120 ALAUDIDJE. 



General ground-colour varies much from greyish brown to huffish brown. 

 Conspicuous occipital crest ; axillaries buff ; outer web of outer tail-feathers 

 Intff. Length 6f inches. 



145. Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler. The Short-toed Lark. 



Spanish. Terrera. 



" This bird is found on passage near Tangier, crossing in 

 very large flights during March and April, returning in August 

 and September. Many remain to breed, frequenting the same 

 localities as the Calandra Lark." Favier. 



On the Andalucian side of the Straits the spring arrival 

 commences about the middle of March ; and the passage con- 

 tinues for a month later, at which time nests with eggs may be 

 found near Gibraltar. Excessively abundant, as above stated, in 

 the same situations as the Calandra ; they prefer fallow ground, 

 nesting under shelter of some clod or in any slight depression of 

 the ground. I never could find the nest, except by putting the 

 old bird off. A very good way of finding the nests of all the 

 Larks and ground-breeding birds is, with the assistance of a man 

 to hold it at the other end, to drag a rope about a hundred yards 

 long across the ground, being careful that it drags on the ground ; 

 directly a bird flies up, drop the rope, go to the spot, and in all 

 probability a nest will be found. 



Below huffish white ; no spots on underparts ; but sometimes a streak or 

 two and brownish patch on each side of upper breast. Outer tail-feathers 

 huffish white, except the brown basal half of inner web ; the next feather 

 has outer web with buffish-white edging. Front claws very short and 

 curved ; hind claw straight and rather elongated. Length 5^ inches. 



146. Alauda baetica, Dresser. The Andalucian Short-toed 



Lark. 



Spanish. Cujailla. 



This small Lark was discovered by Lord Lilford in the corn- 

 land on the banks of the Guadalquivir below Seville, where they 

 are known to occur from February to the summer. Major 



