SKYLARK. 623 



near Lahore. It inhabits or at least occurs in Persia, and 

 large flocks visit the sea-coast of Palestine in winter. In 

 Northern Arabia and in Lower Egypt it is of occasional 

 occurrence at the same season, and in parts of North-western 

 Africa it is not only very common at that time of year, but 

 Canon Tristram found it remaining to breed on the southern 

 slopes of the Atlas. It sometimes strays to Madeira, and 

 one was shot in Bermuda, 12th June 1850, by Mr. Hurdis, 

 though whether the example had been imported or not seems 

 doubtful.* Throughout Europe generally it is almost every- 

 where abundant, and, though some breed in Southern Spain, 

 it is chiefly known as a bird of passage or at least a winter- 

 visitant in the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Near 

 Naples, according to Rafinesque as quoted by Prof. Doderlein, 

 a million of Larks will pass in a single day at the time of 

 the greatest flight, and in Italy from one end to the other 

 its capture seems to be the object of as many contrivances 

 as in Germany and elsewhere. Whether there is not also 

 a second allied species in the South-east of Europe is a 

 point which the Editor will not take upon himself to decide, 

 any more than the name, whether Alauda cantarella or 

 A. intermedia, which that species should bear; but the 

 supposed A. agrestis of Germany, difl"ering in its smaller 

 size, shorter bill and hind claw, seems hardly to require 

 recognition. In coloration English Skylarks vary a good 

 deal, and, according to Blyth (Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 2, i. 

 p. 135, note), this variation depends to some extent on the 

 soil they frequent, while abroad it is still more perceptible — 

 Portuguese examples, for instance, being exceedingly dark in 

 colour, and accidental varieties — white, cream-coloured, buff 

 and even sooty-black are far from uncommon everywhere. 



The bill is dark brown above, with the edges of the upper 

 mandible yellowish-brown, the lower mandible livid flesh- 

 colour, yellowish at the base : irides hazel : the lores and a 



* Some years since an attempt was made to introduce the Skylark to the 

 United States of America, and several were liberated on Long Ishuid. Writing 

 in 1874, Prof. Baird (North American Birds, ii. y. 136) hopes that the species 

 has now made good its foothold in that country. 



