25G BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



feathers brown-black, central pair widely edged pale brown, 

 outermost pair with outer and most of inner web white, 

 penultimate pair narrowly fringed white and tip white, rest 

 with smaller Avhite tij)s ; wing-featliers brown -black, outer 

 webs narrowly fringed pale brown (in 2nd ]:)rimary whiter), 

 outer primaries with narrow brownish-white tips, inner 

 primaries and secondaries with wider and whiter tips, except 

 innermost secondaries which are fringed and tipped pale 

 brown ; primary-coverts brown-black, narrowly fri)iged and 

 tipped pale brown ; all wing coverts dark brown fringed and 

 and tipped (broadly in greater and median), pale brown to 

 whitish-brown. This plumage is acquired by complete 

 moult in autumn. Summer. — No moult. Abrasion causes 

 very little change, but mantle becomes rather darker OAving 

 to Avear of brown edges of feathers, streaks on breast and 

 black patches on sides of throat become still more prominent. 



Nestling. — (Not examined). Juvenile. — (Not examined. I 

 shall be very grateful for the loan of any specimen as there 

 are none in any of the collections to which I have had access.) 



First ivinter. — Apparently like the adults and probably 

 the juvenile plumage is completely moulted in the first 

 autumn as in other larks, but no specimen moulting has been 

 examined. 



Measurements and structure. — ^ wing 120-135 mm., tail 

 57-65, tarsus 26-30, bill from skull 16-20 (12 measured), 

 9 Aving 110-132. Primaries: 1st minute and less than half 

 primary-coverts, 2nd and 3rd usually equal and longest 

 but 2nd sometimes 1-4 mm. shorter, 4th 1-5 shorter, 5th 

 8-16 shorter, 6th 13-27 shorter ; 3rd to 5th emarginated outer 

 webs. Secondaries between 7th and 10th ]jrimaries, square 

 tipped and notched. Tail. almost square. Hind-claw straight, 

 spike-shaped and longer than hind-toe. Bill very strong and 

 thick, upper mandible curved and slightly longer than lower. 

 Some small and fine rictal and nasal bristles, and small bristle- 

 like feathers covering nostrils. 



Soft parts. — Bill, upper mandible dark horn, lower yellowish 

 horn ; legs and feet yellowish-brown ; iris brown. 



Characters and allied forms.- Jf. c. j''^^''^^^^^^^''^'^ 

 (Western Persia, Transcaspia to Turkestan), is paler and 

 rather more sandy on upper-parts and paler on flanks. 

 M. bimaculata (Turkestan, Persia, Asia Minor) has not white 

 tips to secondaries and inner primaries. Large size, black 

 patches on sides of lower throat and Avhite on inner web of 

 outer yjair of tail-feathers distinguish it from other British 

 Larks. 



