138 



it was supposed also to breed in the Urals (Perm Government), but definite 

 proof is still wanting. In the Balkan peninsula and the Caucasus it is 

 replaced by other forms. 

 Nest. Usually placed on the ground in the side of a tussock of dead grass, 



the upper edge of the nest being level with the ground (Pearson). The 

 same writer supposes that the nest hollow in the soft peaty soil is some- 

 times made by the bird itself. WoUey noticed that in E. Finmark the 

 nest was built near to a stone. In the most northerly part of its range 

 this bird breeds on the tundra, often close to the sea coast, but in the 

 south it haunts the mountains and is found only above the tree limit. 

 The nest is loosely built of dry sheep grass, lined with the down of Salix 

 lanata, the cotton rush, and other plants, sometimes with reindeer hair. 

 Eggs. Usually 4 — 5 in Scandinavia, but on Kolguev Pearson never found 



more than 4, and on both Kolguev and Waigatz some clutches of 3 only 

 were incubated. An examination of a large series shows that these eggs 

 vary considerably; the ground colour being generally greenish white, thickly 

 mottled with olive brown or light yellowish spots. In some cases the 

 ground colour is scarcely visible, while in others a few bold spots of dark 

 brown, or a decided zone, are found at the big end. Many eggs are like 

 those of the Skylark, but are as a rule paler in colouring, and occasionally 

 a dark hair line is found at the big end. 



Breeding One of the earliest of the northern passerine birds, nesting almost 



before the snow is melted. Probably two broods are reared in many cases, 

 for fresh eggs may be found in Finmark from May 12 till July; but most 

 eggs of the first brood are laid towards the end of May or early in June. 

 Pearson's eggs from Russian Lapland, Kolguev, etc. were taken between 

 June 7 and July 24; the nest found on the latter date containing 1 fresh 

 eggl The female sits very closely at times, and has been known to run 

 on to the eggs within a few feet of the watcher. Wolley found that when 

 the first clutch Avas taken, a second, and even a third if necessary, was 

 deposited within a short distance of the original site. 



Measure- Average of 100 eggs (17 by Rey and 83 by the writer) 22.76X16.24 



mm., Max. 26 X 16.8 and 24.9 X 18 mm., Min. 20.5 X 15 and 21 x 14.7 

 mm. Average weight according to Rey 191 mg. 



b. Saharan Shore Lark, E. alpestris bilopha (Teinm.). 



Eggs: Konig, Journ. f. Om. 1896, Tab. VII, fig. 8, a, b. 



Otocorys Uloplia (Temm.). Dresser, Birds of Europe, IV, p. 399; id. 

 Man. Pal. Birds, p. 380. E. alpestris Uloplia (Temm.). Hartert, Vog. Pal. 

 Fauna, p. 257. 



Breeding Range: The Sahara, from Rio del Oro to Egypt. (Has 

 occurred at Malaga.) 



Season. 



ments. 



