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



96. Alauda arborea, Linn. " Cotovia pequena," gene- 

 rally ; '^ Calandria/^ Galicia. 



The Wood Lark nests on the high ground of the provinces 

 of Minho and of Beira ; also, as Dr. Carvalho informs me, 

 in the serras to the east of Coimbra. I met with it in 

 June on the top of the Serra do Gerez and at Abrantes, 

 where I have also seen it in January; in April also at St. 

 Domingos copper-mine, in the Alemtejo. 



Immediately round Oporto it is very scarce in summer. 

 In September and October numbers arrive at the pine-woods 

 near the mouth of the Douro, and spend the winter months 

 there, going away on the approach of spring. Some linger 

 on till March, and a pair or two even into the summer. 

 This is one of the latest singers, being heard into the months 

 of September, October, and November. 



97. Calandrella brachydactyla (Leisl.) . " Carreirola," 

 " Calandra gallega," Estoi, Algarve. 



The Short-toed Lark is a summer visitor, abundant in 

 some localities, and chiefly so near the sea-coast on sandy 

 hills or plains. It is common between the Castello do Queijo 

 and Mattosinhos, near Oporto. I am not certain at what 

 date birds usually arrive from the south, but I have seen 

 them from April 22nd till the 21st August. 



98. Melanocorypha calandra (Linn.). " Cochicho," 

 Traz OS Montes; ^^ Calandra,^^ Villa Real de Sto. Antonio. 



Very local. Found in Traz os Montes, from which pro- 

 vince many are brought to Oporto, where they may be seen 

 in cages hvmg up at the doors of small shops in the bye- 

 streets, uttering their shrill ear-piercing song, and mimicking, 

 as well as they can, the songs of other birds. On one occa- 

 sion I heard one imitate the Canary. An indefatigable 

 singer with a loud voice fetches a high price, sometimes 

 as much as two or three pounds sterling. 



One of the bird-dealers informed me that this bird has 

 sometimes a parasite, like a tick, on its ears, and unless this 

 is removed, it eventually causes the death of the Lark. 



The nearest place to Oporto at which I have heard that 

 it is found is Loureiro, near Caldas d^Aregos ; it is said to 



