146 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



( Pointed crest in middle of crown Gaierida, t>. 156 



2 1 

 [No pointed crest in middle of crown Lullula, p. 160 



. Wing not over 96 mm., secondaries falling short of primaries not more 



(mostly less) than 10 mm Caiandrella, p. 153 



3 



Wing over 96 mm., secondaries falling short of primaries much more 

 ' than 10 mm 4 



| Tuft of elongated, pointed feathers above each eye in adult of both 

 ^ I sexes Eremovhila, p. 1 67 



[ No tuft of elongated, pointed feathers 5 



I Bill slender, pointed, culmen nearly straight . . . Alauda, p. 163 

 IH 

 [ Bill thick, culmen arched Melanocorypha. p. 140 



Genus MELANOCORYPHA Boie. 



MELANOCORYPHA Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 322 (Mixture, type by designa- 

 tion of Gray, 1840, " M . latarica " = yeltoniensis). 



Somewhat different forms are comprised in this genus, but 

 there is no advantage in further dividing it. Bill comparatively 

 high, strong, somewhat resembling those of many Fringillidce, 

 but not so wide, more laterally compressed. Upper mandible 

 curved, lower nearly straight. Nostrils close to fore-head, covered 

 by bristle-like feathers. Wings long and rather pointed, 2nd 

 to 4th or 2nd and 3rd primaries about equal and longest, 

 1st invisible in M. sibirica and M. yeltoniensis, distinctly visible 

 from below though stiff and barely 10 mm. long in M. calandra. 

 Tarsus longer than middle toe with claw, claw of hind toe longer 

 than hind toe, and straight. Tail short to medium, not emarginate. 

 Sexes different in colour, at least of certain parts. Six species 

 in Mediterranean countries and from Marocco and south Russia 

 to central Asia and north India. 



Key to species of genus MELANOCORYPHA. 



f Les&er upper wing-coverts reddish M . sibirica, p 147 



1 -i 

 [ Lesser upper wing-coverts brown 2 



I Inner web of outer tail-feathers white or cream-colour : M . calandra ' p. 151 



2 1 

 I Inner web of outer tail-feathers dark brown or black : M. yeltoniensis .p. 149 



