SKY LARK. 415 



beria, Russia, and Western Asia. It is universal over the 

 European continent to the shores of the Mediterranean, and 

 inhabits also the Morea, the shores of the Black Sea, Smyrna, 

 and North Africa. Mr. H. E. Strickland when at Smyrna, 

 says, " immense flocks of this bird arrived from the north- 

 ward at the commencement of the severe weather at Christ- 

 mas 1885. 



The beak is dark brown above, pale yellow brown at the 

 base of the lower mandible ; irides hazel ; the feathers on the 

 top of the head are elongated, forming a crest, which the 

 bird elevates at pleasure ; in colour they are dark brown, with 

 pale brown edges ; the nape, back, wings, and upper tail- 

 coverts, varied with three shades of brown, the darkest of 

 which occupies the longitudinal line of the shaft of each 

 feather, and the margin of the feather is the lightest ; the 

 wing-coverts and tertials have broad light brown edges ; the 

 quill -feathers dusky brown ; the outer tail-feather on each 

 side is white, with a longitudinal streak of brown on the 

 inner web ; the next tail-feather on each side is dark brown, 

 with a longitudinal streak of white on the outer web ; the 

 rest dusky brown, with light brown edges ; the throat and 

 upper part of the breast are pale wood-brown, spotted with 

 dark browai ; belly and under tail-coverts pale yellowish white, 

 tinged with brown on the thighs and flanks ; the legs, toes, 

 and claws, brown ; the middle toe rather long ; the claw of 

 the hind toe very long, straight at the base and for half its 

 length, then slightly curved. 



The whole length of an adult male seven inches and a 

 quarter. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing four 

 inches and a half; the first feather short, the second shorter 

 than the third, which is the longest in the wing. 



The female is a little smaller than the male, and rather 

 darker in colour. 



