Tre A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
Young: “Are said to resemble those of the skylark, 
from which, however, they can be readily distinguished by 
their larger size and stouter @@#l; the breast also is less dis- 
tinctly spotted and the feathers of the upper plumage are 
tipped with pure white.” (Newton.) 
Distribution: Resident in parts of Russia and Central 
Asia. Occurs occasionally in Austria, Italy, &c. 
Habitat: High steppe regions. 
BLACK LARK. 
Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (Fors?). 
Adult Male (Summer): Entire A/uwmage black, some ot 
the feathers of upper parts with sandy or whitish margins, 
which are also often observable beneath. Length 7°5 inches ; 
culmen 0°6; wing 5°37, tail 3; tarsus 0'8. 
Adult Female (Summer): Above sandy-brown becom- 
ing tinged with rufous towards rump and mottled on crown 
with dusky-brown ; wing-quills and coverts dark brown mar- 
gined with sandy-brown ; outermost primaries margined with 
white ; tail dark brown with sandy margins, except outermost 
rectrices, which are margined with white; lores and super- 
ciliary stripe white ; under parts white, tinged on flanks with 
buff; breast spotted and flanks striped with brown ; bill brown, 
yellowish at base ; legs and feet dark grey. 
Adult Male (Winter): Similar to summer plumage but 
feathers more uniformly margined with sandy both above and 
beneath. 
Adult Female (Winter): Very similar in general appear- 
ance to the summer dress, but the feathers assume broad grey 
margins as in the male bird, giving it a paler appearance than 
in summer. 
Immature Birds: Resemble the adult female, but are 
more marked with brown above ; wing-coverts and innermost 
secondaries narrowly margined with whitish. 
Distribution : Winter visitant to Southern Russia, breed- 
ing in Central Asia. 
Habitat: High steppe regions; rocky places. 
