86 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
THE SHORT-TOED LARKS. GENUS CALANDRELLA. 
Calandrella , Kaup., Nat. Syst., p. 39 (1829). 
Type, C. brachydactyla (Leisl.). 
Like the Sky-Larks, the members of this genus have a very 
rudimentary first primary, but they are distinguished from the 
species of Alauda b'y their smaller size, longer wings and 
curved hind claw. As in Alauda , the secondary quills are as 
long as the primaries. Four species of true Short-toed Lark 
are known ; the best-known form, C. brachydactyla, inhabiting 
Southern Europe across to Central Asia and ' North-western 
India, being replaced in the Indian peninsula by C. dukhunanis 
C. thibetana inhabits the Himalayas and Thibet, while in Tur- 
kestan its place is taken by C. acutirostris. None of the Short- 
toed Larks exhibit a perceptible crest. 
THE SHORT-TOED LARK. CALANDRELLA BRACHYDACTYLA. 
Alauda brachydactyla , Lcis'er, Wetterau Gesellsch. Ann., iii., 
PP- 357-359 ( i8i 4 ) .I Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 274 (1884) : Saun- 
ders, Man., p. 244 (1889). 
Calandrella brachydactyla , Dresser, Ik Eur., iv., p. 341 pi 233 
(1873) ; Newt. cd. Yarr, i., p. 637 (1874); B. O.U. List 
Br. B., p. 72 (1883); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xiii., p. 
580 (1890); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B., pt. xvii. (1891). 
Adult Male. — Of small size, and distinguished by the cha- 
racters mentioned above. Sandy brown, with blackish centres 
to the feathers ; those of the wing and tail dark brown 
edged with sandy buff ; the outer tail-feathers broadly 
margined with isabelline, inclining to sandy buff towards the 
end of the outer web and round the tip of the feather • outer- 
most feather white, except for an oblique mark of blackish 
brown on the inner web, the white of the outer web tinged 
isabelline towards the end ; head streaked like the back - 
under surface of body white, with a distinct wash of isabelline 
on the fore-neck, chest, and sides of body ; on the former a 
few blackish spots ; a blackish patch on the sides of the fore- 
neck ; bill whity-brown, the culmen darker ; feet pale yellow- 
ish-brown ; iris brown. Total length, 5-5 inches; culmen 
0-45; wing, 3-45; tail, 205; tarsus, 075. 
