86 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



THE SHORT-TOED LARKS. GENUS CALANDRELLA. 



Calandrella^ Kaup., Nat. Syst., p. 39 (1829). 



Type, C. brachydactyla (Leisl.). 



Like the Sky- Larks, the members of this genus have a very 

 rudimentary first primary, but they are distinguished from the 

 species of Alauda by their smaller size, longer wings, and 

 curved hind claw. As in Alauda, the secondary quills are as 

 long as the primaries. Four species of true Short-toed Lark 

 are known ; the best-known form, C. Irachydactyla, inhabiting 

 Southern Europe across to Central Asia and North-western 

 India, being replaced in the Indian peninsula by C. dukhumnsis. 

 C. thibetana inhabits the Himalayas and Thibet, while in Tur- 

 kestan its place is taken by C. acutirostris. None of the Short- 

 toed Larks exhibit a perceptible crest. 



THE SHORT-TOED LARK. CALANDRELLA BRACHYDACTYLA. 



Alauda brachydactyla, Leis^r, Wetterau Gesellsch. Ann., iii., 

 PP- 357-359 (1814); Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 274 (1884); Saun- 

 ders, Man., p. 244 (1889). 



Calandrella brachydactyla, Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 341, pi. 23 ^ 

 (1873) ; Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p. 637 (1874); B. O. U. List 

 Br. B., p. 72 (1883); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xiii., p. 

 580 (1890); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. xvii. (1891). 



Adult Male. Of small size, and distinguished by the cha- 

 racters mentioned above. Sandy brown, with blackish centres 

 to the feathers ; those of the wing and tail dark brown, 

 edged with sandy buff; the outer tail-feathers broadly 

 margined with isabelline, inclining to sandy buff towards the 

 end of the outer web and round the tip of the feather ; outer- 

 most feather white, except for an oblique mark of blackish 

 brown on the inner web, the white of the outer web tinged 

 isabelline towards the end ; head streaked like the back ; 

 under surface of body white, with a distinct wash of isabelline 

 on the fore-neck, chest, and sides of body ; on the former a 

 few blackish spots ; a blackish patch on the sides of the fore- 

 neck ; bill whity-brown, the culmen darker ; feet pale yellow- 

 ish-brown ; iris brown. Total length, 5-5 inches; culmen, 

 0-45; wing, 3-45; tail > 2 '5 ; tarsus, 075. 



