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hind claw 0-5-0-65. The specimen of A. agrestis measures : — Total length 7 inches, culmen - 55, wing 4 - 4, 

 tail 2-8, tarsus - 8, hind claw 04. Great as is the variation in the dimensions of Sky-Larks, it will be noticed 

 that this specimen is as small as the smallest bird we have yet measured, while it is less than any as regards 

 the length of the tarsus and hind claw. It would be wrong to base any conclusion on one single specimen ; 

 but the specific characters given by Brehm hold good to a certain extent ; viz. the lores and fore part of the 

 face are purer white, and the head is of a different shape, the crown being much higher, as the accompanying 

 woodcut will show. The legs are also smaller in every detail. 



The specimen lent us from Dr. Peters is from Thuringia; and we cannot help remarking that A. agrestis 

 seems to be at least as good a subspecies as A. cantarella. 



Italy. The characters given by Bonaparte for his A. cantarella are merely that it is smaller in size 

 and more obscure in colour, distinctions which can be drawn between Sky-Larks in any country at different 

 seasons of the year. Thanks to our good friend Count Salvadori, we have received specimens from Piedmont 

 killed in summer, at which season of the year, if the Italian bird were really distinct, the differences would be 

 most apparent ; but there is not one of the skins in our collection which has not its prototype from other 

 localities, and we cannot find the slightest characters in which the Italian Sky-Lark differs. Total length 

 6-5-7-0 inches, culmen 0-5-0-55, wing 4-0-4-4, tail 2-5-2-9, tarsus 0-85-0-95, hind claw 0-55-0-65. 



Spain. Scarcely any variation appears in the Sky-Larks of this country ; but, as is often the case in birds 

 from Southern Europe, the colours are rather purer : one lent us by Major Irby, from Seville, is in full winter 

 dress, but is more grey than we have usually observed them ; this, however, may be a variety. Total length 

 6-5-7-0 inches, culmen 0-5-0-55, wing 3-9-4"4, tail 2-5-2-9, tarsus 0-9-0-95, hind claw 0-4-0-5. 



Northern Africa. Two specimens collected by Dr. Sclater in Tunis measure : — Total length 6-3-6'5 

 inches, culmen - 5, wing 4 - l-4 - 3, tail 2 - 6-2'8, tarsus - 95, hind claw 0-5-0-6. Another in Major Irby's 

 collection from Tangier gives the following measurements : — Total length 6 - 5 inches, culmen - 5, wing 4 - 3, 

 tail 2 - 7, tarsus 0'95, hind claw - 7. This latter bird is in full breeding-plumage, and is very black on the 

 back with scarcely any fulvous edgings left, while the throat is more thickly spotted than in any other 

 specimen we have ever seen. We fancy that in the southern countries of Europe the breeding-plumage is 

 more fully assumed than in the northern part ; for we never get such dark birds in summer in England. 



Cyprus. Canon Tristram has a specimen from this locality, which has the form of true A. arvensis, but 

 yet has the plumage of the so-called A. cantarella (auct. nee Bonap.) ; that is to say, the lines on the breast 

 and flanks are very distinct, and the throat and abdomen rather of a purer white than usual. Total length 

 7'4 inches, culmen 0'5, wing 4 - 5, tail 2'9, tarsus 0'9, hind claw 0'55. 



Turkey. One specimen, killed in March by Mr. Robson, seems to be absolutely undistinguishable from 

 English examples in spring plumage ,- but another, procured in April, differs somewhat from the ordinary birds 

 of Northern Europe, being much paler in plumage, with the stripes on the breast very small, but distinct, and 

 has the general appearance of the desert subspecies found in Egypt. The under wing-coverts are much paler 

 and more tinged with isabelline, having scarcely any smoky grey appearance. This last bird measures in total 

 length 6'8 inches, culmen - 55, wing 4 - 15, tail 2 - 8, tarsus - 9, hind claw 0'55. 



Crimea. Here we get a bird which has very much the appearance of the Turkish specimen above 

 described, but yet varies in the direction of the English Sky-Lark, and is one of thsoe examples which 

 completely unite the subspecies of South-eastern Europe to the northern bird, and render it impossible to 

 separate them specifically. The under wing-coverts are more white than is usual in British specimens, but 

 have more of a smoky grey tinge than the Turkish bird, being in this respect perfectly intermediate between 

 the two. Total length 7 - 4 inches, culmen - 55, wing 4 - 5, tail 2"9, tarsus 0-95, hind claw - 7. 



Egypt. Captain Shelley has a Sky-Lark procured at Alexandria on the 3rd of March 1871, which is 

 absolutely undistinguishable from the British bird. Total length 7 - 4 inches, culmen - 55, wing 4 - 6, tail 2 - 9, 

 tarsus 0'9, hind claw - 6. But the same gentleman himself procured at Fayoom three specimens of a Lark 

 which we cannot affirm to be the true A. arvensis, but still they do not present enough characters to enable 



