128 CALANDRA LABK. 



remarks, "They often fly together in flocks, and have a clear, beau- 

 tiful, and varied song, which is heard as often when flying as in 

 repose; notwithstanding the perfection of their song, it is impossible 

 for amateurs to keep them in their homes, their voice is too loud. 

 "When taken young they may be taught to imitate the voices of all 

 kinds of birds. They often mix together the notes of Thrushes, 

 Finches, Tits, Quails, Linnets, etc., and will even imitate the croaking 

 of the frog." 



Captain Blakiston, in his description of the birds found by him in 

 the Crimea, ("Zoologist," 1857, p. 5509,) gives an amusing account 

 of his first meeting with this bird, which will bear quoting: — 



" I ask any naturalist, is there any pleasure in observing a new 

 species for the first time? Surely you have a peculiar feeling within 

 you; you eagerly wish for a specimen; and I will answer for it that 

 you do not rest till you have obtained one. Suppose that you are 

 a field ornithologist, you take the first opportunity, and although the 

 weather is cold and windy, with snow covering the ground, you 

 trudge off with your fowlingpiece to where you observed the birds. 

 I did this on the 2nd. of January, and found the bird I was in 

 search of on the Karani hill, within sight of Sebastopol. I soon 

 procured a couple, and after waiting in the snow behind an old bit 

 of a wall for some time, knocked over six more at a shot: they were 

 Larks, but the largest I had ever seen. I had studied Yarrell well 

 when making out the Short-toed Lark. What could they be? To 

 make sure, however, I turned over the leaves again that evening in 

 my hut, but they were not there. I was at a loss. ' However,' I 

 said to myself, 'they are Larks, but somewhat approaching to 

 Buntings.' So I marked them in my journal as specimens of 'large 

 Lark,' and noted the measurements and other points. This was the 

 Calandra Lark, ( Alauda calandra,) as I afterwards learned from 

 England." 



The Calandra Lark nests on the ground among lucerne or corn. 

 Its nest, according to Dubois, resembles much that of the Crested 

 Lark; it is made of blades of grass and roots, lined with moss and 

 root-fibres, sometimes with wool and feathers. 



It builds twice a year, in April and June, and lays from four 

 to six eggs, of a dirty white, covered with numerous spots of 

 olive green, thickest generally at the larger end, though sometimes 

 equally diffused. Long diameter one inch or nearly, short three 

 quarters of an inch. 



The adult male in breeding plumage has the upper parts rich 

 brown, with the feathers bordered with russet. Inferior parts bluish 



