168 LAND-BIRDS AKD GAME-BIRDS 



I have arranged the geuera (represented in New England) in 

 what seemed the best sequence. 



The position of the larJcs (Alaudidc^, § 16) is apparently 

 doubtful. Though the tj'pical Sky Lark of Europe {Alauda 

 arvensis) has been introduced into this country, yet the true 

 American larks belong to the subfamily, 



Cakuidritince (fig. 11). The}' are characterized as follows: 

 Bill (in Er&inophila) twice as long as high, pointed, and with 

 the upper outline convex ; nostrils concealed ; pi-imaries nine ; 

 tarsi " scutellate and blunt behind as in front, with a deep 

 groove along the inner side, and a slight one, or none, on the 

 outer face ; " ^^ hind-claw very long. The common Shore Lark 

 is the type. 



I. CURVIROSTRA 



(A) RUBRA. Red Crossbill. Common Crossbill. 



(To be found in Massachusetts as an extremely irregular 

 visitor from the North.) 



(a). 3fandibles crossed (as in B). About six inches long. 

 ^ , chiefly of an almost brick-red, with wings and tail dusky 

 or nearly black. $ , often with a strong yellowish suffusion. 

 Wings and tail, dark. Above, of a shade varying from brown- 

 ish to olive, with dusky streaks. Eump, almost yellow. Be- 

 neath, paler, more or less streaked. 



(&). The nest is built in the early part of spring, or even, it 

 is said, in winter. Mr. Paine found one in a leafless elm, in 

 East Randolph, Vermont, early in the month of March. The 

 parents were so tame that it was necessary to remove them for- 

 cibl}' from their eggs, which " were four in number, and meas- 

 ured '85 X "53 of an inch. They have a greenish-white ground 

 and are beautifully blotched, marbled, and dotted with various 

 shades of lilac and purplish-brown." 



(c). The Crossbill, on account of his many peculiarities, is 

 an interesting subject for stud}'. His most marked oddity is 



*- lu the Oscines, " the tarsus is normally covered on either side witli two entire 

 horny plates, that meet behind in a sharp ridge." (Coues.) 



