ALATJDINaE. 
nostrils basal, lateral, and entirely concealed by the frontal plumes and short bristles. Wings lengthened, 
without a spurious quill, and the first quill nearly as long as the second and third, which are the longest, 
Tail Sh0rt Tarsi rather shorter than the mi ddle toe. Toes lengthened, strong, and much scutellated, 
the lateral ones equal; the claws short, but that of the hind toe long, and nearly straight. 
The birds that compose this genus are inhabitants of Europe and Asia, especially the northern parts • 
northern and southern portions of Africa. They live during summer, in pairs, on arid plains ; 
gregate m small flocks, and approach near the habitations of man. Their food consists of 
and seeds. The nest is placed in a tuft of herbs, wherein are laid from four to five 
1. M. Calandra (Linn.) Boie, PI. enl. 363. f. 2. 
2. M. mareotica ( Von der Mulhe), Beitr. zur Orn. Grieehenl. 
3. M. bimacula ta (Menetr.) Cat. p. 37. no. 82. 
4. M. mongolica (Pall.) Zoogr. 1. 51 6. t. 33. f. 1. Alauda 
sinensis Waterh. Proc. Z. S. 1839. 60. 
and also of the 
and in winter they con- 
grasshoppers, small worms. 
5. M. tartarica (Pall.) — Tanagra sibirica Sparrm. Mus. Carls, 
t. 19. — Alauda nigra Falck ■ Al. mutabilis et Al. yeltoniensis 
For st Type of Saxilauda Less. 1837. 
6. ? M. nigra (Stepb.) Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. t. 191. 
7. M. cinctura Gould, Voy. Beagle, p. 87. 
Pyrrhulauda A. Smith * 
Bill short, with the oilmen arched, the sides much compressed, the tip entire, and the lateral 
margins sinuated ; the nostrils basal, and concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings long, with the first 
quill spurious, and the second rather shorter than the third and fourth, which are nearly equal and 
longest. Tail moderate and slightly emarginated. Tarsi moderate, longer than the middle toe, and 
slender. Joes very small, the lateral ones equal, and strongly scutellated above ; the claws short, slightly 
curved, and the hind claw rather long, and nearly straight. 
The species of this genus are generally found, in large or small flocks, in Africa and India. “ When feeding,” says 
Dr. Smith, “ the numerous members of these flocks are widely scattered ; but the moment one individual takes to flight 
from alarm, all the others follow the example, and they move off in a body to another locality. It is not their custom 
to fly far before they come to a halt ; and the instant they reach the ground they scatter in all directions, and run to and 
fro with great rapidity. They rise into the air, and after soaring for a time descend again like the larks, and like them 
also they build their nests upon the ground, under the shelter of a tuft of grass or some dwarf shrub. They feed on the 
seeds of grasses, &c.” “ The Indian species has the strange habit,” says Col. Sykes, « of squatting on the high roads, 
and almost allowing itself to be ridden over ere it rises.” 
1. P. australis A. Smith, Rep. Exp. App. p. 49., Zool. S. Afr. 
Birds, pi. 24. — P. melanosoma Swains. 
2. P. verticals A. Smith, Rep. Exp. App. p. 48., Zool. S. Afr. 
Birds, pi. 25. 
3. P. leucotis (Stanley), Rupp. Salt’s Abyss. App. p. 59. — Erin, 
gilla otoleucus Temm. PI. col. 269. f. 2, 3., A. Smith Zool. S. Afr. 
Birds, pi. 26’. ; Alauda melanocephala Licht. 
4. P . grisea (Scop.) Sonn. Voy. Ind. 11. t. 113. f. 2. Alauda 
gingica Grnel. ; Fringilla cruciger Temm. PI. col. 269. f. 1., Lath. 
Hist. pi. 97- 
5. P. nigriceps Gould, Zool. of the Beagle, Birds, p. 87. Frin- 
gilla cruciata Temm. ? 
Otocoris Pr. Bonaji.f 
Bill short, slender, conical, with the culmen and lateral margins slightly arched ; the nostrils basal, 
lateral, and concealed by projecting plumes. Wings lengthened, with the first, second, and third quills, 
* Proposed by Dr. A. Smith (1829) in the place of Megalotis (which had been previously used) of Mr. Swainson, who established this 
genus in 1827. (Zool. Journ. iii. 343.) 
t Proposed by the Prince of Canino (1839) in the place of two names, Eremophila of M. Boie (1828), and Phileremos of M. Brehm 
(1831), both of which have been previously used, and which I had changed to Phihmmus (1840), not being aware that the Prince of 
Canino had previously given the above name. 
