356 



to define its range ; but I have fortunately been able to examine a fair series of specimens from 

 various localities, which enables me to state with some degree of certainty where it is met with. 



In Southern Russia it is, according to Pallas, very common on the arid steppes adjoining the 

 Caspian, where it arrives in flocks in the month of February and spreads over the steppes. 

 Eversmann writes that he never observed C. pisjwletta on the eastern steppes of South Russia, 

 but on those of the Caspian, northwards to above Indersk and eastwards to Lake Aral, it is found 

 in millions. It there inhabits only the most desert portions of the steppe, where the soil is clay, 

 and there is scarcely any vegetation except straggling Artemisia plants. Again, where the steppe 

 is more fertile Alauda arvensis is almost equally numerous ; and between these two districts both 

 species occur. . Nearer to the Caspian, where the steppe is barren, C. pispoletta is extremely 

 numerous, and almost the only bird to be met with. Mr. Sabanaeff, referring to Eversmann's 

 notes, states that a specimen was observed by him on the boundary of the Ekaterinburg and 

 Shadrinsk districts, thus further north than it is recorded by Eversmann to occur. Eversmann 

 describes (Cab. Journ. 1863, p. 283) a Short-toed Lark under the name of Alauda longipennis, 

 which may possibly be the present species ; but his description is not sufficiently clear, and no 

 measurements are given. He speaks of it as being smaller than the Short-toed Lark, but having 

 an equally long wing, reaching nearly to the end of the tail ; the bill is small, and the legs very 

 slender ; the mark over the eye is very clearly defined. The locality from which it is described 

 is the " Songarei." 



De Filippi speaks of the present species as being found in Russian Armenia ; and in Persia 

 it appears to be common during the breeding-season ; for Mr. Blanford obtained specimens of the 

 birds, as well as a nest and eggs. 



Dr. Jerdon does not record it from India — though, from his stating that some specimens of 

 the Short-toed Lark have the breast spotless and others spotted, it appears probable that he had 

 seen specimens of this bird; but it has since been recorded from the plains of India by Mr. A. O. 

 Hume, who, in a letter to the editor of 'The Ibis' (Ibis, 1870, p. 531), writes that, in a large 

 collection formed for him, in the cold season, in the Sirsa district, by Nizam Oodeen Khan, 

 he found three specimens of C. pispoletta. It occurs in China; and specimens thence have 

 been described by Mr. Swinhoe as a distinct species, under the name of Alaudula cheleensis ; but 

 having compared Mr. Swinhoe's types with specimens from the Volga, I can detect no differences 

 on which a species could be founded. Mr. Swinhoe records it as found at Talien Bay, not rare 

 at Pekin, and, according to Pere David, particularly abundant in Mongolia. I think it probable 

 that this species occurs in the south-eastern portion of Siberia. Dr. G. Radde refers to a Short- 

 toed Lark, which I believe to be the present species, as found on the Tarei-nor. Tschihatscheff 

 met with it in Western Siberia ; and Dr. Radde states that he found it in the spring consorting 

 with A. mongolica, or in small flocks near others of that species, and that it breeds on the north- 

 eastern end of the lofty Gobi. Von Middendorff writes that Dr. Stubendorff sent him specimens 

 from the Birjussa of a Short-toed Lark, which I also think may probably have been this species ; 

 but not having had an opportunity of examining any of these Siberian specimens, I am unable to 

 speak with any degree of certainty. 



But little has been recorded respecting the habits of this species, which do not appear to 

 differ from those of Calandrella brachydactyla. I am, however, fortunate in being able to 



