THE BREEDING BIRDS OF MALTA. 173 



18. The Short-toed Lark. 



Calandrella brachydactyla, Leisl. — Bilbla. 



With the exception of the Sparrow this is certainly our most 

 common breeder. The first arrivals are noticed by the beginning 

 of March ; the bulk of the birds, however, are not seen before 

 April, when great numbers are taken by means of the clap-nets. 



The nest is always placed on the ground in a depression of 

 the soil under cover of a thistle or some other small plant. 

 Arid localities are generally chosen. The colour of both eggs 

 and nest harmonises so well with its surroundings that the nest 

 is very difficult to be detected, even by the most experienced 

 collector. 



I could never find out if both sexes work at the nest, nor the 

 time they employ in its construction. 



The material used for the making of the nest is usually very 

 scanty, and consists of roots and grass very roughly put together ; 

 in nests found not far from the seashore the same seaweed 

 (Caulinia oceanica) used by the Bunting is frequently noticed too. 



The eggs vary in number from three to five, very rarely six ; 

 their colour is a fine creamy-white or a dirty clay, clouded and 

 speckled all over with several shades of brown, olive, and grey, 

 some having a zone of these spots about the thicker end ; some 

 eggs are noticed having a rather conspicuous gloss. In shape 

 the variation is also great. Specimens are found which are 

 quite spherical, while others are markedly elongated ; great 

 variation is at times noticed even in the same clutch. Nidi- 

 fication commences late in April and goes on till the end of 

 July. 



19. Lesser Short-toed Lark. 



Calandrella minor, Cab. — Bilbla seconda. 



This Lark is by no means common in Malta ; it seems, how- 

 ever, that the few individuals which arrive in April together 

 with the preceding species remain here to breed. 



The site and construction of the nest are identical with those 

 of its larger ally, and the colour and often the size of the eggs 

 are also the same, so that sure identification can only be had by 



