NOX-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 29 



are round. Average measurement, 73 inch in length 

 by '57 inch in breadth. Incubation is performed chiefly 

 by the female, but the duration of the period is apparently 

 unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Little 

 Bunting cannot readily be confused with those of any 

 other species ; they most nearly resemble those of the 

 Corn Bunting, but are of course much smaller. 



Family ALAUDID.E. Genus Otocoris. 



SHORE-LARK. 



Otocoris alpestris {LtmicEus). 



(British : Nomadic autumn migrant.) 



Partially Double Brooded. Laying season, middle of May to 

 end of June. 



Breeding .-VREA : Northern Nearctic and Northern 

 Palaearctic regions. The Shore-Lark is another strictly 

 Arctic species, breeding on the tundras and barren lands 

 above the limits of forest growth in both hemispheres. 

 In the Old World it breeds in the north-east of Norway, 

 and on the fells as far south as lat. 67^ ; thence it extends 

 eastwards across Russian Lapland, the province of Arch- 

 angel, including Nova Zembla, and the north of Siberia 

 to Bering Strait. In the New World it breeds above 

 forest growth from Alaska to Greenland ; it is said that a 

 few pairs remain to breed near Toronto {fide Rainc). 



Breeding habits : The Shore-Lark, like most 

 nomadic migrants, appears early at its breeding grounds, 



