394 CALANDRELLA 



it collects in large flocks and ranges about the fields or plains 

 in search of food. Its nest, which is placed on the ground in 

 a hoof-print or any depression in the soil, usually at the foot 

 of a tuft of grass or a low bush, is a rather loose structure of 

 grass-bents, lined with wool or feathers, and sometimes hair. 

 The eggs, 4 to 5 in number, are usually deposited in May, and 

 are dull white dotted or blurred with hair brown, and measure 

 about 077 by 0'62. 



Dr. Sharpe recognizes C. duJchunensis, tibetana, and acuti- 

 rostris as separable from C. brachydactyla, C. dukhunensis as 

 being larger and generally more rufous ; C. tibetana as being 

 usually greyer in tone of colour, and having more white on 

 the outer tail-feather ; and C. acutirostris in being also greyer, 

 but having less white on the outer tail-feathers, but I cannot 

 find that these small differences hold good in a series, and 

 therefore prefer uniting all with C. brachydactyla. 



561. LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK. 

 CALANDRELLA MINOR. 



Calandrella minor (Cab.), Mus. Hein. i. p. 123 (1850) ; Dresser, iv. 

 p. 349, pi. 236, fig. 1 ; (Sharpe), Cat. B. Br. Mus. xiii. p. 588 ; C. 

 reboudia, (Loche), Cat. Mam. and Ois. Alger, p. 83 (1858). 



Siltfa, Tliesch, Arab. 



< ad. (Algeria). Differs from C. brachydactyla in having much 

 shorter secondaries, usually 0'75 to TO inch shorter than the longest 

 primary, and in lacking the blackish patch on each side of the breast, this 

 being spotted or narrowly striped with dark brown ; soft parts as in C. 

 pispoletta. Culmen 0'45, wing 3'5, tail 2'05, tarsus 0*73 inch. 



Hob. Canary Islands ; North Africa east to Egypt, Palestine, 

 and the countries bordering the Persian Gulf; has occurred in 

 Malta and Italy as a rare straggler. 



Frequents dry arid plains and is as a rule shy. Throughout 

 its range it appears to be a resident, and after the breeding 

 season collects in small flocks, and wanders about the country 

 in search of food, which consists of seeds of various kinds and 

 also to some extent of insects. Its nest is placed on the 

 ground, usually in a tussock of grass or under the shelter of 

 a stone, and is constructed of dry grass-bents. Its eggs, which 

 are deposited from April to June, usually 3 in number, are dull 

 white with a creamy tinge, spotted and blotched with dull 

 brown or dark clay-coloured surface-marks, and violet-grey 

 shell-blotches, and in size average about 0*82 by 0'65. Its 



