594 MOTACILLID^l. 



south. If it be, as has been supposed, the same as the 

 Alauda grandior of Pallas, it is found, according to that 

 naturalist, throughout the salt-deserts of Mongolia, where the 

 Pere David also says it is abundant, adding that it occurs 

 on passage at Pekin, but Mr. Swinhoe has not yet recognized 

 it as a bird of China, and its eastern limits are at present 

 obscure. In some parts of India it is exceedingly abundant, 

 and it inhabits Beloochistan, Persia and Arabia. Thence it 

 is found in Abyssinia, Kordofan and along the valley of the 

 Nile to the Delta, being an early spring-visitant to Nubia 

 and Egypt. In the more elevated parts of Algeria it is re- 

 markably numerous, and is also found, but less plentifully, 

 on the sandy borders of the Sahara. It is said to have 

 occurred at Cazamanze on the west coast of Africa, while 

 Andersson obtained it in Damaraland. Returning to Eu- 

 rope it is common in many districts of Portugal and Spain, 

 and in the south of France is especially abundant, but it 

 occurs also irregularly in the north in spring and autumn, 

 and is said by Demarle to breed commonly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Boulogne, as it also does, according to M. de 

 Selys, on the heaths of the Ardennes in Belgium. Within 

 the wide circuit of which the outline has just been given 

 it is found with more or less frequency wherever wide, sandy 

 places exist. 



Due regard being had to the nature of the locality it 

 generally frequents, the habits of this Pipit would seem 

 much to resemble those of its congeners. By some 

 observers it is said to be shy, whilst others describe it as 

 the tamest of birds, flitting away in front of the traveller 

 and keeping unconcernedly a few yards ahead of him the 

 difference being no doubt owing to the experience it has 

 of man's treatment. Its plumage, harmonizing with the 

 colour of the soil, makes it in many places difficult to be 

 seen, while on the ground, over which it trips quickly for 

 some paces and then, stopping for a few moments, wags its 

 tail in the manner so characteristic of birds of its Family. 

 Its flight is strong and undulating. Occasionally it will 

 alight on a low bush, if such there be, but as a rule it 



