632 



P ASSERES. 



ALAUDID^E. 



ALAUDID/E. 





ALAUDA CRISTATA, Linnaeus*. 

 THE CHESTED LARK. 



Alauda cristata. 



A LETTER recording the occurrence of this species in 

 Ireland, appeared, with a characteristic woodcut, in the 

 * Dublin Penny Journal ' of February 27th, 1836 (iv. No. 

 191, p. 276). The writer, who gave as the only clew to 

 identification the initials " W. R.," stated that a few weeks 

 before he had killed, near Taney, in the county Dublin, 

 the bird then figured, which he partially described and 

 determined to be the Alauda cristata of naturalists, adding 

 that he was convinced he had frequently met with others 

 near Dublin. According to the wholesome rule which en- 

 joins upon naturalists the disregard of anonymous state- 

 ments as to fact, this communication not being authenti- 



* Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 288 (1766). 



