ALAUDID-E GALERITA 203 



covered with grass and dwarf vegetation, and frequently those of 

 a rocky character." 



This Lark is nearly always in pairs ; it has a prolonged drawl- 

 ing call-note, and in spring a short song, often uttered by the male 

 as he rises for a short distance on the wing : it feeds on seeds and 

 insects, especially on small beetles. 



About the middle of September, in Cape Colony, the female 

 constructs her nest, of dry grass and horse-hair, in a slight hollow 

 scratched at the side of a grass-tuft. Four or five eggs are laid 

 towards the e$d of the month. They are pale cream- colour, more 

 or less spotted and mottled with various shades of purplish-brown 

 and grey. They measure 0'90 x 0'65. 



Genus IV. GALERITA. 



Type. 



Galerita, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 321 G. cristata. 



Bill slightly elongated, moderately strong; the nostrils basal, 

 concealed by recurved feathers. Wings moderately long, broad, 

 the first quill shorter than the coverts, the second shorter than the 

 fifth, the third, fourth and fifth nearly equal and longest. Tail 

 moderate, slightly ernarginate. Tarsi rather long. Claws short, 

 curved, the hind claw long and slightly curved. Crown crested. 



Galerita modesta. 



The Crested Larks are found in Southern and Central Europe, 

 Southern Asia, and over the greater part of Africa. About six 

 species, and a number of races, differing in shade of colour from 

 the typical species, are known. 



