29 
Perching Birds. 
The White-Winged Lark. 
The Shore- Lark is recognised by the 
tufts of black feathers, forming horns, on 
each side of the hinder part of the crown. 
The general colour is ashy vinous, and the 
eyebrow and forehead are yellow, followed 
by a broad band of black across the crown. 
THE CALANDRA rhe occurrence ot 
LARK. the Calandra Lark, 
(. Melanocorypha which is a South 
calandra). European species, in 
England is doubtful, and is generally dis- 
credited, though the species appears in 
most lists of so-called British Larks. The 
pointed wing and stout bill distinguish 
it from the rest of our British Larks. 
The White-Winged Lark ( Melanocorypha sibirica) is a smaller species than 
the true Calandra Lark, and is to be easily told by its rusty-red lesser wing-coverts, 
which form a distinct shoulder-patch, and by the white secondary-quills, which are 
very conspicuous, especially when the bird is flying. It has been observed once only 
in Great Britain, a specimen having been obtained near Brighton, in November, 
1867. On the Continent it has been noticed in Belgium and Northern Italy, and 
also in the Island of Heligoland, but it can only be reckoned as a very rare and 
occasional visitor to Western and Southern Europe. The home of the species is in 
Central Asia and Southern Russia, whence it wanders westward to Poland and 
Galicia, and still further into Western Europe. In its habits the White-winged 
Lark resembles our Sky- Lark, mounting into the air and singing, and assembling 
in flocks in the autumn. The nest is built on the ground, under the covering of a 
tuft of grass or small bush, and is constructed of grass. The eggs are four or five 
in number, of the usual Lark-like character, 
being white or greenish white, with numerous 
brown spots and grey underlying spots and 
markings. 
The Sky-Lark ( Alauda arvensis). This 
familiar species would seem scarcely to require 
any detailed description, as it is well known to 
all of us as a companion of our walks or as a 
frequent cage-bird. It may be known, however, 
from the other British species, by its very 
diminutive first primary, which is so small that 
it is distinguished with difficult)', and in reality 
looks like one of the primary-coverts. The The Sky-Lark. 
