AMMOMANES CIKCTURA ARENICOLOR 277 



stony localities. Most of the districts frequented by the species are 

 rich in isabelline or pinkish-coloured rocks and pebbles, which 

 harmonise perfectly with the delicate tints of its plumage, so much 

 so, indeed, that one may easily pass by the bird without noticing it, 

 unless it should happen to move. This, as a rule, it seems loath to do, 

 a providential instinct probably prompting the bird to depend largely 

 on its protective colouring for safety. 



Its flight is rather feeble and is rarely prolonged for any distance. 

 The song of this species, which is uttered by the bird when hovering 

 in the air, is fairly pleasing and melodious, though composed of bat 

 few notes. Its food consists of insects and seeds. 



The nesting of this Lark apparently commences in March, and 

 extends throughout the spring months and until the end of May. 

 The nest, which is generally to be found under a tuft of grass or at 

 the foot of a desert plant, is composed chiefly of grasses, coarser 

 outside and finer inside, while the eggs, three or four in number, are 

 of a delicate milk-white colour, covered all over, but principally at 

 the larger end, with minute shell-spots of a lilac-grey colour, and 

 surface spots of brown or reddish-brown. The spots often form 

 a zone at the larger end. Average measurements 21 x 16 mm. 



Mr. Dresser's objections to Gmehn's name of lusitana for the 

 present species (Birds Eur. iv, p. 330) appear to me to be perfectly 

 sound, and sufficient to justify the rejection of that name, which 

 would otherwise have priority over any other. 



AMMOMANES CINCTURA ARENICOLOR (Sundevall). 

 PALE LESSER DESERT LARK. 



Alauda arenicolor, Sundevall, CEfv. K. Vet.-Akad. Fork. Stockholm, 



1850, p. 128. 

 Ammomanes cinctura, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiii, p. 644 ; 



Koenig, J. f. 0. 1893, p. 53 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 102 ; Erlanger, 



J. f. 0. 1899, p. 454. 

 Annomanes egulus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 27 (1867). 

 Annomanes elegans, Locke, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 26 (1867). 

 Ammomanes cinctura arenicolor, Hartert, Nov. Zool. iv, p. 140 (1897). 



