56 BIRDS. 



FAMILY XXV. ALAUDID^E. 



(TJie Larks.) 



First primary very short or entirely wanting. Tarsus 

 scutellate in front and behind (a character singular 

 among Oscines.) Bill short, of various forms in different 

 species; nostrils concealed by tufts of antrorse feathers. 

 Hind claw very long and nearly straight. Inner secon- 

 daries lengthened and flowing. A group of about one 

 hundred species, chiefly Old World birds, but a single 

 genus belonging to America; many of them are 

 renowned as vocalists. 



* Primaries 9; a little tuft of lengthened black feathers over each 

 ear (sometimes obscure in $.)... EREMOPHILA, 1. 



/. EREMOPHILA, Boie. HORXED LARKS. 



= Otocorys, Bonap. 



1. E. alpestris, (Forst.) Boie. SHORE LARK. Pinkish 

 brown, thickly streaked; a crescent on breast and strip 

 under eye black; white below; chin, throat, and line 

 over eye more or less yellow; $ with less black; winter 

 birds grayish, with the markings more obscure; L. 7; 

 W. 4; T. 3. N. Am. and Europe; common. A 

 pleasant singer. [JK. cornuta, (Wilson) Boie.] 



FAMILY XXVI. MOTACILLID^E. 



(The Wagtails.) 



Primaries 9, first about as long as second; inner 

 secondaries enlarged, the longest one about as long as 

 the primaries in the closed wing. Bill shorter than the 

 head, very slender, straight, acute, notched at tip. Feet 

 large, fitted for walking; hind claw long and nearly 

 straight, inner toe cleft; basal joint of outer toe united 

 with middle one. Rictal bristles not conspicuous; 

 nostrils exposed. 



