Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal. 197 



Oporto, and also at Ovar ; and I kept one which had been 

 wounded for some time in a cage. 



94). Alauda cRisTATA. " Cotovia," general name j " Pou- 

 pinha/^ " Gagalhosa/' Rezende ; " Patorra/* Traz os Montes ; 

 " Calandra/' Caldas d^Aregos. 



The Crested Lark is resident and abundant in Portugal, 

 frequenting the hilly country more than cultivated land, 

 but it is common in fields of rye. I have received from 

 Ali3iar9a, near Santarem, two specimens much lighter in 

 colour than those from the north of Portugal ; they had 

 also longer and more curved beaks. I have seen a specimen 

 of this same variety obtained in the plains of the Algarve. 

 The lighter colour is probably a protective adaptation to the 

 light-coloured earth of the plains of the south, the mountain 

 form of the north of Portugal being darker on the back. 



95. Alauda ARVENsis. " Laverca," Oporto ; "Calaudra/' 

 Monchique. 



Immense numbers of migratory Sky Larks arrive in the 

 neighbourhood of Oporto from the middle of October on- 

 wards, and a few in the beginning of that month, many 

 remaining through the winter, departing in March. They are 

 very abundant in the cultivated fields near the sea-coast, and 

 go about in large and small flocks, the chief line of migra- 

 tion being a few hundred yards from the sea. They prefer an 

 easterly land-breeze for their travelling, and on favourable 

 mornings an almost continuous stream may be seen near the 

 mouth of the Douro. 



A darker variety of the Sky Lark is found on the summits 

 of some of the serras. I have met with it in April on the 

 top of the Foja peak, Serra de Monchique, and specimens 

 have been obtained in summer from the Serra do E-oxo, near 

 Coimbra. 



No Sky Larks are found in summer near Oporto. It will 

 be interesting to learn whence come the large numbers which 

 arrive here in the autumn. The matter of the varieties 

 found in this country requires further inquiry and the com^ 

 parison of a large number of specimens. 



