CRESTED LARK. 263 



It is somewhat remarkable that the Crested Lark should be so very rare 

 in our islands. Across the Channel it is common enough, especially so 

 where the soil is sandy. It is said to be very common in the north of 

 France, and I have seen it repeatedly on the sandy heaths of South 

 Holland. In the valley of the Rhine I have remarked its special abun- 

 dance near Diisseldorf, where it may be seen every day in the-Zoological 

 Gardens, dusting itself in the sandy soil ; and to the west, the district round 

 Brunswick is remarkable in the eyes of an Englishman for its Crested 

 Larks and its asparagus. The reason it so seldom crosses the Channel 

 is probably to be found in the fact that in all these districts it is a resident 

 bird. In its habits it differs considerably from the Sky-Lark. It is even 

 more of a ground-bird than that species. It is very rarely seen to perch in 

 a tree, nor does it frequent the tops of the thistles and other rank herbage 

 as the Sky-Lark often does. It generally sings on the ground, and its song 

 is very short and monotonous, not unlike that of the Corn-Bunting. Occa- 

 sionally the song may be heard as the bird makes short Pipit-like excur- 

 sions into the air ; but I have never seen it soar like a Sky-Lark. It is very 

 tame, and is fond of dusting itself on the country roads and lanes, and 

 even comes into the gardens and the farmyards, occasionally perching on 

 the garden-wall, or sometimes on the roofs of the farm-buildings, and even 

 on the telegraph-wires. 



The Crested Lark begins to sing very early in the spring, and con- 

 tinues until the moulting-season in September. Its call-note is very similar 

 to that of the Sky-Lark, a very liquid note, as if it was trying to whistle 

 with its mouth full of water. 



The Crested Lark is very common in Algeria ; and Dixon made the fol- 

 lowing notes on it there : " It is most interesting to trace the distribution 

 of the Crested Lark in Algeria ; for by following this bird from the coast 

 to the desert, you pass through considerable diversity of scenery, and find 

 a variation in the colour of the bird corresponding with the changes of its 

 habitat. From the coast to Constantine the birds are almost typical of the 

 European race ; for the country is well watered and well cultivated. South 

 of Constantine a perceptible difference is to be seen in the birds, which 

 also become much commoner. As the scenery gradually changes from 

 cultivated fields to wilderness, from vegetation to desert, the Crested 

 Larks become much more sandy-coloured ; and on the shifting sands of the 

 desert we have a bird very different in coloration from those haunting the 

 districts where vegetation is abundant. These colours are eminently 

 protective ; on the rich soil the grey or olive-brown plumage is in strict 

 harmony with the surroundings, whilst on the sandy wastes the rufous 

 tints are equally successful in shielding the birds from danger. I have 

 repeatedly Hushed these birds from my feet in the barest of situations 

 without seeing them until they were in the air. The Crested Lark 



