154 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



They have a strong family resemblance to 

 the Larks' eg^gs already described but are 

 larger than most of them. The markings 

 also are larger and more conspicuous. The 

 ground-colour is the usual greenish or yel- 

 lowish-white, and the specks, spots and 

 blotches are yellowish or greenish brown and 

 pale purple. 



The Ganges Sand-Lark breeds along the 

 sandy dunes that fringe this great river and 

 its affluents. A broad and tranquil stream 

 with wide bare banks of sand is what it loves 

 and there, amid a few stunted strao^orlinor 

 shoots of tamarisk, it builds its nest. It lays 

 in March, April and May, making a tiny 

 circular nest in some little hollow under a 

 tuft of grass or tamarisk or beside and 

 partly under a stranded log, the fragments of 

 some old boat, or a large stone. The nests 

 are small pads composed of fine grass or 

 tamarisk leaflets. Two is the normal number 

 of eggs. The ground-colour is greyish or 

 yellowish white and very minutely speckled 

 all over with yellowish brown. 



