S8 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



developed, the hind claw not as long as the bill, the latter being 

 long and slender, and the crest very distinct, long, and narrow, 

 and extending backwards in a point from the back of the head. 

 Like the Sky- Larks, these birds vary greatly in the colour of 

 the plumage according to the districts they inhabit, being paler 

 in the desert countries. Four species are recognised, and the 

 genus is found from Southern and Central Europe, across to 

 Central Asia, and even to Northern China. Crested Larks also 

 inhabit Abyssinia and the plains of Western Africa. 



THE CRESTED LARK. GALERITA CRISTATA. 



Alauda cristata. Linn., S. N., i., p. 288 (1766); Dresser, B. Eur., 

 iv., p. 285, pis. 228-229 ( J 873) ; Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p. 632 

 (1874) ; B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 71 (1883) ; Seeb., Br. B., 

 ii., p. 261 (1884); Saunders, Man., p. 243 (1889). 



Galerita cristata^ Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xiii., p. 626 

 (1890). 



Adult Male. Brown, streaked with blackish centres to the 

 feathers ; lower back and rump more uniform ashy-brown, in- 

 clining to vinaceous on the upper tail-coverts ; wings brown, 

 the feathers edged with ashy or rufous ; tail-feathers brown, 

 edged with ashy, the outer one pale brown sandy-buff exter- 

 nally, with an oblique dark mark on the inner web ; crown of 

 head streaked like the back, with a long median crest of pointed 

 feathers ; ear-coverts brown, with a whitish patch below the 

 eye ; cheeks and throat whitish, the former spotted with black- 

 ish ; rest of under surface of body isabelline, the fore-neck and 

 breast browner, the chest thickly spotted, and the sides of the 

 body streaked with black ; under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 clear vinous isabelline ; bill brown, paler on the lower man- 

 dible ; feet dusky yellowish flesh-colour; iris light brown. 

 Total length, 7 inches; culmen, 07; wing, 4*25; tail, 27; 

 tarsus, 0-9. 



Adult Female. Like the male in colour, but smaller. Total 

 length, 6-5 inches ; wing, 3-8. 



Range in Great Britain. Although comparatively common on 

 the Continent, the Crested Lark can only be considered a rare 



