370 Mr. V. Bianchi — Key to the 



XXVI. — Key to the Paleearctic Species of Larks of the Genus 

 Otocorys. By V. Bianchi, F.M.B.O.U. 



I wish to submit to the readers of ' The Ibis'' the following 

 key to the Palsearctic species and subspecies of the Horned 

 Larks (Otocorys), of which 1 have lately made a careful 

 study. I divide them into eight species and four subspecies; 

 of the latter, three are now designated for the first time. 



a. Black cheat-band divided from the black on the sides of 



head by a more or less broad white interspace on the 



sides of the neck. 

 b. Throat, cheeks, and forehead sulphur-yellow in sum- 

 mer-, as well as in winter-dress. 



c. In the male the occiput, nape, and lesser wing-coverta 

 of some shade of vinous red, always in contrast 

 with the hack ; in the female the dark streaks of 

 the hinder part of forehead nearly confluent. 

 Wing, cJ 4-6-4-15, §> 4-25 3-35 in.— Hab. Tundras 

 and Barren-grounds of the Circumpolar region. — 

 [Jtara (Gin.), 1788; cormtta (Wils.), 1888 ; nivalis 

 (Pall.), Lsll ; striatus et titfescens (Brehm), 

 1855.] O. alpestris (Linn.), 17GG. 



c'. In the male the occiput and nape rich rufescent, 

 lesser wing-coverts sandy brown, as the back, 

 not vinous; in the female the hinder part of the 

 forehead streaked. Wing, J 4-45, § 4 10 in.— 

 Hab. < treat Atlas Mts., Marocco . . O. atlas Whitaker, 1898. 

 b'. Throat, cheeks, and forehead always white. 



(L A 7 o brown shaft-streaks on the back, the centre of 

 the feathers being only slightly darker than the 

 sides. Occiput, nape, and lesser wing-coverts 

 exactly like the back aud upper tail-coverts, all 

 the upper surface being of a bright, more or less 

 uniform sandy colour, with a shade of vinous in 

 the winter-dress in the male. A broad black band 

 <m the hinder part of the forehead in the female. 

 Wing, <$ 3-95-3-80, $ 365 in.— Hab. Deserts 

 from Arabia Petrsea to Algeria . . O. bilopha (Temm.), 1823. 



</'. Alwayshas brown shaft-streaks on the back, more or 

 less hidden in the fresh plumage by the overlying 

 feathers. In the male the occiput and nape some 

 shade of vinous red or lilac, in strong contrast 

 to the colour of the back; iu the female black 

 shaft-streaks on the hinder part of the forehead 

 not forming a confluent band. 



