582 Mr. J. Scully on the 



in width, whereas in O. penicillata the black on the side of 

 the neck is quite continuous with the breast-patch ; the sinci- 

 pital tufts are shorter in the larger bird, and the bill is longer, 

 more slender, and more curved. There are other minor 

 differences in the plumage ; and the females are easily distin- 

 guishable. The habits of the two species are quite different. 

 0. longirostris is a strictly alpine bird, never quitting the 

 mountains; O. penicillata swarms in winter in the Gilgit 

 valley and about Yarkand and Kashghar; and of all the 

 large number of larks of this type shot by Major Biddulph 

 and myself in the localities just mentioned, not one can be 

 referred to 0. longirostris. 



The fact that the validity of 0. longirostris has been 

 questioned is probably due to several causes. In the first place, 

 the name 0. longirostris at once raises a prejudice against 

 the species ; in a group like the Larks, where the bill is 

 so variable, the title selected is rather unfortunate. 0. peni- 

 cillata certainly has the bill very variable in size ; and some 

 Persian specimens especially have a large and deep bill, 

 but still never quite like that of the species I am endea- 

 vouring to defend, which, moreover, by no means depends 

 on its bill alone for recognition. Again, O. penicillata in 

 winter has the black of the neck and breast much con- 

 cealed by pale tips to the feathers j and thus, in some speci- 

 mens, the breast- and neck -patches seem to be quite separated, 

 as in 0. longirostris ; the bases of the feathers, however, will 

 be found to be black in these examples ; and such cases are 

 really no reason why these two species should be united. 

 Due regard being paid to sex, age, and season, the two forms 

 are readily separated. Mr. Blanford (Stray Feath. 1879, 

 p. 183) maintains the distinctness of 0. longirostris and 0. 

 penicillata ; and I quite agree with him. 



180. Alauda dulcivox, Hodgs. 



This large Sky-Lark, so common in Gilgit in winter, is di- 

 stinct from the next species {A. guttata), but only doubtfully 

 so from A. arvensis. After comparison of my birds with a 

 large series of A. arvensis from Europe, I find that the Gilgit 



