OTOCORYS.
In adult a tuft of elongated feathers (horns) on each side of crown.
Otocorys alpestris flava (Gmelin). SHORE LARK. Fr. Alouette de la Sib6rie ; Ger. Ohrenlerche ; liii. Lodola gala gialla ; Swat. Berglarka.
e adult. Above brown, vinous or rosy on occiput, hind neck, and upper tail coverts, with dark centres on back and scapulars ; line at base of bill, forecrown, hornlets, cheeks and chest patch black ; black of cheeks and chest separated by white ; frontal band, throat and sides of neck yellowish white (deeper yellow in winter) ; beneath white, flanks rosy brown. Bill greyish horn with black tip and at base below yellowish. Legs and feet black.
Wing 104-115, too-107. Tarsus 21-24. Bill 8-to. generally duller and with smaller hornlets. Young : above black with straw-coloured spots ; no hornlets.
Preeds.—Tundras of N. Europe and Asia, south to about 62° on Scandinavian Mountains above tree limit ; Arctic Islands, Nova Zembla, Kolguev, Waigatz. Migrates ; occurs in winter Middle Europe, Britain (in small numbers), rare Italy and Mediterranean ; also occurs in S. Siberia to Amur and N. China.
0. alpestris atlas Whitaker. Generally like "flava" but reddish sandy above not rosy ; wing coverts browner ; occiput and hind neck more rosy, hornlets longer, nearly as long as in "penicillata" ; black of cheeks and chest separated by white.
Breeds. —Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
0. alpestris bilopha (Temminck). Above sandy grey with no dark centres ; no yellow tinge on forehead, throat, and sides of head, which are pure white ; beneath white, flanks like the back ; black of cheeks and chest separated by white. Wing
96-100 (II.). Young : reddish isabelline above, underparts white, rather resembling " Ammoinanes deserti," but distinguished by white tips to tail feathers which are cinnamon in "Ammomanes." Breeds.—Stony deserts of N. Africa, south of Atlas to Wadi Natron and Lower Egypt. Of accidental occurrence in S. Spain.
0. alpestris brandti Dresser. Forehead, throat and sides of neck white, rarely tinged yellow ; hind neck and occiput greyish rose ; back striped brown ; black of cheeks and chest separated by white.
An Asiatic race which occurs in winter in E. Russia (Orenburg to Volga).
0. alpestris penieinata (Gould). Larger and greyer than "flava," less distinctly streaked, and rosy only on occiput and hind neck ; hamlets long and incurved ; forehead, throat, and sides of neck light sulphur yellow ; black of cheeks and chest united. Wing 117-122 (H.).
Breeds.—Caucasus and Asia Minor.
0. alpestris baleaniea Reichenow. Very near "penicillata," greyer in winter, and at same season yellow of head, neck, and throat deeper ; in summer difficult to distinguish. Young : brown above with white tips ; beneath white, with dark spots on breast.
p,eeds.—Moun tains of Balkan Peninsula.
The typical form "O. a. alpestris" is American and like "flava" but has a larger bill and browner wing coverts.