152 ALAUDIN^. 



Turdinae, Vol. II, p. 67, that it requires no separate description. 

 The skull, however, is smaller than that of the Passerinse, as 

 are especially the jaws ; the sternum shorter, but otherwise 

 similar, and the bones of the feet more slender. 



The digestive organs are adapted equally for seeds and insects 

 in the Pipits, while in the Larks the gizzard is more muscular 

 than that of the Deglubitores. All the species feed essentially 

 on worms, larvge, pupae, insects, and small mollusca ; but the 

 thick-billed species, such as the Larks, especially in winter, 

 eat seeds of various kinds, which they swallow entire, without 

 removing the outer covering, as the Deglubitores always do. 



These birds reside chiefly in the open fields, for although 

 some of them perch occasionally on trees, they seldom search 

 for food there. They run with celerity, generally in a half- 

 crouching posture, and differ from the Turdinae and Sylvianae 

 in never leaping or hopping. Their long straightish claws 

 seem to be intended for the purpose of enabling them to walk 

 more easily over grass and herbage, and to support themselves 

 in marshy places, to which they resort during frost. Their 

 ordinary flight is rapid and undulated ; but they have a pecu- 

 liar fluttering mode of flying which they perform while singing, 

 and which is peculiarly marked in the Larks, but less perfect 

 in the Pipits. Their song, although pleasing from its cheerful 

 character, is not generally melodious, but in several species is 

 extremely protracted. They nestle on the ground, deposit from 

 four to six spotted eggs, and often rear two broods in the season. 

 They are generally distributed over the country, the Larks pre- 

 ferring the cultivated districts, the Pipits pastures and meadows. 

 Being among the species most commonly met with in the fields 

 and pastures, the Sky Lark attracts attention by its song and 

 peculiar flight. That of the Pipits, although rather mono- 

 tonous, is pleasing to the wanderer who travels over our wild 

 moors and solitary valleys, or searches our rocky coasts. 



The connections of the family are so obvious and direct that 

 they may here be adduced in illustration of the general princi- 

 ples stated in the introduction to the first volume of this work. 

 The thick-billed species, such as Melanocorypha Calandra 

 and tatarica, and even Alauda arvensis and alpestris, evidently 



