BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 49 



Mbite^wingeb 



THE. White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica, Gmelin) 

 is a very rare autumn visitor to the British Isles, but in 

 parts of Russia and Central Asia it is a resident, and is met 

 with occasionally in Austria and Italy. The adult male in 

 summer has the crown, lesser wing-coverts, and upper tail- 

 coverts, chestnut ; tail, brown, margined with white on the 

 inner webs ; upper parts, brown, margined with russet, and 

 shading into lighter on nape; secondaries, white, dark at 

 bases ; primaries, dark brown, with white tips ; under parts, 

 dull white, tinged with buffish on breast and shading into 

 brownish on flanks, the former finely spotted and the latter 

 streaked with brown and rufous ; irides, brown ; legs and 

 feet, brown ; bill, deep horn colour, pale yellowish beneath. 

 Length, about seven inches. The adult female is similar 

 to the male, but duller in colouration. 



