193 CALAXDHA LARK. 



Specific Characters. — Beak compressed, and tlie upper mandible 

 curved and overlapping tlie under one, so as to form a sharp 

 point — as long again as broad. First primary the longest, the 

 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 ones 

 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 three-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 ]\Ir. 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 ]3lentiful in 

 Tu.rkey, 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. In other respects, 

 however, its habits are very similar. Dubois remarks, 

 "They often fly together in flocks, and have a clear, 

 beautiful, and varied song, wdiich is heard as often when 

 flying as in repose; notwithstanding the perfection of 



