326 ALAUDID^. 



861 . Alauda gulgula. The Indian Sky-Lark. 



Akuda gulgula, Frdnhl P. Z. S. 1831, p. 119 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 132 ; 



Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 434 ; Hume Sr Senders. Lah. to York. p. 269, 



pi. xxix ; Hume, S. F. i, p. 40 ; Brooks, 8. F. i, p. 485 ; Hume, N. 



8f E. p. 486 ; Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 630 ; Hume, Cat. no. 767 ; 



Scully, 8. F. viii, p. 338 ; Oates, B. B. i, p. 373 ; Barnes, Birds 



Bom. p. 282 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 575 ; Oates in Hume's 



N. # E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 221. 

 Alauda triborhyncha, Hodgs. in Gray's Zool. Misc. p. 84 (1844, descr. 



nulla) ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. ii, p. 467 (part,). 

 Alauda malabarica, Scop, apud Horsf. Sr M. Cat. ii, p. 467. 

 Alauda australis, Brooks, S. F. i, p. 486 (1873) ; Hume, Cat. no. 



768. 

 Alauda peguensis, Oates, S. F. iii, p. 343 (1875). 



Buruta-pitta, Niala pichike, Tel. ; Manam-badi, Tarn. ; Bhurut, Hind. ; 

 Bee-lone, Burm. ; Oomarita, Cing. 



Coloration. So similar to A. arvensis as to require no separate 

 description. Differs in being constantly smaller, the wing seldom 

 exceeding 3*5. 



There are as many races of this Lark as there are of A. arvensis, 

 but they are equally unworthy of recognition, as they are based on 

 points of size and colour which are by no means constant or even 

 definable. 



Sharpe is of opinion that A. gulgula differs from A. arvensis in 

 having paler under wing-coverts, and by the almost entire absence 

 of flank-stripes. These points may be of service in discriminating 

 between the two birds, but the only character which is of real use 

 seems to me to be that of size. 



Mouth yellowish ; upper mandible dark horn ; lower mandible 

 pinkish fleshy, dusky at the tip ; iris brown; eyelids plumbeous; 

 legs fleshy brown ; claws pale horn-colour. 



Length about 6-5 ; tail 2*3 ; wing 3*4 ; tarsus "9 ; bill from 

 gape "75. 



Distribution. Every portion of the Empire and Ceylon, except 

 Tcuasserim, south of Moulmein, and the middle ranges of the 

 Himalayas, where this Lark is absent or comparatively rare. A 

 specimen of a Lark procured by Brooks at Almorah, however, 

 appears to be referable to this species. It has not been recorded 

 from the Andamans or Nicobars. 



Habits, Sfc. Breeds throughout India apparently from April to 

 June and in Burma from December to April, constructing a nest 

 similar to that of A. arvensis, and laying similar eggs, which are, 

 however, somewhat smaller, and measure about "8 by # 61. The 

 habits of this species closely resemble those of the European Sky- 

 lark, the song is similar and is uttered in the same manner as the 

 bird soars. Both species associate in flocks in the winter. 



