218 F. Stoliezka — Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachh. [No. 3, 



758. Ammomanes pnassricuEA. Common. 



Wing 4 to 4-3 ; tail 23 to 25 ; tarsus OS to 086 and bill O.5.* 



760. PrBBHULATJDA geisea. Common. 



Gray (Handl. II, 123) gives affinis, Blyth, as a distinct species from 

 ' Madras.' 



761. Alauda (Calaisdeella) bbachydactyla. Common. 

 Wing in three specimens only 3 "6 to 3"7 inch, tarsus 075 to OS. 

 765. Alauda (Spizalauda) deva. Very common. 



The measurements agree with those given by Jerdon, the length of the 

 wing only varying between 3 '3 and 3 "4 inch. Mr. Hume (Journal A. S. B. 

 xxxix, pt. ii, p. 120) separated a very closely allied and slightly smaller 

 form as Sp. simillima. The length of the wing of the Kachh lark is inter- 

 mediate between his measurements (loc. cit.) of the two forms ; and so 

 also appears to be the general tone of tbe plumage, not being either parti- 

 cularly rufous, nor pale or sandy colour. The lining of the wing is slightly 

 tinged with rufous in a young, but is of a purely fawn or sandy in two adults. 

 The male has the hind toe and claw - 8, the female 0*7, the former has also 

 the feathers of the crest somewhat longer than the latter. 



770. Cebthilatjda (Aljemon) deseetobum. 



Wing 5'1 to 53 inch. Jerdon does not mention the dark mustachial 

 streak which is always well marked. All my specimens have the upper plu- 

 mage brownish sandy-grey, exactly like those obtained by Mr. Blanford in 

 Abyssinia, while Jerdon noticed an Indian example with dark plumage, pro- 

 bably resembling Gould's figure hi Birds of Europe. They are evidently the 

 same birds. (Comp. Blanford, Geol. and Zool. Abyssinia, 1870, p. 3S5). 

 Gray (Handlist, II, 121) gives Finsch's Jessei as distinct from desertorimi, 

 although their identity has been, I believe, unquestionably proved by Finsch 

 himself (vide Append. II, to that author's Report on birds from Abyssinia, 

 &c, p. 316). 



I have obtained this desert lark only on the Rann, between the main- 

 land of Kachh and the islands of Pacham, Kharir, &c, but even in these 

 true desert localities it seems to be rare ; for I have not seen more than a 

 dozen examples altogether ; generally two of them in society were seen busily 

 hunting after grain on the soft, muddy track, leading through the Rann. 



788. Columba lnteemedia. Very common. 



There is scarcely a well in Kachh in which a colony of these pigeons 

 would not breed, and they appear to do this all the year round, as if domes- 

 ticated. 



794. Tuetub cambayensis. Very common. 



796. „ eisoeius. Very common. 



* The numbers referring to these two last measurements are evidently trans- 

 posed in Jerdon's book, loc cit. p. 422. 



