286 ALAUDIDiE. 



markings being often met with in the same egg. Here and there 

 an egg is found with a pretty conspicuous zone of more or less 

 confluent markings. 



In length they vary from 0*85 to 0'92, and in breadth from 0'65 

 to 0-69 ; but the average of seventeen eggs is 0*87 by 0-65. 



Galerita deva (Sykes). >St/l-es's Crested Lark. 



Spizalauda deva (Sykes), Jerd. B. hid. ii, p. 432 ; Hume, Cat. 



no. 705. 

 Spizalauda simillima {Hume), Hume, Roiujh Draft N. Sf E. 



no. 765 bis. 



Sykes's Crested Lark breeds in suitable localities, viz., dry, open, 

 more or less cultivated lands throughout a considerable portion 

 of Central and Southern India. 



The breeding-season lasts from June to August, but the great 

 majority of the numerous eggs I have from Lahore, Etawah, 

 Jliansi, and Saugor were obtained on various dates in August. 



They build on the ground in dry, open, thoroughly drained 

 country, always placing the nest in more or less of a depression in 

 the soil, and often concealing it entirely behind an overhanging 

 clod, or at the roots of a thick bush, or within a dense clump of 

 grass. 



The nests of this species which I have seen have all been small, 

 rather oblong, shallow cups, measuring externally about 3 inches 

 to 4-5 in diameter, and 1'5 to 2-25 in height, rather compactly and 

 densely put together with coarse vegetable fibre and by no means 

 fine grass. The egg-cavity, which had no lining, measured from 

 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and was from an inch to 1\, inch in 

 depth. 



From Jhansi and Saugor, where he obtained numerous nests, 

 Mr. F. E. Blewitt writes : — Sykes's Crested Lark breeds from the 

 middle of June to August. A grass patch is generally selected 

 for the nest, sometimes a close-growing bush, at the base of which 

 the nest is made. The nest is always made on the ground, and, 

 as far as possible, well secreted in the patch or bush under \\hich 

 it is sheltered. The nest at the base is made of coarse roots and 

 grass to about an inch or 1 1 inch in thickness. On the upper 

 surface of this is placed grass of a finer texture, with occasionally 

 khus intermixed. The centre of the nest is a hollow of from 1| 

 inch to an inch in depth. The grass of the nest is closely put 

 together, forming on the whole a compact structure. The diameter 

 averages about 5 inches. 



" The eggs are white, with minute ashy-looking spots, some- 

 times of lightish brov\ n, all over, tliicker towards the broad end. 



" The average length is about 0-8 and breadth O'O. Three are 

 the regular niimber of eggs, though two are frequently found." 



In this latter remark 1 quite concur. Out of six nests found 

 and taken by myself one contained three, and two, two eggs each. 



