20 CERTHILAUDA ALAUDIPES. 



The Great Long-billed Lark ranges over the desert portions 

 of North Africa into the Cape Verde Islands, Sotnaliland and 

 the coastlands of Southern Asia to as far east as Sind. 



The most western range known for this species is Boavista, 

 the nearest island of the Cape Verde group to the African 

 continent and it has not been recorded from any other of 

 these islands. It is evidently a very common species here, 

 and a resident according to Mr. Boyd Alexander, who writes : 

 " This species frequents the sandy portion of the island near 

 the sea. Throughout the day we found it either singly or 

 in pairs, but as a rule, the males kept to themselves, while 

 each female was invariably accompanied by a single immature 

 bird." He also writes : " The eggs, two in number, are laid 

 on the bare ground, in a depression, underneath a stone, or 

 among the ruins of a wall. Their ground colour is dirty 

 white, blotched and spotted with reddish brown, with under- 

 lying markings of purplish grey, which often form a thick 

 zone round the larger end. Measurements : length 1"0 to 0"9 

 inch ; breadth 07 to 0"63 inch. Incubation is performed 

 by the female, and while she sits the male bird will decoy 

 with antics the intruder right into the opposite direction to 

 where the nest is situated." He found them breeding in 

 September and obtained twelve specimens and remarked that 

 locusts formed their chief food, and further writes : " Alcemon 

 alaudipes will sometimes perch on trees, while its manner on 

 the ground is very Thrush-like. It runs in front of its 

 pursuer, with head bent low, now and again stopping and 

 then raising its head as if to listen. Its flight is slow and 

 clumsy, and rather Jay-like in action, while the broad white 

 bars on the wings are very conspicuous as the bird travels 

 forward, only to alight, however, a few yards ahead of the 

 spectator. Towards sundown individuals come together from 

 far and near and resort to a favourite spot for an evening 



