125 



In Greece generally from the end of April onward, but exceptionally Breeding 

 much earlier, for Reiser records nearly fledged young on Hymettus on ^^^^on. 

 April 27. In Spain the breeding season is slightly earlier, beginning about 

 mid-April in the extreme south. According to Arrigoni two broods are 

 reared in Italy, in April and July, while in N. Africa the eggs of the first 

 brood are laid in April or May and those of the second early in June. 

 Period of incubation, 13 days. 



Rey gives the average of 104 eggs from Greece and Portugal as Measure- 

 19.6 X 14.6 mm.. Max. 23.8 X 14.2 and 20.7 X 15 mm., Min. 16.1 X 13.8 '°"'"^'- 

 and 20.5 X 13.5 mm. Reiser however records an egg 21.6 X 15.8 mm. 

 N. African eggs are very similar; average of 22 (Erlanger and Konig), 

 20.1 X 14.3 mm. Average weight (Rey) 129 mg. 



64. Pallas's Lark, Calaiidrella minor heinei (Horn.). 



Plate 17, fig. 5—8 (S. Russia). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. IC, fig. 15. Baedeker, Tab. 66, 

 fig. 3. 



Foreign Names: Germany: StummellercJie. Russia: Maloui Ja- 

 vronok. 



Calandrella pispoletta (Pall.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, IV, p. 355; 

 id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 395. C. minor heinei (Hom.). Hartert, Vog. Pal. 

 Fauna, p. 219. 



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



Eversmann says that the true home of this species is on the steppes con- 

 of the Caspian, northward to Indersk and eastward to Lake Aral, where Europe 

 it is found in countless numbers. Henke found it less common than C. 

 brachydactyla on the salt marshes between the Volga and the Ural, but 

 easily distinguishable by its note. 



Placed on the ground in the most barren parts of the steppes, where Nest. 

 there is little vegetation except a few Artemisia plants, and composed of 

 grasses and bents, with sometimes down in the lining. 



4 — 5 in number, tolerably glossy, and greyish or greenish white in Eggs. 

 colour, with medium sized spots of hair brown, and ashy grey underlying 

 markings. The ground colour, according to Rey, is as a rule more greenish 

 in tint than in the eggs of C. minor polatzeki. In some cases the spots 

 are thickest at the big end. 



T-, . . c A •! T Breeding 



From the beginnmg of April to June. season. 



Average of 58 eggs (54 by Rey and 4 by the writer) 18.7 X 14.56 Measure- 



mm., Max. 20.1 X 15.2 mm., Min. 17 X 13.8 mm. Average weight "'^°*'- 

 136 mg. (Rey). 



