474 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



2. Distribution. Breeds in the south of France, Eastern Spain, Italy, and Sicily. In 

 Northern Italy it is only a summer visitor, but is resident in the south. Casual in England 

 (once Kent, May 1908), and replaced by other forms in Eastern Europe. [F. c. R. jr.] 



EASTERN MARSH-BUNTING [Emberiza palustris tschusii Ileiser and Almasy. Eastern 

 large or thickbilled reed-bunting]. 



1. Description. Resembles P. palustris, but is smaller, and has no streaks on the flanks 

 and thighs, these parts being uniform with the belly. Length 5| in. [140mm.]. The adult 

 female resembles the female of P. palustris, but, like the male, lacks the streaks on the sides 

 and flanks, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in the delta of the Danube and in the marshes of South Russia 

 from Bessarabia to Lenkoran on the Caspian Sea. Has occurred once in England (Sussex, 

 April 1912). [F. c. R. J.] 



[AMERICAN-SNOWBIRD, Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus), and WHITETHROATED-SPARROW, Zono- 

 trichia albicollis (Gmelin). Said to have occurred in the British Isles, but probably the 

 specimens in question had escaped from captivity. [F. c. R. J.] ] 



THE LARKS 1 



[ORDER: Passeriformes. FAMILY: Alaudidai\ 



WHITEWINGED-LARK [Melanocorypha sibirica (Gmelin); Alauda sibirica Gmelin. 

 German, sibirische Lerche ; Italian, lodola siberiana]. 



1. Description. Recalling the snow-bunting, but easily recognised by the fact that the 

 white area of the wing is confined to the terminal half of the secondaries. The sexes differ in 

 coloration. Adult male, length 6J in. [165 mm.]. Top of the head rust-red, faintly fringed 

 with white ; back of the head, neck, and remainder of upper parts sandy buff, inesially streaked 

 with blackish brown ; long upper tail-coverts rufous, with a broad shaft-streak ; lesser wing- 

 coverts bright rust-red, forming a large shoulder patch ; primary coverts uniform rust-red ; 

 primary quills brownish black, the outermost one white on the outer web; secondaries 

 black at the base and with the terminal half pure white, forming a very conspicuous 

 patch when the wings are open ; under surface of the body white, with a few spots of black 

 across the chest and sides of the breast ; sides and flanks streaked with black. The adult female 

 differs in lacking the rufous tints, all the upper surface of the body being ash-grey, with 

 black centres to the feathers ; under surface similar to that of the male, but the black spots 

 and streaks of the chest are less clearly marked, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. In Europe this species is only known to breed in the steppe-lands of the 

 south-east of Russia from north of the Caucasus through Astrakhan north to Saratow and 

 Orenburg. In Asia it has a wider distribution, and breeds in the district from Transcaspia 

 and Western Turkestan to the Yenisei. On migration it has frequently been recorded from 

 Turkey, and casually from Poland, Galizia, Tyrol, Hungary, Heligoland, Belgium, Italy, as well 

 as six times from England (Sussex, three; Kent, three). [F. c. R. J.] 



BLACK-LARK [Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (Forster) ; Alauda yeltoniensis Forster. German, 



Mohrenlerche ; Italian, calandra nera], 



1. Description. Distinguished by its almost uniform black plumage. The sexes are 

 unlike in coloration, and there is a distinct winter plumage. Adult male, length 7| in. 

 [190 mm.]. Plumage of the whole body black, but most of the feathers of the upper parts 

 have buffy white fringes, especially on the lower back. Adult female general colour of 



1 Vol. i. p. 199. 



