304 



Assuan. It runs swiftly, and when standing is not easily distinguishable from the sand, owing 

 to its pale creamy tint of plumage." In Algeria it does not appear to be common. Major Loche 

 writes that he " only met with this species in the south of Algeria, near Gardhaia. It differs 

 from the Crested Lark, not only by its different plumage, but also by its different habitat, its 

 range being a very restricted one. We met with the Common Crested Lark not only in the 

 same locality as the present species, but likewise in every other part of Algeria, whereas the 

 Isabelline Lark is exclusively a Saharan bird. In its habit it differs very little from G. cristata, 

 but is wilder, and appears more sprightly ; its song is flute-like, and its flight heavy. It places 

 its nest in the oasis, under shelter of a tussock, a low bush, or a bunch of herbage, and deposits 

 four eggs, which are yellowish white, covered with small brownish or reddish spots, and mea- 

 suring 21 by 17 millimetres." 



Mr. Taczanowski records it as rare in the desert, inhabiting the sand dunes and stone-covered 

 hillocks ; and Canon Tristram, who obtained the specimens I have described, states that " this 

 very distinct variety is far less abundant than the last (G. abyssinica), being confined to the most 

 desolate districts. It is much smaller, shorter by at least an inch, with its hues more uniformly 

 pallid, and the darker mark down the centre of each feather almost obliterated. Its bill is of 

 similar proportions, in no way differing from that of G. cristata. I do not find the remark of 

 Prince Bonaparte as to the crest being longer, to hold good uniformly. I obtained one nest, the 

 eggs of which resemble pale-coloured varieties of G. cristata, but are scarcely larger than those 

 of Calandrella brachydactyla." Of the bird referred to by Canon Tristram under the name of 

 G. abyssinica I have examined several specimens obtained by him, and have referred them all to 

 G. cristata, not having been able to find any distinctive character by which I could separate them 

 from that species, though at the first glance, and before I examined a large series of specimens, 

 I was inclined to consider it a good species. In size it is smaller, and has a more feeble bill than 

 typical specimens of G. cristata, the measurements being the same as those of the present species, 

 from which it differs in being much darker and more rufous in colour. A. Brehm describes a 

 bird under the name of Galerita Jlava, from East Sudan, which, I think, will prove to be the 

 Isabelline Lark ; but I cannot be quite sure of this without seeing the specimens described. On 

 the other hand, I feel convinced that the Galerita lutea of O. Brehm is referable to the present 

 species, and have accordingly placed that name amongst the synonyms. 



The specimen figured and described is in the collection of the Rev. Canon Tristram ; and in 

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



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 a, d,b, $. El-Ouibed, January 1st, 1857 {H. B. T.). 



