absence from that country is, as Mr. Newton remarks in the ‘Ibis’ for 1865, “ a very remarkable fact — far 
more so even than its non-appearance on the north side of the Straits of Dover, while it is so plentiful 
between Calais and Boulogne.” Lieut. Sperling says, “ tliis is the Lark of the Mediterranean, as far as my 
experience goes. It frequents the dry plains ; and from the stunted plants and bushes, where it often sits, 
its cry ot cheep-cheep-cheep is constantly to be heard yet Mr. Wright, who had given it a place in his “ List 
of the Birds observed in Malta and Gozo ” (‘ Ibis,’ 1864, p. 60), remarks subsequently (‘ Ibis,’ 1865, p. 464), 
“I should have given Schembri as my authority for so doing; for all my endeavours to find.it during many 
years’ observation have proved unavailing. Year after year I have examined hundreds of Skylarks brought 
for sale to the market, in the hope of detecting a Crested Lark amongst them, hut invariably with a negative 
result. Another writer on the natural history of Malta says it is common in spring and autumn ; but he 
must have been mistaken. The bird-dealers, to whom I have shown preserved skins, and offered rewards 
should they bring me a Crested Lark captured here, all agree in declaring that they have never met with it. 
From this I conclude it is not a regular migrant across the Mediterranean ; for, abundantly spread as it is, 
both on the southern shores of Europe and the northern shores of Africa, we should often observe it in 
Malta were its habits migratory.” Badly remarks that it is always rare in Savoy. 
Its habits, actions, and general economy somewhat resemble those of the common Skylark, hut in dis- 
position it is even more tame and confiding than that species. I have myself seen it, not only on the road- 
sides of many parts of the continent, but in the gardens and even at the doorsteps of the houses. Its note 
is loud and cheerful, hut not so swelling and continued as that of our charming Skylark. Both sexes have 
the crest; still the female has not this character so plainly developed as the male, neither is she so large in 
size. A striking difference exists between the present bird and the Alaiida arvensis^ the colouring of the 
under surface of the wings of the former being richer and having a vinous gloss, as shown in the accom- 
panying Plate. Of its nidification I have no information to offer from my own observation. Vieillot states 
that the female makes a nest on the ground in cultivated fields, very like that of the Skylark, and lays four 
or five eggs, of a light ash-colour, spotted with light and dark brown. 
Crown of the head and all the upper surface reddish brown with dark-hrown centres, a few of the feathers 
of the head elongated, forming a backward-pointing crest ; wing-coverts and wings brown, washed on their 
outer Avebs with light brown, and with dark-brown shafts — the former tipped with huffy white ; two central 
tail-feathers nearly uniform light brown ; the two lateral feathers on each side dark brown, the outer one 
broadly, and the next narrowly edged on the external margin with fawn-colour ; the remaining tail-feathers 
dark brown ; from the eye, passing over the ear-coverts, a streak of huffy white ; ear-coverts dark brown ; 
chin white ; neck, breast, and under surface pale yellow brown, the breast and flanks streaked with dark 
brown ; the bill, which is thicker, stronger, and more curved than that of the Skylark, is browai, becoming 
paler at the base ; legs, toes, and claws pale brown ; irides hazel. 
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size. 
