361 



MELANOCORYPHA BIMACULATA. 



(EASTERN CALANDRA LARK.) 



Alauda bimaculata, Menetr. Cat. Rais. p. 37 (1832). 

 Melanocorypha calandra, Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 78 (1845, nee Linn.). 

 Melanocorypha torquata, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi. p. 476 (1847). 

 Melanocorypha alboterminata, Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 124 (1850). 

 Melanocorypha rufescens, Brehm, Naum. 1856, p. 376. 

 Melanocorypha bimaculata, Sharpe, Ann. N. H. (4) viii. p. 180 (1871). 



S ad. astiv. fulvescenti-brunneus, plumis omnibus medialiter saturatius brunneis : uropygio et tectricibus 

 supracaudahbus fulvescenti-brunneis, pallidioribus, fere unicoloribus : collo postico paullo cinerascente : 

 tectricibus alarum fere dorso concoloribus, paullo rufescente lavatis, majoribus fulvescente marginatis : 

 remigibus brunneis, extus cinerascente lavatis et fulvo anguste marginatis : cauda. brunnea, vix rufescente 

 tincta, rectricibus omnibus fulvo marginatis et albo terminatis, pennis duabus centralibus exceptis : 

 loris, supercilio, gutture et facie laterali fulvescenti-albidis, hac rufescente mixta: regione auriculari 

 rufescente : corpore reliquo subtus fulvescenti-albo, pectore et hypochondriis magis rufescentibus : 

 torque pectorali nigra : subcaudalibus fulvescenti-albis : subalaribus brunnescenti-griseis ; rostro brun- 

 nescenti-corneo, mandibula, flavicante : pedibus flavicantibus : iride saturate brunnea. 



Av. hornot. pauUo rufescentior, torque pectorali minus distincta, punctulis longitudinalibus nigris notata : 

 rostro flavicante. 



Adult male in summer plumage. Above fulvous-brown, tbe centres of the plumes much darker brown, 

 giving a somewhat mottled appearance, all the feathers being edged with fulvous, especially on the 

 hinder part of the neck and centre of the back ; wing-coverts coloured like the back, but a little more 

 rufous, plainly edged with fulvous, less distinct on the greater coverts ; quills brown, with a slight shade 

 of ashy grey on the outer web, all the feathers more or less narrowly edged with fulvous, but none of 

 the feathers tipped with white ; tail dark brown, with conspicuous white tips to all the feathers, except 

 the two central ones, all the rectrices edged more or less broadly with fulvous ; lores and a distinct 

 eyebrow whitish ; cheeks fulvous-white, with a slight mottling of rufous ; ear-coverts entirely rufous ; 

 throat white ; rest of the under surface dull white, the upper part of the breast and flanks rufous ; a 

 pectoral gorget black, extending right across the lower part of the throat ; on the upper part of the 

 breast are a few indistinct mottled lines below the black gorget; under tail-coverts whitish; under 

 wing-coverts entirely greyish brown ; bill horn-brown, the under mandible yellowish ; feet fleshy yellow; 

 iris dark brown. Total length 6 - 6 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 475, tail 2-5, tarsus 1-0. 



Obs. Some specimens are much greyer than others. Others again are more rufous. Some are more white 

 on the belly, and have the breast much obscured, so that the pectoral gorget is scarcely discernible. 

 This last dress seems to be the winter plumage. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but more rufous iu the centre of the back ; the gorget more obscure, and the 

 stripes on the upper breast more indistinct ; the bill likewise seems to be more yellow. 



4b2 



