277 



In its habits the present species is a true desert bird ; and, unlike most of the Larks, it 

 appears to be rather solitary in its mode of life than otherwise, and does not ever collect in 

 flocks. Von Heuglin (J. f. O. 1868, p. 231) says that "it affects sandy flat country, with but 

 little vegetation, often visits the caravan-roads, goes in pairs, and does not wander much. In 

 many respects, particularly in its flight and song, it differs from its congeners ; it goes generally 

 on the ground, runs much about hunting after insects, which form its chief subsistence. When 

 running swiftly, which it generally does in a direct line, it often suddenly stops, but only for an 

 instant, either to look about or to alter its direction, just as Cursorius does. Its short, light, and 

 soft flight has some resemblance to that of the Hoopoe ; its note is a melancholy querulous 

 whistle. When singing the bird does not rise in the air; nor does it seem to care for elevated 

 positions, such as an elevated stone or a bush, and does not soon leave the place it has taken 

 possession of. The Desert-Lark is seldom seen near water, unless by chance its habitat adjoins 

 some ; on the contrary, it generally inhabits the most burnt-up driest desert, often places where 

 not a drop of rain falls for years." Mr. Taczanowski, writing respecting its habits as observed by 

 him in Algeria, says (J. f. O. 1870, p. 44) that " when suddenly disturbed it flies on to a bush, from 

 which it drops again to the ground, and runs off swiftly, being then usually impossible to flush 

 again. The males commenced singing about the 10th March ; and though rather a peculiar 

 songster, it is perhaps the best that is found there. It rises in the air to an altitude of about 

 fifty feet, utters three notes, which it repeats three times in a clear loud tone, finishes off with a 

 triller, and drops down on to its perch on a bush." Canon Tristram also (Ibis, 1859, p. 427) says, 

 " unlike its congeners it seems to be a most solitary bird ; and seldom, except in the breeding- 

 season, have I seen even two together. But a day rarely occurred when we did not obtain a few 

 specimens on the march ; and, indeed, this game formed our principal and favourite animal food. 

 Although its uniform of inconspicuous drab renders it most difficult of detection on the ground, 

 its restless habits soon attract attention. The moment it extends its wings the broad black bar 

 across the snow-white secondaries attracts the eye, and renders it an easy mark. At first sight 

 it reminded me much of a Plover in the manner in which it rose and scudded away. Indeed 

 there is nothing of the Lark in its flight, except in early morning, when I have watched it rise 

 perpendicularly to some elevation, and then suddenly drop, repeating these gambols uninter- 

 ruptedly over exactly the same spot for nearly an hour, accompanying itself by a loud whistling 

 song. It runs with great rapidity, and it requires no little speed of foot to capture a broken- 

 winged victim. In the stomach of those I opened I found small coleoptera, sand-flies, and hard 

 seeds. There is something very graceful in all its movements ; and the distinct markings of its 

 wings, and the expanson of its long black tail, render it really a beautiful bird when flying. The 

 egg is very large, 12 lines by 8 ; the ground-colour like that of C. duponti, but the brown 

 blotches smaller and far more closely distributed, especially towards the broader end. It would 

 not be easy to select it out of a series of some varieties of Lanius eaccubitor." 



The specimens figured are the adult male above described, and another much greyer variety 

 from Egypt, an adult male obtained in January 1863, both being in my collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



