246 ALAUDID.E. 



amongst some stones in a dry river-bed. I took another nest on 

 a bare maid an in the same neigbourhood on the Oth November 

 containing two fresh eggs. 



" Belgaum : Sth Oet., t\Ao fr(\sh (^ggs. 25th Feb., tA\o incu- 

 bated eggs. 21st March, two fresli eggs in one nest, and two 

 yoiuig birds ready to fly in anotlier. 1 also found nests on the 

 following dates :— 261 li Oct., 3rd Dec, and Oth Dec, all three 

 nests containing two incubated eggs. Another nest in Eelgauin on 

 the 23rd April containing two fresh eggs." 



Mr. J. Davidson tells us, writing from !Sholapur : — " This is a 

 common bird both here and in 8atrara, and seems also to breed 

 over a great part of the year. I found its nest with one fresh egg 

 at Patau (Sattara) in December; again, with two young at Adul 

 (Sattara) in February ; again in the beginning of May iu iSattara ; 

 and in considerable numl)ers in July, August, and [September iu 

 Sholapur. The nests were a mixture of grass, shreds of cloth, and 

 feathers, easily distinguishable from those of the Small Crested 

 Lark, which, as far as I could judge from numerous specimens, 

 were entirely made of fine grass. They were placed on the ground 

 in a slight depression, frequently touching the stalk of a tallish 

 weed, but always, as far as I observed, where the grass is very 

 short. I have never observed more than two eggs, and have often 

 (ten times or so) found them fully incubated." 



And he continues : — " About three weeks ago I got another nest 

 of this Finch-Lark with two fresli eggs, so I think it really breeds 

 through the \^'hole year in this part of the Deccan." 



Captain Horaces Terry says : — " I found a nest of this Lark at 

 Bellary on tht^ 7th December, plac(^d on the roof of a godown 

 adjoining my bungalow. Nothing very odd in this, perhaps, but I 

 have oftennoticed these birds have a fondness for some small stones 

 round the edge of their nests, and sure enough this bird h:ul a very 

 fine collection of them up there. Dow they got there it is diflicult 

 to say. One can hardly imagine the birds took the trouble to take 

 them up there, but J suppose they must have." 



Mr. G. A^idal, \\'riting of the South Konkan, remarks : — " Very 

 common in the more open country, in fields and rocky tablelands. 

 Breeds in October, November, and again in April. The nests are 

 tiny cups of grass, lined with tow and shreds of wool, probably 

 pilfered from tlie blankets of cowherds. I have never found more 

 than two eggs in a nest. This species is very abundant on the 

 rocky laterite plateau on the summit of the cliff at Ealnagiri. 

 Here it builds its nest on the bare sin'i'ace of the sheet rock. The 

 nests are not hollowed out, but are built i]i all round with a little 

 wall or embankment of loose gra^•el and detritus. There is no 

 attempt at concealment, but as a sort of landmark, and perhaps 

 with an idea that it gi^•es protection, a small stone, from four to six 

 inches high, is invariably found at the side of the nest. In fields 

 and wherever the soil admits of being dug up, a small hollow is 

 scooped out, or else a natural hollow, such as a hoof-mark, is 



