BLACK LARK. 
193 
Beak one tenth of an inch longer than broad. Plumage black in 
spring, yellow grey in the autumn, with the wings and tail black. 
Length of male specimen sent me by Mr. Tristram, seven inches 
and three quarters; carpus to tip five inches and a quarter. 
The Black Lark is an inhabitant of northern climes. 
In Euroj)e it is found in the precincts of the Wolga 
and Istych Bivers in Bussia. It has been captured 
rarely and accidentally in Germany, and still more rarely 
in Belgium. On the authority of Dubois we have the 
record of one being trapped in the neighbourhood of 
Brussels, in 1850, and which he found in the market 
for sale. The person who caught it assured M. Dubois 
that there was a large flock, but he was only able to 
get one. M. Croegaert is also quoted by IM. Dubois as 
having taken one in the neighbourhood of Anvers, in 
1852, and kept it alive during several weeks. According 
to Pallas it is found in the wild and barren wastes of 
Tartary, between the Volga and la’ik Bivers, whence it 
emigrates during the winter. It occurs also in the 
Steppes of Asia, and in the south of Africa. 
“This bird,” says M. Dubois, “inhabits during the 
summer in large flocks, the most extensive and infertile 
plains, where they may be seen from time to time on 
the sand-hills. They emigrate in autumn, and arrive 
during the rigorous winter at the villages and tovrns 
on their route, whence they penetrate to the interior. 
They return to the Steppes during the earliest days of 
spring. Their flight is to short distances, not very quick, 
and rather low. It is in general a careless bird; its song 
is not very good, and it generally sings seated upon a 
hillock; its call-note is heard (very rarely) when it rises 
into the air. Its nourishment is insects and their larvse, 
worms, and seeds; it makes its nest upon the ground 
in a little excavation, and know's very well how to hide 
