ALAUDA AEVENSIS HARTERTI 271 



million Sky-Larks pass across the Bay of Palermo during the twenty- 

 four houi's, and over ten millions during the entire season (Avif. Mod. 

 et Sic. p. 94). 



Though there is comparatively little bird-netting carried on in 

 the neighbourhood of Palermo, lark-shooting is in great vogue among 

 the native sportsmen of the place, and on certain days in October, 

 when the passage of these birds is in full swing, the Bay of Palermo 

 presents an unusual and extraordinary spectacle ; numbers of small 

 boats, each with one or two gunners in them, lining the roadstead, 

 their occupants keeping up a lively fusilade at the poor birds as they 

 arrive in small flocks. This may be carried on for several hours, and 

 any stranger arriving in Palermo by the daily postal steamer might 

 imagine that a miniature naval battle was being waged, or that a 

 revolution had broken out ! 



In its habits the Sky-Lark is sociable and essentially gregarious. 

 It frequents for the most part open fields and cultivated plains, 

 feeding chiefly on seeds and grain, and also, to a certain extent, 

 on insects. 



Its well-known blithe and joyous song is generally uttered by 

 the bird when soaring high up in the air, often so high as to be out 

 of sight, but occasionally the Lark will sing when on the ground. 



Its flight is easy and undulating, though by no means feeble, and 

 at times, particularly when suddenly flushed, it is rapid and darting. 



Although it seems a pity to keep such a bird in a cage, the Sky- 

 Lark thrives well in captivity, and has actually been known to breed 

 in confinement. 



ALAUDA ARYENSIS HARTERTI, Whitaker. 

 TUNISIAN SKY-LAKK. 



Alauda arvensis harterti, Whitaker, Bull, B. 0. C. 1904, vol. xv, p. 20. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from El-Oubira, Central Tunisia. 



Differs from A. arvensis, Linn., in being paler and more rufescent in its 

 plumage coloration generally, and in having a rather longer and more 

 slender bill. Soft parts and measurements as is 4. arvensis. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather smaller. 



