PASSERINE BIRDS OF CEYLON. 179 



when singing mounts rapidly for a short distance and then 

 sinks down with its wings extended. The breeding season 

 is from about April to July. The nest much resembles that 

 of the Sky Lark, and is placed in similar situations, but is at 

 times more or less domed with a thin covering concealed 

 among the dry stems and blades of the tussock of grass, in 

 the shelter of which it is placed. The two or three eggs 

 are rather broad, slightly pointed ovals. The ground colour 

 is whitish with generally a fair amount of gloss. The mark- 

 ings vary a good deal in size and density, and range from 

 reddish to yellowish-brown over paler marks of dull purple and 

 purplish -gray. Average size • 84 by "63. 



Pyrbhulauda grisea grisea. 



The Ashy-crowned Finch Lark. 



Pyrrhtdauda grisea (Oates, Vol. II., p. 341 ; Legge, p. 637). 



Descriptiom. — Male : Upper plumage ashy-brown, the fea- 

 thers with pale gray margins, which are broadest on the 

 forehead and crown ; wing coverts and quills dark brown 

 with whitish-gray margins, wider and more conspicuous on 

 the coverts and inner quills ; tail feathers light brown with 

 whitish edges, the outer feather at times almost wholly white ; 

 lores, front part of cheeks, a streak over the eye, chin, throat, 

 sides of neck, and lower parts to the tail coverts brownish- 

 black ; hind cheeks and ear coverts white ; a grayish-white 

 patch on the sides of the breast. 



Female : The upper plumage is darker brown, at times 

 tinged with rufous ; the gray margins are narrower and 

 darker, the whitish margins of the wing feathers not so 

 conspicuous ; ear coverts brown and gray, like the crown ; 

 those parts, which in the male are black or white, are grajash- 

 white with ill-defined, dingy brown streaks. 



Immature birds resemble females, but the margins on the 

 upper plumage are broader and more distinct. 



Bill whitish in males, a little darker in females ; iris dark 

 brown ; legs and feet flesh -colour. 



Length about 5 ; wing 3 ; tail 1-75 ; tarsus '6 ; bill from 

 gape '5. 



