LARKS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 153 



approach the Passerinae and especially the Emberizinse. In 

 colour, Emberiza Miliaria and Alauda arvensis are almost 

 precisely similar, and the elongated hind-claw of the larks has 

 its analogue in that of the Lark-Buntings. ISIacronyx flavi- 

 collis immediately calls to mind the American " Meadow 

 Lark," Sturnella, which belongs nearly as much to the Alau- 

 dinse as to the Sturnina3. Seiurus auricapillus and aquaticus 

 are almost as much Pipits as Thrushes. The Pipits themselves 

 are so intimately connected with the Larks, that the two genera 

 were until of late confounded, and the difference between Alauda 

 arborea and Anthus arboreus is generically very slight. A sys- 

 tem in which genera so very closely allied as Alauda and An- 

 thus are placed in different families cannot therefore be natural. 

 The Motacillinse are directly connected with the Alaudinas, by 

 means of the genus Budytes, which is almost as nearly allied 

 to the Anthi as to the Motacillse. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. ALAUDA. LARK. 



Bill short, straight, rather stout, conical, a little compressed, 

 its upper outline slightly convex, the tip acute and destitute of 

 notch ; hind claw very much elongated and nearly straight ; 

 wings long and broad, the first primary minute or wanting, 

 the next three longest ; tail of moderate length, emarginate. 



1. Alauda alpestris. Shore Lark. Male in winter with the 

 upper parts dusky-brown, the feathers edged with pale red, the 

 lower parts white ; a recurved band on the head, and a large 

 patch on the fore-neck, blackish, the first quill obsolete. JNIale 

 in summer with the bands on the head and neck deep black. 

 Female with the upper parts dusky-brown, the lower greyish- 

 white, 



2. Alauda arvensis. Sky Lark. Upper parts light reddish- 

 brown, streaked with blackish-brown, the fore-neck light red- 

 dish, spotted with brownish-black ; an obscure brownish- white 

 band over the eye ; the second quill longest. 



