THE LARKS. 
87 
Adult Female.— Similar to the male, and not perceptibly 
smaller, as in most Larks ; scarcely any streaks on the fore- 
neck, the blackish patch on the sides of the latter also smaller. 
Total length, 5-5 inches; wing, 3-6. 
Range in Great Britain.— An accidental visitor which has oc- 
curred about eight times in the southern half of England, ai 
once, quite recently, in Ireland. 
Range outside the British Islands.-A resident in many parts of 
Southern Europe, but migratory in others, departing - 
after nesting. It breeds in the south of France and throug 
out the Mediterranean countries, and as far east as Turkestan . ; 
but is only of accidental occurrence in Germany and other 
more northern countries of Europe, as in England . 
Hahits. — An inhabitant of sandy districts where it lives 
entirely on the ground. It arrives in its breeding haunts 
nhont the beginning of April, and the eggs arc found 1.1 May 
S June Its song is like that of the Sky- Lark, but more 
feeble and is uttered as the bird mounts into the an, though 
it also sings on the ground. It is of a very tame disposition, 
and during the winter congregates in large Hocks. 
Nest.— Placed on the ground in any kind of depression, such 
as a hoof-print, often concealed under the herbage. It is vuy 
hke that of the Sky-Lark, being formed of dry grasses with 
vegetable down, and scantily lined with ham. 
Four to five in number. There are two distinct types, 
one Tdit, nearly uniform pale brown, the spots of brown very 
tinv and indistinct, sometimes showing a ring round the large 
nnd sometimes round the small end of the egg. lhe second 
tvD e of egg is Sparrow-like, th» ground-colour white, thickly 
spotted whh brown, with underlying spots of grey. 
o- 7 5_o- 8 inch; diam., 0-55-0-6 inch. 
Axis, 
the crested larks, genus galerita. 
Gaterita , Boie, Isis, 1882, p. 321. 
Type, G. cristata (Linn.). 
The Crested Larks, of which we have two species in Eu- 
rope, are distinguished by having the first primary quill well 
