769.   Galerida cristata, Linnaeus.

Alauda, apud Linnaeus - Gould, Birds of Europe, pl. 165 -  HORSF., Cat. 703 - A. chendula, Franklin, - Gal. chendida, Blyth, Cat. 740 - A. gulgula, apud Sykes, Cat. 97 - A. deva, apud Jerdon, Cat. 186 - Certhilauda Boysii, Blyth (caged specimen) - A. galerita, Pallas - Chendul, H. also in Tel, but sometimes called Jutu-pittu, i. e., the Crested bird.

The Large Crested Lark.

Descr, - Pale earthy or sandy brown, rufescent on the feathers of the upper parts, with pale dusky mesial streaks ; the feathers of the crest alone, with dark brown centres; wings somewhat rufescent; upper tail-coverts the same, as are the lower surface of the wings and tail; outermost tail-feather rufescent white, the next with a border of the same on its outer web, the four middle feathers colored like the back, and the rest of the tail blackish ; supercilia and lower parts sullied white, with a few brown streaks on the breast.

Bill yellowish ; feet pale brown ; irides dark brown. Length 7 ¼ to 7 1/2 inches; wing 4 to 4 1/4; tail 2 1/2 to 2 3/4; bill at front 3/4; tarsus 1.

The crested Lark is widely spread over all the South of Europe, North Africa, and a great part of Asia ; and it is found throughout all India, most abundant in the North and North-west. It is rare in the Carnatic, not found In Malabar, more common in the Deccan, and thence spreading from Behar in the East, to Sindh and the Punjab, where very common. It is not known in Bengal, nor in the Himalayas, nor in the countries to the eastwards. It prefers dry open sandy plains, or ploughed land, to grass, wet meadows, or cultivation. It rises in the air singing, though not so high as A. gulgula, nor is its song so fine. In winter, it may be seen in small parties, or sometimes in considerable flocks, occasionally on roads and barren places. Theobald found the nest and eggs, the former, a little grass, in a hole in the ground, the eggs four, yellowish-white, uniformly freckled with greyish-yellow and neutral-tint. It is frequently caged in all parts of the country, and the bird is kept In darkness by several layers of cloth wrapped round the cage; the custom being to wrap an additional cover round the cage every year. In this state it sings very sweetly, and learns to imitate most exactly the notes of various other birds, and of animals, such as the yelping of a dog;, the mewing of a cat, the call of a hen to her chickens, &c., &c. Examples from different parts of the country differ somewhat In the depth of colour, some being lighter than others; and Mr. Blyth, from a small and caged specimen, considered that there was a second and smaller race in India, which he named G. Boysii.

Two or three African species are recorded by Bonaparte and Tristram.

3rd. - Desert Larks.

These have the light aspect and the naked nostrils of the Pipits ; typically inhabit desert and sandy places, and are numerous in Africa.