PASSERINE BIRDS. 203 



preparations for their young. The nest is most carefully constructed, and neatly lined with fine 

 blades of grass, cotton wool, and other delicate materials, a slight hollow being prepared in the 

 ground for its reception ; in this the little cradle is so well concealed as to be only discoverable 

 by a practised eye. The brood consists of from four to five eggs, of about the same size as those of 

 the common Field Lark ; they are usually yellow, and covered with very fine markings of a deeper 

 shade, which take the form of a wreath around the broadest end ; varieties are, however, occasionally 

 found exhibiting grey streaks, or brown hair-like lines. In its habits this species closely resembles the 

 Field Lark ; indeed, the movements of the two are so exactly similar as to render it almost impossible 

 to distinguish between them, either when on the ground or in the air : the Alpine Lark, however, sings 

 either when perched or sitting upon a stone, and not, like its more southern representative the Field 

 Lark, only when soaring in the air. It subsists chiefly upon seeds and insects, feeding its young 

 principally upon the gnats and larva? abounding in its favourite resorts. 



The LARKS PROPER (Alaitdce) are distinguished from the birds just described by their more 

 slender beaks, short wings, and simple plumage, but closely resemble them in other particulars. 



THE TUFTED LARK. 

 The Tufted Lark (Galerita cristatd) may be regarded as holding an intermediate position, 

 by reason of the comparative strength of its beak, the shape of which, however, points it out as 

 belonging to the Larks Proper ; it is, moreover, easily recognisable by its compact body and tolerably 

 strong feet, furnished with an almost straight claw upon the hinder toe, also by its large head and 

 blunt wings, lax plumage, and, above all, by the crest it bears upon the vertex. The plumage is 

 extremely various, and we are as yet unable to decide whether this diversity indicates distinct species, 

 or is to be attributed to other causes ; suffice it to say that these alterations in the colouring are 

 usually accompanied by very observable differences both in the song and manners of the birds. 

 We shall not here attempt to enter into a discussion on this point, but shall only observe that in 

 one part of Egypt, where the soil is very dark, a species of Lark is found which, from the depths 

 of its hues, has been called Galerita nigricans, whilst in the desert, not a mile from the same spot, a 

 similar bird is met with almost of a golden colour. We mention this to show that in such a case 

 the climate can in no way be the cause for so great a dissimilarity. In this group, therefore, every 

 variety of tint, from deep yellowish grey to pale whitish yellow, may frequently be seen in birds 

 apparently belonging to the same species. The Tufted Lark, so frequently met with in Germany, is 

 usually reddish grey upon the upper part of its body ; the throat is pale yellowish white, the rest 

 of the under portion is brownish yellow, every feather being marked with a black line upon its shaft, 

 except those upon the throat, wings, and a streak which passes over the eyes ; the wings and 

 tail-feathers are black or dark brown, bordered with rusty red. In the young birds, all the feathers 

 upon the upper part of the coat are edged with white, and spotted at the tip with a dark shade ; the 

 eye is brown, the upper mandible deep grey, the lower one light grey, and the feet red. The length 

 of this species is about six and three quarter inches, its breadth twelve and a half inches, the wing 

 three and three quarter inches, and the tail two and a half inches. The female is not quite so large 

 as her mate. We shall speak of this group collectively, as relates to their habits and mode of life, for 

 what applies to one applies to all. The Tufted Larks are spread extensively over the whole of Europe, 

 Central and Southern Asia, and Africa, being most numerous in the southern parts, where they not 

 only inhabit the villages, but also frequent mountains and barren plains ; whilst, as we have already 

 mentioned, those of Africa are as constantly seen in the desert as in the cultivated districts. In 

 liurope they may be considered as constant winter visitors to our barns and houses, hopping about 



