The BLACK LARK, or MOOR LARK (_Saxilauda Tatarica_), is about seven and
a half to eight inches long, the wings five and a half, and the tail
three inches. The coat of the old male bird is coal-black, shaded, after
moulting, with white, both upon the back and lower portion of the body;
indeed, at that time the plumage may almost be described as _chequered_,
each feather having a white border, which gradually wears away as the
season advances. The beak is yellow, tipped with a dark shade, the feet
brown, and the eyes light brown. The coat of the female is brown, marked
with a deeper tint, the under portion of the body being white: the young
resemble the mother. Swarms of these Moor Larks are found inhabiting the
steppes of Central Asia, where they frequently linger from year's end to
year's end, never leaving except to wander to somewhat higher ground, in
search of a spot upon which they can escape the snow that drives them
from the lower parts of the country. Eversmann tells us that he saw them
in large flocks upon the Asiatic steppes during the winter, but with the
particulars of their summer life in Asia we are entirely unacquainted,
except that the seeds of various plants and insects constitute their
favourite food. As to its general habits, this species closely resembles
the Calandra Lark, with which it frequently associates. The brood
consists of from four to six pale blue eggs, marked with reddish spots;
the nest exhibits but small trace of care in its construction.
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We must here again call our readers' attention to the admirable manner in
which the colours of the feathered tribes are adapted to the particular
situations in which their life is to be passed. Seeing that the Black
Larks could only exist where the soil is of a similarly dark character,
another race of these birds has been appointed to cheer the barren desert
with their presence, coloured so as to harmonise and blend with the light
and sandy plains that they frequent; such are--
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The SAND LARKS (_Ammomanes_), easily recognisable by their strong beaks,
very powerful, broad, long, and pointed wings, comparatively large and
excised tail, and sand-coloured plumage; all the various species closely
resemble each other in these particulars.