49 8 PASSERIFORMES 



CHAP. 



rest of the face and throat, or even the lower parts, being yellowish. 

 Tephrocorys cinerea and Mirafra apiata have a rufous crown and 

 breast respectively. Pyrrhulauda is chiefly black below, and varies 

 above from grey to chestnut, relieved by black and white. Ordinarily 

 the sexes in Larks are similar. Crests are not uncommon. 



Certhilauda, Alaemon, arid Ammomanes inhabit deserts or arid 

 plains, Alaudula raytal frequents sandy islets, and Otocorys often 

 selects uplands ; but most forms only require open country, being 

 chiefly ground-birds and seldom found near woods. Lullula, how- 

 ever, loves heaths and the outskirts of copses, and Mirafra bushy 

 spots. Larks often flock together, and are not usually shy, since 

 they will even enter villages; the desert species are particularly 

 quick runners, while the flight is exceptionally weak in Ammo- 

 manes, Calandrella, and some others, though as a rule sufficiently 

 strong. Perching is not an uncommon habit, Lullula and Mirafra 

 habitually settle on trees or tall bushes, and several forms squat 

 to avoid detection. In general dusting takes the place of washing. 

 The food consists of insects and their larvae, seeds, worms, small 

 molluscs, crustaceans, or even berries. Most Larks soar while 

 uttering their pleasing trills, and plaintive calls are often heard ; 

 Lullula has a more flute-like song, Pyrrhulauda utters a shrill 

 chirp. Galerita cristata and Melanocorypha calandra imitate other 

 birds successfully when caged. The cup-shaped nest of bents, 

 lined with finer grasses, fibres, or hair, is placed in herbage or in 

 some depression in the soil wool, cotton, rags, or even sticks 

 being exceptionally added ; but two or three species of Mirafra 

 build a domed structure, occasionally placed on bare rocks or roofs 

 of houses. The eggs are generally whitish, closely spotted or 

 zoned with purplish-grey or brown ; some specimens, however, 

 are thickly freckled with yellowish or marked with reddish. The 

 number varies from two in Pyrrhulauda, and about three in Am- 

 momanes, to five, six, or even seven. Both sexes incubate in some 

 cases, while two or more broods are often reared in the season. 

 Thousands of Sky-Larks are netted annually for the table. 



Fam. II. Motacillidae. This group comprises the Sub- 

 families Motacillinae, or Wagtails, and Anthinae or Pipits. The 

 bill is thin and more or less elongated, with a slight notch, 

 the culmen being decidedly curved in Oreocorys. The metatarsus 

 is very long in Wagtails, variable but shorter in Pipits ; it is 

 usually slender, with the hind claw well developed and slightly 



