432 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



765. Spizalauda deva, Sykes. 



Alauda, apud Sykes, Cat. 98— Mirafra Hayi, Jerdon, 2nd 

 Suppl. Cat. 188 bis.— J. A. S. XIII. 959— Blytii, Cat. 742— 

 Horsf., Cat. 721 — Chinna chandul, Tel. 



The Small Crested Lark. 



Descr. — Upper part, including the crest, isabelline or rufous 

 brown, with black mesial streaks ; upper tail-coverts rufescent 

 without streaks ; the first long primary broadly edged with rufes- 

 cent, and the outermost tail-feather and most of the penultimate of 

 the same hue ; superciliary streak continued round the back of the 

 head, and lower parts of a similar or isabelline hue, with a few 

 dusky striae on the breast, and paling on the throat. 



Bill horny brown, yellowish below ; feet fleshy brown ; irides 

 dark-brown. Length 5^ to 5f inches ; wing 3| ; tail about 2, a 

 trifle longer ; bill at front T 7 ¥ ; tarsus f ; hind toe and claw f^. The 

 short first primary is about ^ an inch long ; the crest has its longest 

 feathers about f inch long ; and the mesial dark streak of each is 

 strong and contrasting. 



This small crested Lark is found throughout Southern India, 

 chiefly on the table-land, rare in the Carnatic. Sykes procured it 

 in the Deccan, where also I observed it, at Jaulnah, and I obtained 

 examples from the top of the Eastern Ghats, and from Mysore. 

 It frequents grass-land, and has quite the habits of a true Lark, and 

 not at all those of a Mirafra, with which, from its thicker bill, 

 I at first classed it. It is frequently caged in the Deccan and 

 in the south of India, sings well, and is an excellent mocking 

 bird. 



We next come to the restricted Larks, with a comparatively 

 slender bill. 



Gen. Alauda, Linnaeus (as restricted.) 



Char. — Bill moderate, nearly straight, conical or subulate, 

 slender ; wings long, the first primary exceedingly minute, and 

 the next four sub-equal, the fifth in some decidedly shorter ; tips 

 of the lesser quills emarginated ; tail short or moderate, forked ; 



