190 
CALANDRA LARK. 
Specific Characters . — Beak compressed, and the upper mandible 
curved and overlap])ing the under one, so as to form a sharp 
point — as long again as broad. First primary the longest, tlie 
second nearly as long, and about the same difference in size between 
that and the third ; fourth an inch shorter than the third, and about 
the same difference in size between the fourth and fifth and the 
fifth and sixth. All the tail feathers except the two upper onc.s 
tipped with white, and the two laterals almost entirely of that 
colour. 
Length eight inches; carpus to tip five inches and three tenths; 
beak three-quarters of an inch; hind claw thi’ee fifths of an inch; 
hind toe two fifths of an inch. 
The Calandra Lark, one of the most conspicuous 
species of tlie genus, is also, perhaps, the best known 
of this section, being very common in many parts of 
the south of Europe. It is found in Italy, Portugal, 
and Spain, Roman States and Sicily, Sardinia, south of 
France, Greece, the Crimea, and the Steppes generally 
of the south of Russia. It is observed rarely in Germany, 
and, according to Temminck, never in Holland, but it 
is included, figured, and described by Dubois among 
the birds of Belgium. 
In the north of Africa it is mentioned by Mr. Tris- 
tram as swarming on the coasts, but scarcer in the 
interior, so as hardly to lay claim to the Sahara as a 
locality. It is also included by that gentleman among 
the birds of Palestine, (Ibis, vol. i.) It is plentiful in 
Turkey, and in the Steppes of Southern Asia. 
Like most of its tribe, except our Skylark, the Ca- 
landra seems to prefer wild and desolate plains to 
cultivated ground for its residence. Iii other respects, 
however, its habits are very similar. Dubois remarks, 
‘‘They often fly together in flocks, and have a clear, 
beautiful, and varied song, which is heard as often when 
flying as in repose ; notv/ithstanding the perfection of 
