A. cantarella. In the mountains of Cashmere occurs another small 

 race of Sky-Lark, A. c/vttata of Brooks, which is evidently A. lio2nis 

 of Hodgson, and to this must be added A. japonica of Temminck 

 and Schlegel, for there are specimens from the Eastern Himalayas 

 which exactly resemble Japanese specimens. A. hialisioni is merely 

 a large race n^ A. jrqjonica. 



Of the slender-billed section of Sky-Larks, A.cjulpula may bo 

 taken as the type, and A. ccelivox must be united to it. In India 

 the southern birds are much darker {A. austrulis of Brooks), but 

 there is also a tendency to form a dark race of A. f/vlf/ula in speci- 

 mens from the Burmese provinces, and some individuals are difficult 

 to distinguish from those of Southern India. Again, in Southern 

 Formosa the Sky-Larks arc still darker (A. wattersi of Swinhoe); and 

 there is also a somewhat longer-billed race (A. sain of Swinhoe) in 

 the northern part of that island. The differences in intensity of 

 plumage of Sky-Larks must be studied by the light of their habitats 

 and conditions of hfe, and probably the inci-ease of rainfall may have 

 something to do with moditication of colour. 



* It is understood, of course, that ouly specimens in identical stages of 

 plumage are compared. It is of no use to compare a Lai-k in winter plumage 

 with anotlier form ia summer plumage and vice ecrsa. 



