123 



Birds of Europe, IV, p. 373; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 385; Hartert, Vog. Pal. 

 Fauna, p. 211. Alauda sihirica Gm. Saunders, Man., p. 257. 



Breeding Range: Steppes of S. E. Russia. [Also from Transcaspia 

 to the Yenesei valley.] 



In Russia the range of this species extends from the steppe land con- 

 north of the Caucasus (Stawropol government), throughout the Astrakhan ^uroje 

 steppes and northward to Saratow and Orenburg, In this district it is 

 plentiful, but only occurs rarely in the south Russian steppes. It has 

 strayed to England as well as various parts of the continent. 



Placed on the ground on the grassy steppes in any slight depression. Nest. 

 and composed of dead grasses, etc., often sheltered by a grass tuft. 



Usually 4, although 3 and 5 are said to occur occasionally. In size Eggs. 

 they differ only slightly from those of the Skylark and Crested Lark, and 

 as a rule are thickly spotted or blotched with olive brown upon a greyish 

 or yellowish white ground, like the eggs of M. calandra. Many eggs show a 

 tendency towards a zone of markings round the big end, and as a rule 

 they are a trifle greener in colouring than most Larks' eo^gs. 



. ... Breeding 



The end of April and throughout May, varying according to locality, season. 



Average size of 100 eggs (72 by Rey and 28 by the writer), Measure- 

 22.61 X 16.38 mm.. Max. 24.5 X 17 and 23.5 X 17.2 mm., Min. 20.5 X 15.2 '"'"*' 

 mm. Average weight, 213 mg. (Rey), 



63. Black Lark, Melanocoryplia yeltonensis (Forst.). 



Plate 16, fig. 12 (Kirghis Steppes). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl,, Tab. XXVI, fig. 8, a— c, 



ForeignNames: Germany : Mohrenlerche. Russia : Javronok Tscherndi. 



Melanocoryplia yeltonensis (Forst.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, IV, 

 p. 377; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 386; Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 213. 



Breeding Range: S. E. Russia: the salt steppes E. of the Volga. 

 [Also from the Caspian Sea to W. Siberia and Turkestan.] 



In the Kirghis steppes this bird is a common resident, breeding in Con- 

 the neighbourhood of the salt marshes, but not on the dry steppes. Little ^m." ^ 

 is known of its breeding habits, which however probably resemble those 

 of the other Larks. The nest is placed on the ground, and is well hidden. 



The eggs are generally 4 in number, though 5 are said to occur Eggs. 

 occasionally, and resemble those of the Calandra Lark, but show a more 

 decidedly white ground. 



Average size of 23 eggs (4 by Rey and 19 by the writer) 25.1 X 18.12 Measure- 

 mm.. Max. 28 X 18.2 and 25.5 X 19 mm., Min. 22.5 X 18 and 24.2 X 17.2 '"'"^'• 

 mm. Average weight of 4 eggs, 319 mg. (Rey). The breeding season 

 appears to full in the first half of May. 



