438 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



considered that there was a second and smaller race in India, 

 which he named G. Boydi. 



Two or three African species are recorded by Bonaparte and 

 Tristram. 



3rd. — Desert Larks. 



These have the light aspect and the naked nostrils of the Pipits ; 

 typically inhabit desert and sandy places, and are numerous in 

 Africa. 



Gen. Certhilauda, S^vainson. 



Char. — Bill slender, lengthened, more or less curved ; nostrils 

 round and naked ; wings very long, the 1st quill short, the second 

 a little shorter than the next three, which are nearly equal ; tail 

 moderate or rather long, even ; tarsus lengthened ; toes short ; 

 hinder claw variable, typically short and straight. 



The only species oc curing in India has been separated from Cer- 

 thilauda by several Ornithologists under the name Alcemon, Keys 

 and Bl., on account of its peculiar, plain, almost unstreaked colora- 

 tion, and slightly curved bill. A closely allied race is C. Salvini, 

 Tristram, from North Africa; and C. Duponti, Vieill., is another of 

 the same group. 



770. Certhilauda desertorum, Stanley. 



Alauda, apud Stanley — Blyth, Cat. 738 — Horsf., Cat. 702 — 

 Al. bifasciata, Licht. — Temm. PI., Col. 393 — Puippell, F. Abyss., 

 pi. 5— Saxicola pallida, Blyth, J. A. S. XVI. 130. 



The Desert-lark. 

 Descr. — Light Isabella grey above, more fulvescent on the 

 scapulars, tertiaries, and two middle tail-feathers, which are shaded 

 with pale dusky along the middle ; lores, superciliary stripe, throat 

 and belly, white ; the breast feathers dusky, with broad whitish 

 margins concealing the dark colour within; ear-coverts blackish 

 at the tip ; wings deep dusky black ; primaries and secondaries 

 pure white at base ; the shorter primaries also white tipped, and 

 the small wing-coverts margined with pale fulvescent ; tail, except 

 the two middle feathers, deep dusky black, the outermost feathers 

 having its narrow outer web almost wholly white, and the 



