XVI SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT 



kept in vertical motion ; legs long, and thus adapted for running 

 into shallow water or in mud, in pursuit of insects, which constitute 

 their food, being either caught on the wing, or picked up from the 

 ground. 



40. MoTACiLLA (Wagtail). Cutting edges of both mandibles 

 slightly compressed inwards ; nostrils basal, oval, partly concealed 

 by a naked membrane ; first primary abortive, second and third 

 nearly equal and longest ; one of the scapulars as long as the 

 quills ; tail long, nearly even at the end ; tarsus much longer than 

 the middle toe. Page 162. 



Family VIII. Anthid^. 



(pipits.) 



Bill and nostrils very much as in the preceding family ; two of 

 the scapulars as long as the closed wing ; first primary abortive, 

 second shorter than the third and fourth, which are the longest ; hind 

 claw very long. The birds of this family are closely allied with 

 the Larks, from which they diff'er in their slender notched bills ; and 

 with the Wagtails, from which also they differ in the colour of their 

 plumage and their habit of singing while on the wing. They 

 walk and run on the ground without hopping, and feed on insects 

 and small worms. 



41. Anthus (Pipit). Characters given above. Page 171. 



Tribe II. CONIROSTRES. 



(HARD-BILLED BIRDS.) 



Bill thick and very strong, more or less conical in form, and in 

 general destitute of any notch at the tip ; feet robust, formed 

 rather for perching than walking (though many genera walk on the 

 gi-ound habitually.) Food principally seeds and grain, to which 

 many kinds add birds and insects. the nestlings of nearly all are 

 fed mainly on insects. 



Family I. Alaudid.^. 



(larks.) 



Bill forming an elongated cone ; mandibles of equal length, the 

 upper convex, slightly curved ; nostrils at the base of the bill, oval, 

 partly covered by small feathers directed forwards ; feathers of the 

 head capable of being erected so as to form a crest ; first primary 

 very short, second shorter than the third, which is the longest in 

 the wing ; toes divided to the base ; hind claw nearly straight, 

 longer than the toe. Granivorous birds, frequenting open fields, 

 and singing during their flight ; they nest on the ground, where also 

 they seek their food by running, and are great pulverators {i. c. they 

 shake dust into their feathers instead of bathing). 



42. Alauda (Lark). Characters given above. Page 177. 



