498 PASSERIFORMES CHAP. 
rest of the face and throat, or even the lower parts, being yellowish. 
Tephrocorys cinerea and Mirafra apiata have a rufous crown and 
breast respectively. Pyrrhulauda is chiefly black below, and varies 
above from grey to chestnut, relieved by black and white. Ordinarily 
the sexes in Larks are similar. Crests are not uncommon. 
Certhilauda, Alaemon, and Ammomanes inhabit deserts or arid 
plains, Alaudula raytal frequents sandy islets, and Ofocorys often 
selects uplands; but most forms only require open country, being 
chiefly ground-birds and seldom found near woods. Lu/lula, how- 
ever, loves heaths and the outskirts of copses, and M/irafra bushy 
spots. Larks often flock together, and are not usually shy, since 
they will even enter villages; the desert species are particularly 
quick runners, while the flight is exceptionally weak in Ammo- 
manes, Calandrella, and some others, though as a rule sufficiently 
strong. Perching is not an uncommon habit, Lu//u/a and Mirafra 
habitually settle on trees or tall bushes, and several forms squat 
to avoid detection. In general dusting takes the place of washing. 
The food consists of insects and their larvae, seeds, worms, small 
molluses, crustaceans, or even berries. Most Larks soar while 
uttering their pleasing trills, and plaintive calls are often heard ; 
Lullula has a more flute-like song, Pyrrhulauda utters a shrill 
chirp. Galerita cristata and Melanocorypha calandra imitate other 
birds successfully when caged. The cup-shaped nest of bents, 
lined with finer grasses, fibres, or hair, is placed in herbage or in 
some depression in the soil—wool, cotton, rags, or even sticks 
being exceptionally added; but two or three species of Mirafra 
build a domed structure, occasionally placed on bare rocks or roofs 
of houses. The eggs are generally whitish, closely spotted or 
zoned with purplish-grey or brown; some specimens, however, 
are thickly freckled with yellowish or marked with reddish. The 
number varies from two in Pyrrhulauda, and about three in Am- 
momanes, to five, six, or even seven. Both sexes incubate in some 
cases, while two or more broods are often reared in the season. 
Thousands of Sky-Larks are netted annually for the table. 
Fam. II. Motacillidae——This group comprises the Sub- 
families Motacillinae, or Wagtails, and Anthinae or Pipits. The 
bill is thin and more or less elongated, with a slight notch, 
the culmen being decidedly curved in Oreocorys. The metatarsus 
is very long in Wagtails, variable but shorter in Pipits; it is 
usually slender, with the hind claw well developed and slightly 
