ALAUDIN^. 429 



This little Sand-lark is found on the banks of the Hooghly, Gan- 

 ges, Indus, and Bramapootra; also, as I lately had the opportunity 

 of observing, abundant on the banks of the Irrawaddy in Upper 

 Burmah. It frequents the sand dunes, the colour of which its 

 own plumage strongly approximates. During the height of the 

 flood of the Irrawaddy, I observed it feeding- on the roads and 

 plains in the station at Thayct-myo in small parties. " It occasion- 

 ally," says Biyth, "ventures short snatches of song, frequently 

 without rising from the ground, and I never saw it mount 

 high." 



It is also found in Central Asia, and has been considered the 

 same as A. pispoletta of Pallas, which name will stand, if it be 

 identified with that bird. The description applies pretty fairly, 

 but the measurements given do not correspond, the wing being given 

 as 3.8^ inches, and the tail as 2*3. Blyth has seen specimens from 

 Ladakh. 



The birds next noticed comprise a very distinct form, and it 

 is the only one which has been observed in the American Continent. 

 They are easily recognised by their sincipital crests, and a peculiar 

 coloration. They are mostly inhabitants of cold or temperate 

 regions, and the following species are probably confined, in India, 

 to the Himalayas. 



Gen. Otocoeis, Bonap. — Crested-Larks. 



Syn. Phileremos. Brehm. 



Char. — Bill moderately short, slender, somewhat conical ; the 

 culmen distinctly arched ; wings moderately long ; no minute 

 primary, and the first three sub-equal and longest ; tail long, even ; 

 toes short ; claws rather long and nearly straight ; head with a 

 double, erectile, sincipital crest. 



The crested Larks differ from the two last forms, in their shorter 

 wings and longer tail, as well as in the double crest, and there 

 is always some black on the head and breast. 



763. Otocoris penicillata, Gould. 



Alauda, apud Gould, P. Z. S. 1837 — Blyth, Cat. Appendix, 

 p. 337 — HoRSr., Cat. 709 — 0. scriba, Bon.—Gray. Gen. Birds, 

 pi. 92. 



