CALANDRELLA. 329 



into Assam, and more rarely into Pegu. This species also extends 

 into Tibet and probably breeds there or in Central Asia. It is 

 very probable that some of these Larks may also remain in the 

 plains of India or in the Himalayas to breed, but a great majority 

 are winter visitors. 



Habits, fyc. This Short-toed Lark frequents open ground, culti- 

 vated or waste, and is generally found in smill flocks, which, about 

 the end of March, associate together, often forming assemblages 

 of many thousand birds. At this season these Larks are fat and 

 are killed in great numbers for food ; they are commonly known 

 by Europeans throughout India as Ortolans. 



864. Calandrella tibetana. Brooks' s Short-toed Lark. 



Calandrella brachydactyla (Temm.), Hume fy Henders. Lah. to 



Yark. p. 204. 

 Calandrella tibetana, Brooks, S. F. viii, p. 488 (1879) ; Hume, S. F. 



ix, p. 97 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xiii, p. 585. 



Coloration. Resembles C. brachydactyla, but is much greyer or 

 less fulvous above ; has a smaller bill ; and has the pale part of the 

 outermost tail-feather pure white, not pale buff ; the superciliuin 

 and cheeks nearly white. 



Length about 6 ; tail 2-5 ; wing 3'7 ; tarsus '8 ; bill from 

 gape *6. 



Distribution. The Himalayas from Gilgit and Kashmir to Sikhim, 

 extending into the neighbouring parts of Tibet. This Lark appears 

 to descend to the plains of Upper India in the winter, the British 

 Museum containing specimens collected at Cawnpore and in the 

 Eohtak District of the Punjab. 



865. Calandrella acutirostris. Hume's Short-toed Lark. 



Calandrella acutirostris, Hume, Lah. to Yark. p. 265 (1&73) ; Sharpe, 



Cdf. B. M. xiii, p. 585. 

 Calandivlla brachydactyla (Leisl), Scully, S. F. iv, p. 172; 



Biddulph, Ibis, 1881, p. 88 (pt.), 1882, p. 285 (pt.). 



Coloration. Resembles C. brachydactyla, but ha8 the upper 

 plumage decidedly tinged with ashy ; the extent of light colour on 

 the inner web of the outermost tail-feather of very small extent, 

 much less than an inch in length ; and a much more slender bill. 



Bill dusky along ridge of upper mandible, at tip, and along half 

 of under surface of lower mandible ; rest of bill yellowish horny ; 

 iris brown ; legs and feet brownish fleshy ; claws dusky brown 

 (Scully). 



Length about 6 ; tail 2-5 to 2-8 ; wing 3-6 to 3-9 ; tarsus '85 ; 

 bill from gape -6. 



Distribution. Visits the plains of Upper India in the winter. I 

 have examined specimens obtained at Delhi, Etawab, and Mughal 

 Sarai. Summers in Afghanistan, Gilgit, and Turkestan. 



