ALAUDID53 PYEEHULAUDA 193 



a 3 . Nostrils concealed by a tuft of plumes. 

 a 4 . Without a crest. 



a 5 . Hind-claw curved and short, about 



equal to hind-toe Pyrrhulauda, p. 193. 



6 5 . Hind-claw curved, shorter than hind- 

 toe ; plumage above uniform Ammomanes, p. 197. 



c 5 . Hind- claw long and pointed, as long 



as hind-toe ; plumage above mottled Calendula, p. 201. 



6 4 . With a crest Galerita, p. 203. 



b 3 . Nostrils open and exposed Mirafra, p. 204. 



I 2 . First primary rudimentary. 



c 3 . Bill at nostrils higher than broad , Spizocorys, p. 219. 



d 3 . Bill at nostrils as high as broad Tephrocorys, p. 221. 



b l . With elongated feathers springing from sides 



of head Otocorys, p. 225. 



b. Bill elongated and curved, the culmen equal to 

 or exceeding the middle toe and claw in 

 length. 



c 1 . Hind-claw much curved, shorter than its toe Heterocorys, p. 226. 

 d). Hind-claw slightly curved, about equal to its 



toe - Alcemon, p. 228. 



e 1 . Hind-toe long and straight Certhilauda, p. 232. 



Genus I. PYRRHULAUDA. 



Type. 

 Pyrrhulauda, Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr. pi. vi. (1839) ...P. australis. 



Bill short, higher than broad at nostrils, the culmen arched, the 

 sides much compressed, the tip entire, the lateral margins sinuated. 

 Nostrils basal and concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings long, 

 the first quill spurious, the second shorter than the third or fourth, 

 which are nearly equal and longest. Tail moderate and slightly 

 emarginated. Tarsi moderate, longer than the middle toe, and 

 slender. Toes very small, the lateral toes equal and strongly 

 scutellated above ; the claws short, slightly curved ; the hind 

 claw curved and short, about equal to the hind toe in length. The 

 sexes differ in plumage, the males having the under surface black, 

 the females buff. 



The Genus Pyrrhulauda contains six species and subspecies, of 

 which four are confined to Africa, one is found in North-East Africa, 

 Arabia and India, while the sixth is confined to India and Ceylon. 

 Larks of this genus are usually found feeding on the ground 

 in flocks. If disturbed they fly off together. They feed on seeds 

 and insects, and build in some slight hollow of the ground under 

 13 



