244 CRESTED LARK. 



it is fairly common ; while in Central and Southern Europe it is 

 abundant, especially on dry sandy soils, except in Corsica, Sardinia 

 and Malta, in which it is nearly unknown. It is numerous in North 

 Africa, and as far south as Senegal on the west ; but there and else- 

 where an approach to the desert is generally accompanied by a more 

 sandy tint, and sometimes by an increase of size and a greater de- 

 velopment of bill. Allowing for these and other climatic variations, 

 which have led to the fabrication of some thirty species and sub- 

 species, the Crested Lark may be said to range eastward from 

 Morocco to Abyssinia, and from Arabia to Northern China. 



The nest, often commenced early in March, is usually placed in 

 some such depression of the dry ground as a hoof-print, or amongst 

 herbage, but sometimes on an old wall or bank of earth, or even on 

 the ridge of a low thatched shed in the fields ; the materials employed 

 being dry grass and roots. The eggs, 4-5 in number, vary from 

 greyish-whit6 distinctly spotted with brown and violet-grey, to green- 

 ish-grey mottled with olive-brown : average measurements '95 by "68 

 in. Incubation, in which the male takes part, lasts a fortnight. The 

 Crested Lark is a tame and conspicuous bird, frequenting sandy 

 roads — in which it is fond of dusting itself — and running with great 

 rapidity, while I have often seen it glide beneath a horse when at a 

 slow walk, rather than take wing. Its flight is undulating and 

 resembles that of the Woodlark. It is not gregarious, and is gener- 

 ally seen singly, or in pairs and family parties. The short but rather 

 liquid and melodious song of the male is generally uttered on the 

 ground, though often during a short flight, and occasionally from a 

 bush ; the note may be syllabled as ' coo-hai.' The young are fed 

 on insects and their larvae, but seeds and grain form the principal 

 food of this species, and in snowy weather it may be seen examin- 

 ing horse-droppings &c. 



The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown with 

 darker streaks, and often with a sandy tint ; while the under parts are 

 buftish-white, with dark streaks on the gorget, and pale brown mark- 

 ings on the flanks. The characteristics of this species are the long, 

 pointed crest, large bastard pi /nary, orange-taivny hue of the under 

 side of the wing and inner portion of t/ie quill feathers, and the 

 absence of ii.<hite from the tail — the feathers of which are tawny-brown 

 and black. Owing to the shortness of its tail and wings the dimen- 

 sions — length 675 in., wing 4'i in. — are less than those of the 

 Skylark. The female is slightly smaller and darker than the male ; 

 the young have the feathers of the upper parts broadly margined 

 with white and buff, and fewer spots on the breast. 



