. Birds. Birds. 316 ALATJBID^. The Larks 'have only one moult a year, but inany undergo a seasonal change of plumage through casting off the margins of the feathers in spring. The variations of colour produced by this, combined vcith the plain coloration of many of the species, render the study of the Larks rather difficult. Specimens of Larks killed at the same time of the year should therefore be compared with each other. Some of the Larks are subject to much variation in size as well as in Fig. 88.—Foot of Almmon. desertonim, to show scutellations on hinder part of tarsus. The Lark
. Birds. Birds. 316 ALATJBID^. The Larks 'have only one moult a year, but inany undergo a seasonal change of plumage through casting off the margins of the feathers in spring. The variations of colour produced by this, combined vcith the plain coloration of many of the species, render the study of the Larks rather difficult. Specimens of Larks killed at the same time of the year should therefore be compared with each other. Some of the Larks are subject to much variation in size as well as in Fig. 88.—Foot of Almmon. desertonim, to show scutellations on hinder part of tarsus. The Larks for the most part frequent open plains and cultivated land, but some are found only in arid deserts, and others again affect the borders of woods. They generally sing whilst soaring in the air, and their song is always agreeable and in many cases fine. Many are migratory, others are resident or very locally migratory. They are generally sociable and occasionally gregarious. They all breed on the ground, constructing a slight grass nest in a hol- low, and their eggs are marked with brown. I have had the great advantage of studying the Larks with Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, who was engaged at the time in writing the Catalogue of these birds. "We have in every case arrived at the same conclusions with regard to each species, and the only point on which I subsequently found reason to differ from him was in the suppression of the genus Spizalauda. Key to the Oenera. Nine primaries, the first reaching to ahout tip of wing-. a'. A tuft of pointed feathers springing from each side of crown Otocobys, p. 319, b'. No tuft of pointed or other feathers springing from side of crown. a". The longer secondaries or tertiaries reaching to about tip of wiu^ Oalandbella, p. 327. b". The longer secondaries or tertiaries falling snort of tip of wing by a con- siderable interval Alaudula, p. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digit
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