The genus Alauda is now restricted to the Sky-Larks, two species or races of which occur in India. These Larks vary very much in size and plumage and I quite agree with Sharpe in not recognizing more than these two species as occurring in India.
In Alauda the bill is slender and feeble and the nostrils are covered by plumelets ; there are ten primaries, the first of which is very minute, and the wing is somewhat short, not reaching to far beyond the middle of the tail, and the tertiaries are lengthened; the hind claw is very long and nearly straight. The sexes are alike.
The Sky-Larks frequent cultivation chiefly, and are noted for the excellence of their song, which is given forth at a great height from the ground. They are abundant in most parts of India, but become less frequent to the east in Burma.
Key to the Species.
a. Of larger size; wing generally over 4………………..A. arvensis, p. 324.
b. Of smaller size ; wing seldom exceeding 3.5………………..A. gulgula, p. 326.
Add new comment