i 
song is said to be extremely poor, and is usually uttered whilst the bird is on the wing, fluttering 
somewhat like a Sky-Lark ; but it seldom remains long in the air. It feeds on insects of various 
kinds, which are usually picked up from the ground; and it but seldom eats seeds. Lindermayer 
states that it feeds chiefly on neuroptera. 
It breeds usually late in May, and places its nest on the ground in any slight depression, or 
under shelter of a clod, or else amongst brush-scrub or stones. ‘The nest is, according to Mr. O. 
Salvin, constructed of roots, and lined with horse-hair; but Naumann states that the lining is 
composed as frequently of fine roots as it is of hair. Mr. Salvin found the nest placed on the 
lee side of a bush. The number of eggs deposited is usually five or six. Eggs in my collection, 
obtained in various parts of Southern Europe, are subject to great variation, some being pale 
blue-grey, slightly marked with umber-brown, whereas others have a brownish grey tinge, and 
-are closely marked with minute reddish brown spots. One variety, obtained in Spain, is almost 
unspotted at the smaller end, and at the larger end is blotched with very faint purplish brown 
underlying shell-markings and very distinct dark brown surface-spots. In size they vary from 
a0 by 49 to 45 by 46 inch. 
The specimens figured are from Portugal and Sweden, the former being the one described. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, 6. Borgholm, June 15th, 1847 (Meves). 6, 3. Portugal, April (Dr. E. Rey). c, 3. Sardinia, April 1870 
(Salvadori). d. Tangiers (Olcese). e, d: Maslak, Turkey, April 26th, 1869 (Rodson). jf. Malta, spring, 
1861. g. Crimea. h, 9. Asia Minor, May 14th, 1861 (Robson). 7. Egypt (Rogers). j. Egypt (E. C. 
Taylor). k. Egypt, April 6th, 1871 (Shelley). 
E Mus. Lord Walden. 
a, b. Umballah, India, February (Dr. Scott). c, d. Umballah, October and November (R. C. Beavan). 
E Mus. Ind. Cale. 
a. Shiraz, December 1870. 6, 6. Dizak, Baluchistan, 4000 feet elevation, March 24th, 1872 (W. T. Blanford). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a, 3. Kef-Laks, April 22nd, 1857 (H. B. T.). 
E Mus. Howard Saunders. 
a, b. Malaga, September 25th. c,d, 3. Malaga, October 12th. e, jw. Granada, June 28th. f. Tangiers, 
winter. g. Palermo, Sicily, autumn. h. Algeria, spring. 7. Egypt (Rogers). j, 2. Near Constantinople, 
June 17th (Robson). 
ad e) 
