FRINGILLID.E. 249 



SUB- FA JULY VJ. 

 Alaudin^e. The Larks. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill short, and more or less lengthened and conical ; the wings 

 with the tertials generally as long as the primaries ; the claws lengthened, 

 more or less curved, and the hind one very long and generally straight. 



Fig. 103.— the wooulakk. 

 {Alcnida (trborea.) 



The birds composing tliis sub-family are peculiar 

 to the Old World. They are generally found in 

 open arable land, or on plains, though some seem 

 to prefer cultivated ground. As the winter ap- 

 proaches, they migrate southwards, c'ongregating in 

 liocks. Some of the species sing while rising into 

 the air, mounting to an immense height. Their 

 flight is undulating, and they walk and run on the 

 ground with ease. They delight to roll in the dust, 

 drain and various seeds form their principal food, 

 but in summer they procure grasshoppers, gnats. 



