192 ALAUDIDJS 



Wing with the outer primary fairly well developed, as in Mirafra, 

 or quite abortive, as in Tephrocorys ; the secondaries sometimes 

 short, in some species reaching the wing-tip. Tarsi rounded 

 behind and scutellated both anteriorly and posteriorly, the plates 

 nearly corresponding in number. Hind claw very variable, in 

 some species long and nearly straight, in others short and curved. 

 Plumage never brilliant, sometimes chiefly black, but usually of 

 some shade of brown, earth-brown, reddish-brown, or sandy-brown, 

 more or less streaked with darker brown, and showing a tendency 

 to vary in shade with the colour of the soil in localities in which 

 the individual is resident. Crown crested, semi-crested, or showing 

 a tendency towards cresting in elongated semi-erectile plumes. 

 Sexes alike in plumage. Nestlings more spotted. One complete 

 moult in the year, in autumn, but the margins of the feathers are 

 usually shed in spring, giving rise to a considerable change in 

 colour. 



The Larks are sharply differentiated from all other South 

 African Passerine Birds, excepting Nilaus, by the rounding and 

 scutellation of the posterior aspect of the tarsus. Were it not 

 for this distinguishing feature some Larks could scarcely, so far 

 as plumage goes, be distinguished from some Pipits (Anthina), 

 birds of very similar habits as well as of appearance. 



In the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, Dr. Sharpe 

 recognises seventy-four species and forty-two subspecies of Larks. 

 A single species of Mirafra occurs in Australia and several species 

 of Otocorys in America ; the remaining species and subspecies are 

 distributed over Europe, Asia and Africa, no less than twenty-nine 

 being found in South Africa, the majority of which are peculiar to 

 that sub-region. 



Dr. Bowdler Sharpe has made a careful study of the South 

 African Larks (P. Z. S., 1874, p. 614, pis. Ixxv, Ixxvi, and Cat. 

 B. M., vol. xiii), and in the following key to the genera I follow 

 his arrangement, but in reversed order. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Bill rather short and stout, the culmen shorter 



than the middle toe and claw. 

 a 1 . Without elongated feathers on the sides of 



head. 



a 2 . First primary well developed, as long as 

 the inner toe and claw. 



