BLACK LARK. 19o 



Beak one tenth, of an incli longer than broad. Plumage black in 

 spring, yellow grey in the autumn, with tlie 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 Europe it is found in the precincts of the AYolga 

 .and Istych Kivers in E,ussia. 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 M. 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 Rivers, 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 tov/ns 

 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 knows very well how to hide 



