GALERIDA THEKL^ MAJOR 261 



111 my collection of Spanish Crested Larks I have two forms 

 which appear, without doubt, to be referable to Brehm's G. theldm 

 major and G. thehlce minor. The examples of the former are a little 

 larger, greyer, and not quite so dark in coloration as those of the 

 latter, some, indeed, incline to be slightly rufous ; but among the 

 specimens of the smaller form there are also variations in coloration 

 which are due no doubt to local causes. The following are the wing 

 measurements in a fair series of specimens in my collection of each 

 form, viz. : — 



G. theklcB major, males from 4'10 to 4'20 inches; females from 

 3-85 to 3-95 inches. 



G. tliehlcB ininor, males from 3'95 to 4'0.5 inches ; females from 

 3-80 to 3-85 inches. 



Coming now to the Tunisian small-billed Crested Larks, I would 

 say that the species occurs in different forms or races throughout the 

 whole of the Eegency, its colouring and marking varying according to 

 the character of the particular district it may inhabit, thus, as I 

 have already had occasion to remark in my notes on Tunisian Crested 

 Larks, we find the birds of the more humid and mountainous regions 

 of the north of a dark colour, those of the drier central districts paler, 

 and those of the arid desert districts of the south of an isabelline or 

 sand-colour. Owing, however, as stated in the above article, to the 

 fact of the modification in colouring being, except in certain cases, 

 gradual and not defined by any hard and fast lines, the subdivision of 

 the species into forms or subspecies becomes more or less a matter 

 of opinion, and in separating them one must use one's own judgment 

 and discrimination. 



As already stated, the small-billed Crested Larks of the Thekim 

 group found in Tunisia may be conveniently separated into four 

 forms or subspecies, viz.: — 



(a) G. theklcB major (Brehm), a darkish form, inhabiting North 

 Tunisia, and ranging as far as the southern slopes of the Atlas 

 Mountains. 



(b) G. tJicklcB supcrflua (Hart.), a pale sandy-brown form, inhabit- 

 ing the country between the above region and the semi-desert inland 

 districts of South Tunisia. 



(c) G. theklcB deichleri, Erl., an isabelline form inhabiting the semi- 

 desert inland country of South Tunisia. 



