Mr. E. L. Layard on the Ornithology of Ceylon. 259 



167. Alauda gulgula, Frank. Poo/foo, Mai. ; lit. "Wormer,^' 

 from feeding on worms. 



This is the " skylark " of Europeans, and is very abundant in 

 all open lands whether pasture or ploughed ; it is also found in 

 the sandy plains of the northern, and among the terraced fields 

 of the central province. It sings sweetly enough, but does not 

 mount to the altitude of our English species. For its nest it 

 selects some depression in the soil which it lines with fine grasses, 

 and in it deposits from three to five eggs of a brownish gray 

 colour, profusely streaked and mottled. Axis 9 lines, diam. 7 

 lines. It breeds in April. Dr. Kelaart introduces this species 

 into his catalogue on the authority of Mr. Blyth — and 



168. Alauda Malabarica, Scop., 



on his own. Has he not mistaken A. gulgula, or Mirafra affinis 

 (which he excludes altogether), for A. Malabarica ? I have shot 

 several hundred larks, but never found a single specimen of A. 

 Malabarica, specimens of which I had from Mr. Blyth for iden- 

 tification. Dr. Kelaart does not inform us in his ' Prodroraus ' 

 whence his specimens were obtained, and as the various species 

 of this genus are very hard to distinguish without a thorough 

 knowledge of them all, I cannot help thinking that my surmise 

 is correct. 



169. Pyrrhulauda grisea, Scop. 



I have only met with this species in the northern and eastern 

 parts of the island ; when on the open lands it is very abundant, 

 being often seen in flocks of fifty or sixty individuals. 



They are fond of dusting themselves on roads, and lie so close 

 that one is frequently within a step of treading on them before 

 they rise. I believe they are migrator)^ at least I never could 

 find any breeding with us, and I have seen flocks careering from 

 the direction of the continent when I have been out at sea 

 dredging. 



170. Mirafra affinis, Jerd. 



This species is abundant about Tangalle, and I have procured 

 it at Pt. Pedro. I never saw it in the hills, nor does Dr. Kelaart 

 notice it, so I presume it is confined to the low countiy ; it is 

 not however easily distinguishable from our other larks or pipits 

 until taken in the hand; it may consequently have been over- 

 looked. It has one habit however by which I always distin- 

 guished it when alive ; on being flushed it soars up uttering a 

 pleasing song, and wings its way towards some tree on to which 

 it descends, its legs pendant and wings fluttering rapidly, and 

 singing the while with all its little might ; the instant however it 



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