;32 



hilly portions of Sindh is the Lark far excellence ; in the barest and most desolate hills, absolutely 

 devoid of the slightest trace of vegetation (all about Duryalo they had had no rain for more than 

 two years when I was there), this bird was abundant. From the very northernmost to the 

 extreme southern point of Sindh it was equally plentiful in suitable localities ; and all the way 

 up the Mekran coast I met with it whenever and wherever we landed. It is a perfectly fearless 

 and familiar bird, and, when shot at, generally drops, if not wounded, at a few yards distance and 

 seeks safety by squatting, when it is impossible, even at a couple of yards distance, to make out 

 its whereabouts, so perfectly does its sober garb harmonize with the barren localities it affects. 

 Further north it is equally common in the Salt range, in the hills that encircle the Peshawur 

 valley, and Hazara." 



In its habits the present species is essentially a desert-bird, being found in the desolate, 

 sandy, and wild localities, where its sober, dull, isabelline garb harmonizes closely with the soil ; 

 and it appears that its plumage always assimilates with the nature of the soil, being darker and 

 greyer in some localities and more isabelline or rufescent isabelline in others, according to the 

 prevailing tinge of colour of the surroundings; and like most of those birds whose plumage 

 closely resembles the colour of the soil, it squats at the approach of danger and trusts to the 

 concealment afforded by the difficulty in distinguishing it. Mr. Taczanowski says that in its 

 habits it most closely resembles the Crested Larks, being met with in pairs during the breeding- 

 season, and at other times found in small companies, often seeking for food on the roads. Major 

 Loche states that it frequents the sand plains, to the colour of which its plumage assimilates 

 closely, so much so that it is almost impossible to distinguish it. It is shy and difficult of 

 approach, runs with great speed, and can squat and hide in any uneven part of the ground 

 with ease. Its flight is weak ; and it seldom flies any distance. It feeds on insects and small 

 seeds. Its song is, he says, agreeable, but not varied, and to some extent resembles that of the 

 Short-toed Lark. He does not speak of its building any nest, but merely says that the eggs are 

 deposited in a small depression in the soil, generally under shelter of a stone, and that they are 

 usually four in number. Dr. Tristram, however, gives more concise details respecting its nidifi- 

 cation, and says (I. c.) that the nest is neatly formed of grass, and placed in a depression in the 

 ground, under a tuft of grass, and that the eggs, four in number, in size are nearly equal to those 

 of the Crested Lark, but never so elongated, measure 11 lines by 8 lines, and are of a rich cream- 

 colour, blotched, especially towards the large end, with brown and red spots. 



Three eggs of this Lark in my collection, two obtained by Mr. Cochrane near Jericho on 

 the 24th April, 1864, and one obtained by Major Loche in Algeria, most nearly resemble the 

 eggs of the Crested Lark, are creamy grey, closely marked with purplish grey underlying shell- 

 markings and dull brown surface-spots. The one from Algeria has the surface-spots of a darker 

 and more greyish brown, they being chiefly collected at the larger end. In size they measure 

 from 1% by f £ to f £ by f § inch. 



In shade and tone of coloration the Desert-Lark is subject to great variation ; and I can only 

 account for it by supposing that they vary in colour according to the nature of the soil where 

 they are found. From Algeria, as well as from North-eastern Africa, I find rufous and grey 

 birds, some striated on the throat, and others without any striations ; and from Palestine I find 

 both forms and some specimens which are fairly intermediate ; but from Cashmere I have only 



