254 CRESTED LARK. 
especially on dry sandy soils, except in Corsica, Sardinia and Malta, 
in which it is nearly unknown. It is numerous in North Africa, and 
as far south as Senegal on the west; but there and elsewhere an 
approach to the desert is generally accompanied by a more sandy 
tint, and sometimes by an increase of size and a greater develop- 
ment of bill, Allowing for these and other climatic variations, 
which have led to the fabrication of at least thirty species and sub- 
species, the Crested Lark may be said to range eastward from 
Morocco to Abyssinia, Arabia, and Northern China. 
The nest, often commenced early in March, is usually placed in 
some depression of the dry ground, such as a hoof-print, or amongst - 
herbage, but at times on an old wall or bank of earth, or even on 
the ridge of a low thatched shed in the fields ; the materials employed 
being dry grass and roots. The eggs, 4-5 in number, vary from 
greyish-white distinctly spotted with brown and _ violet-grey, to 
greenish-grey mottled with olive-brown : measurements ‘95 by ‘69 in. 
Incubation, in which the male takes part, lasts a fortnight. The 
Crested Lark is a tame and conspicuous bird, frequenting sandy 
roads—in which it is fond of dusting itself—and running with great 
rapidity: I have actually seen it glide beneath a horse when at a 
slow walk, rather than take wing. Its flight is undulating and 
resembles that of the Wood-Lark. The bird is not gregarious, and 
is generally seen singly, or in pairs and family parties. The short 
but rather liquid, flute-like and melodious song of the male is 
generally uttered on the ground, though often during a short flight, 
and occasionally from a bush; the call-note may be syllabled as 
coo-hai. The young are fed on insects and their larve, but seeds 
and grain form the principal food of this species, and in snowy 
weather it may be seen examining horse-droppings &c. 
The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown with 
darker streaks, and often with a sandy tint; while the under parts 
are buffish-white, with dark streaks on the gorget, and pale brown 
markings on the flanks. The characteristics of this species are the 
long, drooping, pointed crest, large bastard primary, orange-tawny 
hue of the under side of the wing and inner portion of the quill- 
feathers, and the absence of white from the tail—the feathers of 
which are tawny brown and black. Owing to the shortness of its 
tail and wings, the dimensions—length 7 in., wing 4:2 in.—are less 
than those of the Sky-Lark, though the bird is rather more bulky. 
The female is slightly smaller and darker than the male; the young 
bird has the feathers of the upper parts broadly margined with 
white and buff, and fewer spots on the breast. 
