422 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



The Finch-Larks. 



Another genus (Ammomanes) belonging to the group, with ten 

 primaries to the wings, is formed by the finch-larks, of which the 

 African finch - lark (A. deserti) is represented in the left-hand figure below, 

 while other species inhabit India. Having the first primary long, as in the pre- 

 ceding genus, these larks are specially distinguished by the thick beak being much 

 shorter than the head, and the nostrils concealed by plumelets. They inhabit 



THE AFRICAN FINCH-LARK AND DESERT-LARK (f liat. Size). 



open arid plains, from which they rise singing in the air for a short distance, and 

 then suddenly drop. 



There are several other genera of the group, such as the Asiatic bush larks 

 {Mirafra), which may be distinguished from the finch-larks by the open nostrils. 

 The short-Toed The short-toed larks, genus Calandrella, are inferior in size to 



Larks. most of the family, and have the bill short and stout, with the upper 

 mandible arched ; while there are only nine primaries in the wing, of which 

 the first is long and reaches to the tip ; the inner secondaries being lengthened 

 and reaching to the end of the primaries, or nearly so ; and the tail being rather 

 long and slightly forked ; and the claws slightly curved and very short. Five 

 species of short-toed larks inhabit Europe and Northern Asia, and three others 

 are found in India. 



The European short-toed lark (C. brachydactyla) is a common species in 

 Southern Spain, and is one of the most characteristic of birds of Malta during 



