PASSERINE BIRDS. 



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of the female is paler, and the spur upon the foot smaller than in the male. The length of this bird 

 is about seven inches, the wing four, and the tail two and three-quarter inches. 



We learn from Le Vaillant that the Spur Lark is found abundantly throughout the whole of 

 Southern Africa, where it principally frequents grassy plains, or the immediate vicinity of streams or 

 brooks. The nest, which is formed of fine roots or similar materials, is concealed under a bush, and 

 tlift brood consists of three or four blueish-white eggs, marked with reddish-brown spots, most thickly 

 strewn over the broad end. The flesh of this species of Lark is much esteemed as an article of food 

 by the settlers in South Africa. 



The COURSER LARKS (Alczmon) may be regarded as the connecting link between the Larks 

 and the Cursorial birds. Their bodies are much elongated, the beak remarkably long, weak, and 

 perceptibly curved ; the tarsus is double the length of the middle toe and nail ; the tail is long, and 

 straight at its extremity, and the wing comparatively short, the second, third, fourth, and fifth quills 

 being longer than the rest. 



THE DESERT COURSER LARK. 



The Desert Courser Lark (Alamon desertoritm) is one of the members of this group with 

 which we are most familiar, as it is frequently seen in Europe. In this bird the head and neck are of 

 a greyish cream colour, the back and wing-covers being somewhat yellower ; the belly is white, and 

 the breast marked with a few blackish-brown primary streaks ; the quills are white at their roots, and 

 black at the tip, whilst the secondaries are entirely white, striped near the middle with black, thus 

 producing a double white border to the wing ; the centre feathers upon the tail-covers are of the same 

 colour as the back, but black at the shaft, the exterior feathers having the outer web white, and the 

 rest black, with a yellowish edge. The eye is light brown, the beak and feet pale grey. Both sexes 

 are alike in plumage, but the female is not quite so large as her mate. The length of this species is 

 about eight inches, the wing four and a half, and the tail two inches. 



According to our own observation, this very remarkable bird is met with extensively between 

 Cairo and Suez, but is by no means numerous in the desert, and quite unknown in the region of the 

 steppes ; we occasionally saw it in small parties, but usually living in pairs, which appeared to associate 

 peacefully with each other. As we have said, the Desert Courser Lark much resembles the Cursorial 

 birds in many particulars. It runs with great rapidity, in the same manner as the Isabella Courser 

 ( Cursorius Isabellinus), and when in flight hovers or rises into the air with a bold stroke of the wings. 

 When about to alight it poises itself for some moments, and then, closing its wings, comes rapidly 

 to the ground, repeating this form of ascent and descent several times in quick succession, apparently 

 solely for the purpose of affording pleasure to its admiring mate. The song of these birds is loud 

 and twittering. The nest we have never seen, and our information as to the food upon which they 

 subsist is very slight. Insects, we believe, constitute their principal diet, and they probably eat some 

 kinds of seed. They exhibit no fear of man, and may often be seen running almost tame about the 

 streets and court-yards of Suez and Cairo. 



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