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Genus AMMOMANES. 



Alauda apud Lichtenstein, Verz. Doubl. p. 28 (1823). 

 Melanocorypha apud Gould, Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 87 (1841). 

 Phileremos apud Von der Miihle, Orn. Griechenl. p. 38 (1844). 

 Mirafra apud G. E. Gray, Gen. of B. ii. p. 383 (1844). 

 Calandrella apud Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium, i. p. 244 (1850). 

 Ammomanes, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 125 (1850-51). 

 Annomanes apud Bonaparte, Cat. Parzud. p. 8 (1856). 



The Desert-Larks approach more closely to the true Larks than to any other genus, and form 

 a natural link between them and Calandrella, to which they are also very closely allied. They 

 inhabit the sandy desert portions of the Palaearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental Regions, two 

 species being found in the Western Palsearctic Region. Affecting arid deserts, they are shy 

 and wild, but otherwise to a large extent resemble the Crested Larks. Their flight is weak; 

 but they run with great speed, and squat and hide when frightened. Their song is agreeable, 

 though somewhat monotonous, and is said to resemble that of Calandrella. They feed on insects 

 and seeds, and build a slight, neatly formed, cup-shaped nest of grass, which they place on the 

 ground, and deposit several rich cream-coloured eggs blotched with brown and dull rufous. 



Ammomanes deserti, the type of the genus, is a uniform greyish or rufescent isabelline- 

 coloured bird ; it has the beak moderately strong, rather long, the upper mandible overlapping 

 the lower one, and curved downwards towards the tip ; nostrils round, placed in the fore part of 

 the nasal depression ; wings rather long, the first quill short, but much longer than the coverts, 

 the second shorter than the sixth, the third, fourth, and fifth nearly equal, the fourth generally 

 the longest; tail moderately long, very slightly emarginate; tarsus covered in front with five 

 indistinct large and three inferior scutellse, and posteriorly also scutellate ; claws weak, except 

 the hind claw, which is elongated and nearly straight. 



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