PASSERINE BIRDS. 1 99 



The nest of the Calandrelle is carelessly constructed, but very safely concealed from view ■ the 

 eggs are grey or pale yellow, marked more or less distinctly and very variously with reddish brown. 

 At the commencement of September the annual migrations of these Larks have fully commenced, and 

 flocks of them may be seen winging their way in immense masses towards the wooded steppes of 

 Central Africa, literally forming clouds that obscure the sky, or when they alight covering the entire 

 ground, very frequently for half an hour at a time. Jerdon mentions their appearance in India in 

 very similar terms, and tells us that on one occasion he brought down no fewei* than twelve dozen of 

 these birds with two shots from a double-barrelled gun — a statement for the truth of which we can 

 fully vouch after our own experiences in Central Africa. Thousands are also destroyed in Spain, but 

 the increase is so large as to prevent any serious diminution of their numbers. 



The BLACK LARKS (Saxilauda) form a group very closely resembling the Calandra Larks, 

 but recognisable by the peculiarity of their plumage and the Finch-like form of their beaks. 



THE BLACK LARK. 

 The Black Lark, or Moor Lark (Saxilauda Tataricd), is about seven and a half to eight inches 

 long, the wings five and a half, and the tail three inches. The coat of the old male bird is coal-black, 

 shaded, after moulting, with white, both upon the back and lower portion of the body ; indeed, at that 

 time the plumage may almost be described as chequered, each feather having a white border, which 

 gradually wears away as the season advances. The beak is yellow, tipped with a dark shade, the 

 feet brown, and the eyes light brown. The coat of the female is brown, marked with a deeper tint, 

 the under portion of the body being white : the young resemble the mother. Swarms of these Moor 

 Larks are found inhabiting the steppes of Central Asia, where they frequently linger from year's end 

 to year's end, never leaving except to wander to somewhat higher ground, in search of a spot upon 

 which they can escape the snow that drives them from the lower parts of the country. Eversmann 

 tells us that he saw them in large flocks upon the Asiatic steppes during the winter, but with the 

 particulars of their summer life in Asia we are entirely unacquainted, except that the seeds of various 

 plants and insects constitute their favourite food. As to its general habits, this species closely 

 resembles the Calandra Lark, with which it frequently associates. The brood consists of from four 

 to six pale blue eggs, marked with reddish spots ; the nest exhibits but small trace of care in its 

 construction. 



We must here again call our readers' attention to the admirable manner in which the colours of 

 the feathered tribes are adapted to the particular situations in which their life is to be passed. Seeing 

 that the Black Larks could only exist where the soil is of a similarly dark character, another race of 

 these birds has been appointed to cheer the barren desert with their presence, coloured so as to 

 harmonise and blend with the light and sandy plains that they frequent ; such are — 



The SAND LARKS (Amniomanes), easily recognisable by their strong beaks, very powerful, 

 broad, long, and pointed wings, comparatively large and excised tail, and sand-coloured plumage ; all 

 the various species closely resemble each other in these particulars. 



THE DESERT LARK. 

 The Desert Lark (Ammomanes desert!) is one of the smallest members of this group, not being 

 more than five and a half inches long, and eight and a half broad. The upper part of the body is of 



