762.  Alaudala raytal, BUCH. Hamilton.

Alauda, apud B. Hamilton - Horsf., Cat. 773 - Cal. raytal, Blyth, Cat. 737 - Al. pispoletta, PALLAS ? - Retal, H., i. e. Sand- bird.

The Indian Sand-lark.

Descr. - General hue of the upper parts light brownish-ashy, with narrow dark centres to the feathers ; lower parts white, faintly tinged with fulvous on the breast, where obscurely marked with small spots ; wing-coverts and tertiaries margined with pale fulvescent or whitish; the outermost tail-feathers white, except the inner half of the inner web, and the next one is white along the marginal half of its outer web only ; a whitish line through the eyes.

Bill pale horny ; legs fleshy yellowish ; irides brown. Length 5 1/4 inches; extent 8 ; wing 3; tail 1 3/4 to 2 ; tarsus 7/10 ; hind toe and claw not 1/2; bill at front 3/8 ; spread of foot 1.

This little Sand-lark is found on the banks of the Hooghly, Ganges, Indus, and Bramapootra; also, as I lately had the opportunity of observing, abundant on the banks of the Irrawaddy in Upper Burmah. It frequents the sand dunes, the colour of which Its own plumage strongly approximates. During the height of the flood of the Irrawaddy, I observed It feeding, on the roads and plains in the station at Thayetmyo In small parties. "It occasionally," says Blyth, "ventures short snatches of song, frequently without rising from the ground, and I never saw it mount high."

It is also found in Central Asia, and has been considered the same as A. pispoletta of Pallas, which name will stand. If it be Identified with that bird. The description applies pretty fairly, but the measurements given do not correspond, the wing being given as 3.8 1/2 inches, and the tail as 2.3. Blyth has seen specimens from Ladakh.
The birds next noticed comprise a very distinct form, and it is the only one which has been observed in the American Continent. They are easily recognised by their sincipital crests, and a peculiar coloration. They are mostly inhabitants of cold or temperate regions, and the following species are probably confined, in India, to the Himalayas.