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nets and shot. A few remain the winter, till the beginning of February. It repasses in March 

 and April, but in less numbers than in autumn. I have not heard it sing here. My collection 

 contains a curious cream-coloured variety of this species, with ashy markings on the back and 

 wings." In Algeria Loche says it is abundant. Dr. Taczanowski also observes : — " Melano- 

 corypha calandra is very common in cultivated fields of the hill-country, as well as in the desert, 

 on fields round about the oases : less numerous in the districts lying near the sea, and about 

 broad pasture-grounds near Lake Fezzara." Mr. Osbert Salvin found it breeding in the Eastern 

 Atlas ; and Canon Tristram has published the following note : — " Though swarming on the 

 coasts, and by far the most common Lark in the Tell, the Calandra soon becomes scarce in the 

 interior, and can only doubtfully claim a place in the Sahara list. The two specimens I obtained 

 on its edge are decidedly larger than those of the plains on the other side of the Atlas, measuring 

 8 inches in length, with beaks more robust and longer than in other specimens, 0*8 inch from 

 the gape instead of 0*6 inch, but do not exhibit any further specific distinction. The Calandra 

 is in high esteem by French epicures, and ranks as the best gibier of the Algerian chasseur." 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, who has recently travelled in Algeria, observes as follows : — " Occurs in large 

 flocks up to the middle of March. This species is very common at Ain-Oussera and Bougzoul ; 

 but I never met with any among the Larks in the Algiers Market. It is quite unknown in 

 the Mzab." 



Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake, in his paper on the Birds of Tangier and Eastern Morocco, says 

 he found it on the open plains. 



Swainson has given it a place in the Fauna Boreali-Americana on the authority of a dealer, 

 and afterwards on that of a specimen in the British Museum, said to be from the Fur-countries, 

 and presented by the Hudson's Bay Company. Tbis is undoubtedly an error. 



As the Calandra is not found in Northern Europe, but few observers have given notices of 

 its habits. We are indebted to many of our friends for original matter contributed towards the 

 present account of the species. Mr. Gervase F. Mathew has kindly sent us the following 

 letter: — "The male on commencing his song springs from the ground, and with a graceful 

 undulating motion describes a series of large circles until he rises to an immense height ; his 

 song is then clear and beautiful, but at close quarters it is piercing and unpleasant. The call- 

 note is loud and harsh, and somewhat similar to that of E. miliaria. With the Portuguese it is 

 a favourite cage-bird, and in many of the streets of Lisbon may be seen hanging outside every 

 door in cages that are generally much too small. At Gibraltar it is frequent ; and many are 

 caught on the neutral ground by bird-catchers, who use clapp-nets with decoy call-birds. A 

 heavy price is asked for a good singer. Those I shot at Lisbon afforded fair sport, and were 

 capital eating." 



The following note is taken from Count von der Muhle's work on the Birds of Greece 

 (p. 38) : — " It is undoubtedly the commonest Lark in Greece, and enlivens even before daybreak 

 the flat country with its song. Its favourite resorts in summer are dried-up swamps and meadows 

 where cattle graze and here and there wild flowers grow. Here it is continually running about 

 after insects, and sings incessantly on clods of earth and heaps of mould thrown out of ditches. 

 When it rises singing in the air, it never soars so high as A. arvensis. It is very companionable, 

 often going with A. brachydactyla and A. arvensis ; and I have often killed all three species at 



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