ALAUDA LAGEPA.
F orm, &c.—Figure moderately robust. Head rather large ; bill elongated,
subconical, rather slender and pointed, the culmen slightly arched from the
base ; wings rounded, and when folded, reach to the commencement of the
second third of the tail, the fourth and fifth quill feathers equal and longest,
the third rather shorter than the fourth, the second shorter in a like proportion
to the third, the first about an inch in length; the tertiary quill feathers
rather shorter than the primary ones, and slightly longer than the secondary
quill feathers. Tail even, or very slightly rounded. Tarsi and toes short, and
moderately strong, the former anteriorly and posteriorly scutellated ; claws of
front toes short, and slightly curved, claw of hinder toe elongated, slender,
and slightly arched.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines. TnftKfts. T ilnpQ.
Length from the point of the bill to Length of the ta rsu s ....................
the tip of the tail 1 ........... 6 6 of the outer toe . . . . . . . 3.
of the b ill............................... 0 9 of the middle toe . . . . . . 5
of the wings when folded . . . '3 ?3 of the inner toe . . . . . . . 3
of the tail. . . . . . . .............. 2 io! of the hinder toe............ .. 3
of the claw of hinder toe . . . 0 4*
The colours of the female the same as those of the male only not so bright.
This species is thinly distributed between the Berg, and Orange Rivers, close to the western
coast, and specimens are usually found on sandy or Karroo plains, which are sparingly covered
with brushwood. It whistles occasionally in the mornings, soars like true larks, and on
descending from its aerial flights, commonly perches on the shrub nearest to the point where it
descends. It consumes as food seeds and small insects.