82 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE CALANDRA LARKS. GENUS MELANOCORYPHA. 



Melanocorypha, Boie, Isis (1828), p. 322. 



Type, M. calandra (Linn.). 



The Larks composing this genus are birds of large size, and 

 are peculiar to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean 

 countries, extending eastwards to Southern Russia, and south 

 to Abyssinia. Species of the genus are also found from Pales- 

 tine and Asia Minor through Persia to Central Asia and North- 

 western India, while some extend from the Eastern Himalayas 

 to Thibet, and one at least inhabits Western Siberia and 

 Northern China. 



The Calandra Larks are generally recognised by their large 

 size and very stout bills. The wing is more pointed than in 

 the majority of the Larks, the secondaries not reaching to 

 the tips of the primaries as in most of the members of this 

 family. 



The Calandra Lark of Southern Europe, Melanocorypha 

 calandra, has been chronicled in some lists of British Birds on 

 the strength of two specimens " recognised in the shops of bird- 

 stuffers in Devonport and Exeter respectively ; but the evidence 

 is not sufficient to warrant the introduction to the British List 

 of a species which is very tolerant of confinement, and is one 

 of the commonest cage-birds in Spain and Italy." (Howard 

 Saunders.) 



I. THE WHITE-WINGED LARK. MELANOCORYPHA SIBIRICA. 



Alauda sibirica, Gm., S. N., i., p. 799 (1788) ; Seeb., Br. B., ii., 

 p. 279 (1884); Saunders. Man., p. 247 (1889). 



Melanocoryphn sibirica, Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p. 642 (1874); 

 Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 373, pi. 240 (1873); B. O. U 

 List Br. B., p. 73 (1883); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus 

 xiii., P- 557 (1890). 



Melanocorypha kucoptera, Lilford, Col. Fig., Br. B., pt. xv 

 (1890). 



Adult Hale. Brown, streaked with black, the upper tai 

 coverts more rusty ; lesser wing-coverts and primary-covert 

 bright rusty-red, forming a shoulder patch ; remainder of winj 

 coverts and quills dark brown, with rust-coloured margins 



