MUTACILLlDJi — THE WAGTAILS. 



175 



its claw but, slightly curve<l, and about half the total length. Inner lateral too rather longer 

 than outer. Wings much longer than tail; first quill longest. Tertials considerably longer 

 than secondaries. Tail rather short, emarginate. 



But one species of this genus is known, it being peculiar to the Western 

 plains. 



Neocorys spraguei, Sclat. 



MISSOURI SKYLARK; SPKAGUE'S PIPIT 



Alauda spraguei, Ann. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 335, pi. cccclx.\xvi. Agrudoma spraguei. 

 Baird, Stansbury'.s Hep. 1852, 329. Ncocortjs spraguei, Sclater, P. Z, S. 1857, 5. — 

 Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 234. — Bl.UvIston, Ibis, 1862, 4 (Saskatchewan). — Cooper. 

 Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 80. Anthus (Neocorys) spraguei, Baird, Rev. 155. 



Sp. Char. Above ^vood-bro\vn, all the feathers edged with paler, especially on the 

 neck, where there is a brownish-yellow tinge. The under parts are dull white, with a 

 collar of sharply defined narrow brown streaks across the forepart and along the sides of 

 the breast. Lores and a superciliary line whitish. Tail-feathers, except the middle ones, 

 dark brown ; the outer one white, the second white, with the inner margin brown. The 

 outer primary is edged with white, and there are two dull whitisli bands across the wings. 

 Bill and feet yellow, the former brown above. Length (female), 5.75 ; wing, 3.35 ; 

 tail, 2.50. 



Hae. Plains of Yellowstone and Upper Missouri to kSaskatchewan ; Nebraska. 



This little-known species has the general appearance of a Titlark, but is 

 readily distinguished from Anthus lu- 

 dovicianus by the purer white of its 

 under parts, the much darker centres 

 and much paler margins to the feathers 

 above, the entirely wliite external tail- 

 feather, and tiie yellow legs and bill, as 

 well as by its generic peculiarities. In 

 its song and general ha!)its it approaches 

 nearer the European Skylark than any 

 bird belonging to our fauna. 



Habits. This interesting species was 

 first described by Audubon, in the sup- 

 plementary portion of his Birds of Ameri- 

 ca. It was obtained by the party which 

 accompanied him to the Upper Missouri in 1843. It was first met with on 

 the 19tli of June near Fort Union, in Dacotah Territory. It has since been 

 found on the fork of tlie Saskatchewan, but little additional iid'ormation 

 respecting its habits has been obtained since its hrst discovery. 



It seems to more nearly approach, in its habits, the European Skylark 

 than any other of our North American birds, ilr. Edward Hai-ris was com- 

 pletely misled, at first, liy the sound of their song, so that on sevei'al occa- 

 sions he sought lor them on the ground. Their voices appeared to come to 



Neocorys spro^iiei. 



