Nesting of the Crested Lark.



273



Now we have an ‘embarras de richesses’ as regards Owls,

for not only do the two pairs shout to each other, but the number

of visitors they have is wonderful, and the chorus at night of

soft melodious tu-whit, tu-whoos varied by sharp screeches and

me wings and whistlings; if the music were not all in the minor

key, it would inevitably keep one awake. Sometimes my Owls call

in the afternoon, and occasionally in the morning. On a very

dark day, when the North wind blew over to us some London

atmosphere, the Owls hooted at noon.


I feel we have not reached the final chapter with my Owl

and its new friend, for if the former mate ever comes back,

hoping to build a nest with it in the hollow tree, I shall do all

I can to entice it in, and number three will have to be disposed

of otherwise. What my deserted Owl’s views will be in the matter

remains to be seen.


Since this was written, the nesting season has passed

without any sign of the wanderer’s return.



NESTING OF THE CRESTED LARK.


Galerita cristata.


By W. E. Teschemaker, B.A.


(N.B.—I have spelt the generic name as above because it is the more

familiar form ; Prof. Newton, however, tells us that “ it is iuadmiss-

able owing to its prior use in Entomology” (it has been applied to a

genus of beetles). If, however, the “ Avis galeritus ” of Pliny is the

“ Elauda cristata ” of Linnaeus, the name has a good standing and

a further consideration is that it has a definite meaning, whereas

“ Galerida ” is a meaningless word coined by Brehni).


The Crested Lark has a most extensive range in the Old

World—from Spain to Northern China, from South Sweden and

Central Asia to Senegal and Southern India. Its preference is

for bare and barren countries—even for deserts—and it is found

in greatest numbers in the warmest parts ot its range. Environ¬

ment has naturally caused the usual variations in point of size

and plumage and the enthusiastic museum-naturalist has taken

advantage of this fact to present us with more than thirty sub-



