PASSERINE. 291 



PODARGUS, Cuv. 



The form, colour, and habits of the Goatsuckers^ but the beak is 

 stouter, and there are neither membranes between the toes, nor is 

 the middle nail dentated.(l) 



P. Cuvieri; P. cendre; Vieill. Galer. 123. Variegated with 

 ash, whitish and blackish colours; size of a Rook. 



P. javanensis, Horsf Jav. Red, varied with brown; a white 

 band along the scapulars. 



P. cornutus, T,, Col. 159. Red, varied with white; large 

 tufts of feathers at the ears. 



FAMILY III. 

 CONIROSTRES. 



The Conirostres comprehend genera with a strong beak, 

 more or less conical, and unemarginate ; the stronger and 

 thicker their beak, the more exclusively is grain their food. 

 The first genus to be distinguished is, 



Alauda, Lin. 



The Larks are known by the nail of their thumb, which is straight, 

 strong, and much longer than the others. (2) They are granivorous 

 birds, and pulverators. They build on the ground, and generally 

 keep there. 



The beak of the greater number is straight, moderately stout and 

 pointed. 



Al. arvensis ; Alouette cles champs, Enl. 368, 1; Naum. 100, 

 1. (The Sky Lark.) Universally known by its perpendicular 

 mode of soaring, accompanied by its varied and powerful song. 

 It is brown above; whitish underneath ; spotted throughout, 

 with a deeper shade of brown; the two external quills of the 

 tail white outside. 



M cristata-, Le Cochevis, Enl. 503, 1; Naum. 99, 1. (The 

 Crested Lark.) Nearly the same size and plumage; but it has 

 the power of erecting the feathers on the head into a tuft; not 



(1) M. Vigors considers this subgenus as connecting Caprimulgus -with. Ulula. 



(2) This character is more or less marked in Budytes, AiiAuda, Antuus, and 

 in the Emberiza nivalis. 



