Major J. Biddulpli on the Birds of Gilgit. 89 



2*5 ; the females 6 to 6-25 inches long^ wing 3'3 to 3"4, tail 

 2-25 to 2-45. 



176. Melanocorypha bimaculata (Menetr.). 



Three specimens were secured in the months of December 

 and March, all males. In one specimen the height of the 

 bill at front is 0*33 inch ; no others seen. 



177. Alaudula pispoletta (Pall.). 



Dr. Scully writes that he has obtained a specimen since I 

 left Gilgit, with short hind claw, spotted breast, and secon- 

 daries 0*75 inch shorter than the primaries. 



178. Alaudula adamsi, Hume. 



Since I left Gilgit Dr. Scully has obtained specimens of 

 this Lark. 



179. OtOCORYS PENICILLATA (Gould) . 



Extremely common from November till the end of March, 

 when, after forming large flocks of over a hundred, it suddenly 

 disappears. Out of many specimens shot, none appears to 

 answer to the description of O. lor^girostris. 



180. Alauda dulcivox, Hodgs. 



This large Skylark is a winter visitant only, first appearing 

 in November and leaving by the end of March. In March, 

 when assuming breeding-plumage, just before leaving, it gets 

 much darker, but never apparently so dark as A. guttata, 

 from which it can readily be distinguished by its superior 

 size. In males the wing measures from 4^ to 4}-^ inches, 

 in females from 4 to 4^; the tarsus measures from f to |, 

 being generally slightly smaller than in A. guttata ; bill at 

 front barely \, generally -^-^. Of the large primaries the 

 second is slightly the longest, and the first slightly shorter 

 than the third; sometimes all three are equal ; the fourth is 

 fully 5 inch shorter than the second ; and there is more than 

 ■| inch between the tertiaries and primaries. The outer web 

 of the first developed primary is white in winter, and creamy 

 buff" in summer. The distinctions pointed out by Brooks 

 (S. F. i. 484) between this species and A. arvensis hold 

 good in the series of fifteen specimens of the former brought 

 down. 



