﻿252 W. E. Brooks — Some Ornitliological Notes and Corrections. [No. ■:£, 



bles J/, alha of Europe, but differs in being of a ligbt slate or cinereus, and 

 in the wing coverts and secondaries being edged with broader white" (P. 

 Z. S., 1832, p. 91). 



Anthus agilis, Sykes. 

 Was said by Blyth to be apparently Antlius trlvialis, Penn. (= An- 

 thus arboreus, Bechst). In the original description, Sykes says, " found 

 on open stony lands ;" but I think it probable, as it is the only Anthus noted 

 by him, that his agilis was either Agrodronia campestris, Lin. or Corydalla 

 r2tfiila, Vieill. These pipits do affect stony and waste lands, as does Cory- 

 dalla striolata, Blyth, but neither of the tree-pipits do, least of all P. macu- 

 Z«i^2;5, Hodg.,* to which Sykes's term agilis has most unaccountably been 

 applied : the most arboreal of all pipits certainly is never found on " open 

 stony lands." I think it would be almost safe to conclude that Sykes's bird 

 was one of the three I have named, viz. either Ag. campestris juv. with 

 spotted breast or G. rufula or C. striolata. I am most inclined to the last. 

 I am weary of hearing ornithologists speak of the green Chinese tree-pipit 

 as P. agilis, Sykes, the application of the name to it being absurd. 



Alatjda Deva, Sykes. 

 Spizalauda Deva Blyth. 



I do not see any grounds whatever for separating the genus S]?izaJauda 

 from Alauda, and I think the term should be abandoned. Spizalazcda 

 simillima, Hume is as true an Alauda in every respect, in colour of plumage, 

 in voice, and in habits, as could be desired. It is rather small and this is 

 all that can be said. 



Sykes says of his Alauda Deva, that it is smaller than A. Gulgula, but 

 Alauda Malabar ica, wliioh Mr. Hume would identify with Alauda Deva, 

 is not smaller than A. Gulgula, but fully the same size, or if anything a 

 larger and finer lark ; Sykes's species is therefore the small one which Mr. 

 Hume separated (J. A. S. B., 1870, p. 120) as S. simillima ; and the 

 last term becomes a synonym of Alauda Deva, Sykes. I have seen many 

 of this last, including some brought by bird-catchers from localities well 

 to the south and west, and there is but one species wliich is smaller than 

 gulgula, and this is the true Alauda Deva of Sykes. The Khandalla large 

 crested lark, A. Malabarica Scop., will stand as such till the contrary be 

 shewn, and my Alauda australis of theNeilgherries (Stray Feathers, 1873, 

 p. 48G), which is a fine large non-crested rufous toned Alauda, will stand 

 until an older name can be shewn as clearly pertaining to it. 



* In J. A. S. B., 1873, p. 83, line 24, for ''never strictly arboreal, read ''more 

 strictly arboreal." 



