78 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



Anthus Ludovicianus, Gmelin. 



THE TIT-LAKK. 



Alauda Liidonciana, Gmelin, Syst. Nut. I. 1788, 793. — Anthus Ludovicianus, Lichtenstein, 

 Verz. 1823, 37, No. 421. — Audubon, Birds Amer. III. 1841, 40 ; pi. 150. — Baird, P. 

 U. Rep. IX. Birds, 232. — Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. 170. 



Alauda rufa, Wilson, Am. Oni. V. 1812, 89 ; \A. Ixxxi.K. 



Arithus spinokUa, Bonaparte, Synopsis, 1828, 90 (not oi'Linnieub). — Audubon, Orn. Bio"-. 

 L 1832, 408 ; V. 1839, 449 ; pi. 80. — Xuttall, Man. I. 1832, 450. 



Antlms wjiuiticus, Audubon. Name on pi. x. folio ed. and 



Anthus pipitii^s, Audubon, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 408; V. 1839, 449; pi. 80. (Youiifr '(] 



Sp. CiiAii. {Female, in spring.) Above, olive-brown, eaeli IL-atlier slightly darker to- 

 wards the central portion ; beneath, pale dull buff, or yellowish-brown, with a maxil- 

 lary series of dark brown spots and streaks across the breast and along the sides. Ring 

 round the eye, and superciliary stripe yellowish. Central tail feathers like the back. 



others dark blackish-brown ; the external one white, except at the base within ; a white 

 spot at the end of the second. Primaries edged with whitish, othei- quills with pale 

 brownish. Length, ()..50 ; wing, 3.45 ; tail, 2.95. 



Hab. North America generally. Greenland (Reinhardt). Accidental in Euroi)e. 



This little iucoiispiciwiis Lird is comiiuni tliroiighout the State, partieularly 

 in winter, t're([uentiiig the barest pLiiiis, especially near tlie •water, and often 

 coming into tlie city, where they perch on the roofs, and occasionally de- 

 scend into the streets. They seein to live by picking uji insects and seeds 

 in j)laces so barren that no other bird \\ill take the troulile to examine them. 

 Their note while here is merely a faint chirp or twitter when disturljed and 

 about to tiy ; but, according to Atidubon, the male sometimes rises on wing to 

 the height of eight or ten yards, uttering a few clear, mellow notes, and then 

 suddenly settles down near its nest, or on some projecting rock. The nest 

 he found in Labrador, made on moss-covered rocks or cliffs near the sea, 

 somewhat smik in the ground, and formed of fine grass, without any haii' 

 lining. The eggs were six, reddish-brown, with numeroiis dots and lines of 

 a deeper color. It is very likely that they build on the high momitaius 



