PASSERES : LAKES, ETC. 



161 



And nearly all are singers ; some of them are among our 

 sweetest songsters. 



Of the Larks or Alaudidse the family to which the 

 famous Skylark of Europe belongs there is in the 

 United States but a single species, namely, the Shore Lark, 

 or "Horned" Lark, abundant on the plains and prairies. 

 It is nearly eight inches long. The general color above 



FIG. 187. 



Shore Lark, Eremophila alpestris, Boie. 



is pinkish brown ; a band across the crown and running 

 back along the lateral tufts, and a patch below the eye 

 and along the side of the head, and a pectoral crescent are 

 black ; the frontal band and under parts are white. It 

 sings sweetly while on the wing, but its song is short. 



Fio. 188. 



Baltimore Oriole, Icterus Baltimore, Daudiu. 



The Bobolinks, Cow-birds, Blackbirds, Meadow-Larks, 

 Starlings, Orioles, Crow-blackbirds, Jackdaws, etc., are 



