CERTHILAUDA. 361 



margined with rufescent, or mixed rufescent and dusky, the Outermost 

 feather on each side rufescent, or rufescent white, except a dusky wash on 

 the inner web ; the next margined with rufescent white on the outer web, 

 forming a tip of the same colour, and running up and forming a very narrow 

 edge on the inner web for one-half the length of the feathers (this is 

 not constant), rest of the tail feathers very narrowly tipped with rufescent 

 white. Bill yellowish dusky on the ridge of the upper mandible; legs pale 

 brown ; irides dark brown. 



Length. 7 to 7'5 inches ; wing 3-75 to 4*25 ; tail 2-25 to 275 ; bill at front 

 075. 



Hab. Universally distributed from sea level to nearly 8,000 feet above the 

 sea ; S.-E. Europe, Asia, Africa, throughout India, Persia, Beloochistan, and 

 Afghanistan. Like A. gulgula it rises in the air to a great height, soaring 

 up to the sun often so high that the eye cannot follow it, all the while singing, 

 as it advances higher, as if springing up into the higher regions. This is 

 chiefly noticed during the breeding season (April and May). It however 

 descends rapidly, but continues its song till within a few feet of the ground. 

 As remarked by Mr. Hume, this species is variable in size and colouration, 

 so much so, that at least half-a-dozen species have been made by Franklin, 

 Sykes, Jerdon and Blyth. "The examination of a large series," Mr. Hume 

 says, " proves that it is impossible to draw a line anywhere between the largest 

 and the smallest examples. A perfect series of the wings occurs, and as for 

 the difference in tone of plumage, big and little examples are alike met with 

 amongst the brown, rufous, sandy, grey or desert colour types." 



Gen. Certhilauda. Sws. 



Bill slender, lengthened, longer than in Galerida, more or less curved ; 

 nostrils naked; wings long, first quill spurious, next three sub-equal; tail 

 moderate or long, even; hind claw variable. 



906. Certhilauda desertorum (Stanley), Gould, Eur. pi. 168 ; 



Tern., PL Col. 393 ; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. 439, No. 770; Hume, Sir. F. i. 216 ; 

 Blf., East. Per. ii. p. 240 ; Murray, Zool., 8fc., Sind, p. 192 ; Gray, Handlist, 

 No. 7794; Rupp., Abyss, pi. 5. Certhilauda doriae, Salv., Atti. R. Acad. Set. 

 Tor. iii. 1868, p. 292. The DESERT LARK. 



Head, nape, back, scapulars and rump isabelline or pale earthy grey, 

 slightly tinged with fulvescent on the back and scapulars ; upper tail coverts 

 pale brown, edged with whitish ; supercilium, a small patch under the eye, 

 chin and throat white; ear coverts fulvous white; a spot in front of the eye, 

 another behind the eye just above the ear coverts, and a streak from the gape, 

 dark brown ; feathers of the breast dusky or dark brown, edged and tipped 

 with white ; the lower breast with a few dark brown oval spots ; sides of the 

 breast isabelline or pale earthy grey, tinged with fulvescent; rest of under 

 surface, including the vent and under tail coverts, white ; primaries and their 



