BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 47 



Sbort^toeb OLarfc. 



Jon* Dun 



THE Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla, Leisler) 

 is a rare abnormal autumn migrant to the British Islands. 

 It is a resident in Southern Europe and Northern Africa, 

 and has been met with as far eastward as India. The adult 

 male in nesting plumage has the upper parts chiefly light 

 sandy-brown, with blackish centres to the feathers, those on 

 the head narrow, and on rump, obscure; under parts, pale 

 ochreous- white ; breast, washed with huffish-brown ; with a 

 few large streaks on the sides of the breast; tail-feathers, 

 dark brown; centre webs of outermost pair, mostly creamy- 

 white; next pair with terminal part of outer web, creamy- 

 white; central rectrices, margined with pale sandy-grey; 

 irides, brown; bill, brown; legs and feet, brownish. Length, 

 about five inches. The adult female is similar to the male. 



