OTOCORYS BILOPHA. 121 



Verner found them about the vega of La Janda, and obtained 

 several nests there ; the eggs were much like those of the Crested 

 Lark. They also occur in the vicinity of Malaga throughout the 

 year. 



Marked much as A. Irachydactyla, but the secondaries very much shorter 

 than the primaries. More ashy in colour ; throat, breast, and flanks very 

 broadly marked with black. Length 5^ inches. 



147. Alauda calandra (Linnaeus). The Calandra Lark. 



Spanish. Alondra, Calandria. 



The Calandra is extremely abundant and resident on both sides 

 of the Straits, gathering together in flocks during the winter. 



Frequenting all the vegas or plains in Andalucia, they are, 

 from their numbers, size, note, and peculiar varying flight, very 

 conspicuous, and in some localities positively swarm. At times 

 their flight is very like that of some of the smaller Waders ; and 

 often when flying in the breeding-season they utter notes which 

 very much resemble the cry of the Green Sandpiper, only of 

 course not so loud. In spring they soar to a great height, 

 singing on the wing, but not hovering like the Skylark. At 

 this season, when the garbanzos (Cicer arietinuni) are sprouting, 

 they are very troublesome, picking the shoots off, so that the 

 farmers have to scare these and other Larks away. 



They consort much with the Short-toed Lark, and nest some- 

 times close together on cultivated as well as pasture land, laying 

 about the second week in April. 



The Calandra is a very common cage-bird at Gibraltar, and 

 they are as much prized for their song as for their lively habits. 



Bill short and stout, arched above. Large triangular black patch on 

 each side of throat extending to the neck forming an interrupted collar. 

 Outer tail-feather almost entirely white. Length 8 inches. 



148. Otocorys bilopha (Temminck). The Horned Desert-Lark. 

 This species is mentioned by Mr. Drake as having been 



