ALAUDID^E — TlIK LARKS. 



139 



profusely as to conceal the grouiul. Tliey are oval in shape, slightly more 

 pointed at one end, and measure .93 of an inch in length by .70 in breadth. 



According to Selby, the young of the first brood are fully fiedged by the 

 end of June, and the second in August. The Lark evinces a very strong 

 attachment to its young, and many interesting accounts are given by 

 European writers of its intelligent endeavors to conceal and to protect its 

 nest, — in one instance constructing an artificial dome of dry grass, where 

 the natural protection had been cut away by mowers, and in another 

 attempting to remove the young to a place of greater safety. 



The Lark has, in several instances, been successfully induced to mate and 

 rear her young in an aviary ; and Mr. W. P. Foster, of Hackney, is quoted 

 by Mr. Yarrell as authority for tlie statement, that, during the period of pro- 

 ducing the egg.s, the female has been heard to sing with a power and a variety 

 of tone equal to the \'oice of her mate. 



While his mate is sitting on lier eggs, the male Lark, apparently timid at 

 all other times, is remarkaljly bold, and drives away other birds that venture 

 too near their nest. He not only watches over her and seeks to protect her, 

 but assiduously supplies her with food. 



Genus EREMOPHILA, Boie. 



Eremophila, BoiE, Isis, 1828, 322. (Type, Ahnula alpcstris. Sufficiently distinct from 



Ercmopkiltis, Humboldi-, [Fishes,] 1805.) 

 Phileremos, Brehm, Deutsclil. Vdgel, 1831. 

 Otocoris, BoNAPAKTE, 1839. (Tj-pe, Ahnula alpestris, Gii.w.) (AVe are unable to find 



where the genus is named.) 



Gen. Char. First primary wanting ; bill .scarcely liigher than broad ; nostrils circular, 

 concealed by a dense tuft of feathers ; the nasal fossas oblique. A pectoral crescent and 

 cheek-patches of black. 



Eremophila alpestris. 



This genus differs from Melanocon/pha in having no spurious first primary, 



