312 



them to be distinguished as a species. They are rather smaller, have a more distinct white eyebrow, and have 

 the stripes on the breast more plainly developed. This race is the Alauda cantarella of authors, but not of 

 Bonaparte, as we conceive; for we believe that his Italian bird is a myth. Total length 6-1-6-8 inches, 

 culmen - 5-0 - 55, wing 4-1-4-4, tail 2 - 6-2'8, tarsus 09, hind claw 0-4-0-5. Two of these birds have very short 

 hind claws, owing probably to the nature of the ground they frequent. In speaking of this subspecies in 

 future we shall employ the name of E. intermedia of Swinhoe, which we know to be applicable to it, rather 

 than the very doubtful appellation of E. cantarella, Bp., by which it has been previously known. 



. Palestine. Pour specimens obtained in this country by Canon Tristram must be referred to E. intermedia ; 

 but they all vary much, two only being exactly similar to Captain Shelley's Egyptian birds in the white eye- 

 brow and distinct breast-spots. Total length 6 - 5-6"9 inches, culmen Oo-Ooo, wing 4-1-^-6, tail 2"6-2'8, 

 tarsus 0-9-0-95, hind claw 0-4-0-55. 



Cashmere. Two specimens in Lord Walden's collection seem to be smaller than the usual Sky-Lark, 

 more rufescent in plumage, and have the stripes on the breast much narrower. The under wing-coverts are 

 dark chocolate-brown with a distinct tinge of isabelline. Total length 7'0-7-5 inches, culmen 0'55, wing 4'0 

 (one wing injured by shot, and not measured), tail 2'5-2 - 9, tarsus - 9-0'95, hind claw 0"5. 



India. The species of true Alauda included by Dr. Jerdon in his ' Birds of India ' are only three in 

 number, viz. A. triborhyncha, A. gulgula, and A. malabarica. The first of these is an inhabitant of the 

 Himalayas, and is, in our opinion, nothing but A. arvensis of Europe. The wing is supposed to be shorter ; 

 but an Indian specimen now before us has the wing 4'3 in length, and does not differ from the common 

 European Sky-Lark in winter plumage. Dr. Henderson has lately brought home from Yarkand a bird which 

 Mr. Hume has referred to the above species ; but this bird exactly agrees with one of Mr. Swinhoe's typical 

 examples of A. intermedia, and we believe that neither of them can be separated from the small form of 

 A. arvensis occurring in Europe, though they are slightly more rufous in appearance. This small race also 

 occurs in North-western India, and is absolutely undistinguishable from Egyptian examples. We have in our 

 own collection one from Lahore, collected by Captain C. H. T. Marshall; and Canon Tristram has another, 

 procured by the late Captain Beavan at Umballah. A. gulgula is very closely allied to A. intermedia, but is 

 smaller, and has the under wing-coverts rather more isabelline; it is a perfect diminutive of our Sky-Lark, and 

 has much the same habits, varying also as much in measurements. The tail-feathers seem to be more pointed, 

 and the outer feathers more washed with isabelline than in European skins. Total length 5-5-6-3 inches, 

 culmen 0-6, wing 3-4-3-8, tail 2'2-2'6, tarsus 0-9, hind claw 0-4-0-6 (e mus. Walden, S. §■ D., A. O. Hume). 



Ceylon. We have seen two specimens of Alauda from Colombo, collected by Mr. W. Vincent Legge, 

 which we suppose belong to A. malabarica. They are exceedingly like the last-named bird, possessing the 

 isabelline colour on the outer tail-feathers and under the wing. They are a little more rufous than the 

 Indian specimens we have examined, and measure as follows : — Total length 5-4-5'7 inches, culmen 0'5-0'6, 

 wing 3 - 35-3'4, tail 2'1, tarsus - 9, hind claw 0'65. 



North China, Peking. Mr. Swinhoe, when he first met with this bird, considered it to be new, and 

 called it A. pekinensis ; but he now refers it to the true A. arvensis, in which we quite agree with him. The 

 specimens in his collection, two in number, consist of an old bird in full winter dress, and a bird of the year, 

 still possessing some remains of its young plumage ; they were both procured in November 1860. We notice 

 nothing very peculiar about the plumage of either of these birds ; the old example is very pale, but this is 

 owing to the sandy edgings to the feathers assumed during the winter. Both old and young birds have the 

 third outer tail-feather very broadly bordered with white, and the latter has the throat more spotted than is 

 usual. Total length 6 - 8-7 - 3 inches, culmen 0-5-0-55, wing 4-5-4-6, tail 2 - 8-3 - 0, tarsus 0-9-LO, hind claw 

 0-7-0-8 (spec. 2 in mus. R. Swinhoe). 



China and its dependencies. Besides our Common Sky-Lark, which only occurs in the northern part of the 

 country, Mr. Swinhoe includes four others, viz. A. cantarella, A. coslivox, A. sola, and A. wattersi, of which 

 we speak in detail as follows : — 



