LARK. 291 



in the Tartarian deserts common ; also between the rivers Don and 

 Wolga, as well as other parts of the Russian Empire. It is fre- 

 quently kept for its song,* which by many is thought excellent, but 

 said also to imitate that of others, as the Goldfinch, Linnet, Canary 

 Bird, and such like. It makes the nest on the ground, like the 

 Skylark, and lays four or five eggs, and the period of its life four or 

 five years. — Mr. Pennant observes, that it is allied to the Common 

 Bunting, and it is certain that authors have confounded the two 

 species. This was first mentioned as an American bird by Mr. Edwards, 

 who assures us, that it has been brought from North Carolina, f 



A.— Alauda Sibirica, Gm. Lin. i. 799. Pall. It. ii. 708. 15.* Id. iii. 697. Lid. 



Orn. ii. 497. 

 White-winged Lark, Gen. Syn. iv. 383. Shaw's Zool. x. 512. 



Size of the Crested Lark. Bill livid, tip brown ; crown of the 

 head, ears, lesser wing coverts, and those of the tail ferruginous, 

 inclining to yellow ; under parts dirty white, varied with ferruginous 

 on the fore part of the neck ; second quills chiefly white, and most 

 observable when the wing is spread ; the outmost of the prime quills 

 wholly white ; the next white on the margin ; legs grey. 



This is plentiful in the sunny fields, in the neighbourhood of the 

 River Irtish, in Siberia, where it makes the nest on the ground like 

 the Skylark ; but is inferior to it in song. 



* Olina says that to have them sing, the young should be brought up from the nest, and 

 fed with a paste in which sheep's heart bears a part, but with every care, it will not sing well 

 till the second year. 



f This seems the only instance on record, which may lead us to suspect, that if really 

 the Calandre is here meant, and not the Shore Lark, as may be conjectured, it might have 

 been a caged bird, escaped from its confinement. 



P p2 



