174 



A'OKTU AMEKICAX BIHDS. 



brown ; the imder parts greenish-white, consiiicuously streaked with dark 

 brown. Tlie bill is dusky, tlie base and edges paler ; the legs dusky fiesh- 

 color, not dark lirown. 



The occurrence of this species in Greenland was noticed in the Review ; 

 and since the publication of that work a specimen has been olitained at St. 

 Michael's, in Alaska, by Mr. W. H. Dall, and is now in the Smithsonian 

 collection. The sj)ecimen in question appears to lie the true prntcnsis. 



Habits. This European species claims a place in the North American 

 fauna on the ground of a single .specimen having been found in Greenland, 

 in l.S4."i, and one at St. ^Michael's, Norton Sound. In the Old AA'orld it is 

 the counterpart of our Imlockianus, winch, in all re.spects, it closely resem- 

 bles. It is the most common and the best known of European Titlarks. In 

 Great Britain, where it is fmind tlu-nugliout the year, it appears to prefer the 

 uncultivated districts, inhaViiting connnons and waste lands, and in the more 

 northern parts frequenting the moors. It is also found in meadows and 

 marsh lands, in winter seeking more sheltered places. It is rarely seen to 

 alight on a branch or to sit on a rail. Its song is soft and musical, and is 

 usually uttered when on the wing or when vibrating over its nest. It seeks 

 its food altogether on the ground, rurmiug nindjly in pursuit of insects, slugs, 

 and worms. According to Yarrell its nest is built on the ground, generally 

 among tlie grass. It is composed externally oi' dried sedges, lined with finer 

 materials and some hair. The eggs ai'e six in number, oi' a reddish-brown 

 color, mottled over with darker shades of the .same, and measure .80 by .(j(l 

 of an inch. 



According to the observations of Englisii naturalists, lliis l.)ird resorts to 

 various ingenious devices to conceal its nest, or to draw aside attention from 

 it, .such as feigning lameness when it is approached, and concealing it by 

 artificial covering when it has l)een once discovered. 



The ileadow Pipit is connmni during the sunnuer mouths in Denmark, 

 Sweden, and Norway, visiting also the Faroe Islands and Iceland. It in- 

 habits the whole continent of Europe as far south as Spain, Italy, and Sicily- 

 It has also been found in Northern Africa, and, according to Gould, in West- 

 ern Asia. Temminck also states it to be among the birds of Ja])an. 



According to Degland these larks, after the breeding-seas(m, unite in small 

 Hocks, probably families, and frequent low and damp localities. In summer 

 they are more often found on high and dry mountain plain.s. Tlieir flesh is 

 said to be delicious. 



Genus NEOCORYS, S(L.vn.;K. 



Neocorys, Scl.vter, I'r. Zoiil. Sou. Loiiil. 1857, 5. (Typi', Jlnailu yjraguei, AUD.) 



Char. Bill half as long as the head ; the culmen concave at the ba.se, .sliglitly ilecui-ved 

 at the tip. Rictus witliout bri.stlc.s. Legs stout ; tarsi distinctly seutellate, longer than 

 the middle toe. Hind toe very long, equal to the tarsus, much longer than the middle toe; 



