;320 alaudi]).*;. 



of lower plumage white, washed with vinous on the breast and 

 sides of the body. 



Soon after the autumn moult the yellow parts of the head become 

 pure white, and the black parts lose all their fringes and become 

 deep black ; the crown, mantle, and upper tail-coverts become deep 

 vinous, and the whole of the upper plumage and wing-coverts 

 become more or less tinged with this colour ; the coronal horns 

 become very distinct and deep black. 



Fig. 90. — Head of 0. penioillata. 



The female has no black band on the front part of the crown, 

 the whole crown being streaked with black ; the black on the other 

 parts of the head is much duller, and there never is any trace of 

 vinous or pink on the plumage, except perhaps immediately after 

 the autumn moult ; the black patch on the fore neck and breast is 

 somewhat smaller, and the streaks on the upper plumage are more 

 pronounced. 



Iris deep reddish brown ; bill blackish above, bluish grey below ; 

 tarsi and upper surface of toes (in May) black in the male, dusky 

 in the female ; claws the same ; soles of feet whitish (Blanford). 



Length about 8 ; tail 3-3 ; wing 4-6 ; tarsus -9 ; bill from gape 

 •75 ; the female is considerably smaller. 



Distribution. A winter visitor to Gilgit, where this species is 

 found at a height of about 5000 feet. Biddulph procured this 

 Lark on the Shandur plateau, where it no doubt breeds. It ranges 

 north into Turkestan, and west into Asia Minor. 



856. Otocorys longirostris. The Lomj-billed Homed Lark. 



Otocorvs longirostris, Gould, Moore, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 215, pi. 3; 

 Horsf. # M. Cat. ii, p. 470 ; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 431 ; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 7(54; Scully, Ibis, 1881, p. 581; Biddulph, Ibis, 1882, p. 285; 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 53G. 



Coloration. Very similar to O. penieiUata, but differing in having 

 the white of the throat passing under the cheeks and ear-coverts 

 and merging into the pale colour of the side of the neck, thus 

 isolating the black on the fore neck and upper breast; the pre- 

 sent species is also much larger and the feathers of the upper 



