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BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



CALANDBELLA BRACHYDACTYLA (Leislei). • 



SHOET-TOED LARK. 



Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler, Wetterau Gesellsch. Ann. iii., pp. 357-359 

 (1814) ; 2L(nwrbe, Cat. Hais. iTOis. Alcj. p. 12 (1846). 



Calandrella brachydactyla, Kaup, Nat. Sy.it. p. 39 (1829) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Miis. xiii, p. 580; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 21 

 (1867); Koenjg, J. f. 0. 1888, p. '219; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 38; 

 Whitaker, Ibis, 1894, p. 94. 



Description. — Adult female, spring, Kairouan, Central Tunisia. 



Entire upper j)lumage pale brown, streaked with dark brown, the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts unstreaked ; primaries dull brown, fringed with pale 

 yellowish-brown; central rectrices dull brown, fringed with yellowish-brown, 

 rest of tail-feathers blackish-brown, the exterior pair with their outer webs 

 and part of their inner webs whitish ; under parts dull white, washed with 

 yellowish-brown, becoming darker on the flanks ; a conspicuous black patch 

 on each side of the lower neck. 



Iris hazel ; bill and feet light brown. 



Total length 550 inches, wing 3-45, culmen -35, tarsus '70. 



The form of Short-toed Lark usually found in Tunisia, as well as 

 in Algeria, Marocco and Tripoli, is the rufous-headed one which, as 

 stated in the following article, I am inclined to consider sufhciently 

 distinct from typical C. brachydactyla (Leisler) to be separated from 

 it subspecifically. 



The present or typical form, however, is to be met with occasion- 

 ally, though rarely, in North-west Africa, and my collection contains 

 specimens of it from Tunisia and Marocco. Cases of its occurrence in 

 these countries must be few and far between, as I have only a single 

 example from each. 



