WOOD LARK. ]75 



much longer ; the upper parts of a redder tint, the white of the 

 lower parts tinged with yellow, in place of brown, the fore- 

 neck lighter with its dark spots more slender. 



The bill is rather more than half the length of the head, 

 slender, tapering, about the same height and breadth at the 

 base, its gape-line straight, the edges sharp and w^ithout notch, 

 the tips rather acute. The tongue is narrow, sagittiform, nearly 

 flat above, with the tip lacerated. The eyes are rather small, 

 their aperture being nearly two-twelfths ; that of the ear 

 three-twelfths in diameter ; the nostrils elliptical, three-fourths 

 of a twelfth long, with a distinct operculum, but concealed by 

 the feathers. The tarsi are slender and compressed, their upper 

 anterior and posterior scutella indistinct ; the first, second, and 

 third toes, excluding the claw^s, nearly equal, the third consi- 

 derably longer. The hind claw is extremely elongated, much 

 compressed, very slightly curved, and tapers to a fine point ; 

 the third is much longer than the two lateral ; the anterior 

 claws feebly curved, much compressed, laterally channelled, 

 and tapering. On the first toe are six, on the second eight, on 

 the third twelve, on the fourth also twelve scutella. 



The plumage is soft, with slight gloss, rather compact above, 

 blended beneath. The feathers are generally ovate and round- 

 ed, with a slender plumule of few filaments. Those about the 

 base of the bill are bristle-tipped, and there are also small de- 

 curved bristle-feathers at the base of the upper mandible. The 

 feathers on the top of the head are elongated, decurved, and 

 oblong. The wings are long and broad, the quills very slightly 

 curved ; the first quill is extremely small ; the next three are 

 nearly equal, but the fourth is longest, the fifth shorter than 

 the second ; the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, are slightly cut 

 out on the outer web ; the rest of the primaries, and five se- 

 condaries, are deeply emarginate ; the sixth secondary is much 

 elongated and tapering to a rounded point. The tail is emar- 

 ginate, its feathers broad and rounded. 



The bill is dark greyish-brown, the basal edge of the upper, 

 and the greater part of the lower mandible flesh-coloured. The 

 iris is hazel. The feet are pale greyish-yellow, the claws yel- 

 lowish-brown. The general colour of the upper parts is light 



