336 BIRDS OF 1UJK0I8. 



Family ALAUDID^.— The Larks. 



"Cbab. First priiiiiiry very short orwnntinB. Tursl si-utelhito iintoriorly udO pos- 

 teriorly, witii the platfs nmirly of eorrcspondina position and numl)er. Hinil elaw very 

 long and nearly straiitht. Bill short. couieal. frontal feathers extending alonK side of the 

 bill: the nostrils eoiicealed l>y a tuft of bristly feathers direetod forward. TurtlalsBreatly 

 eloneiite beyond the secondaries." [llinl. .V. Am. B.) 



The AlaudiclsB are preemineutly a Paltearctic family, being numer- 

 ously represented throughout Europe and central Asia, and with many 

 membei-s in the more open portion of the African continent. Amer- 

 ica possesses a single species, and that of circumpolar disti'ibution. 



"The most characteristic feature of the Lai'ks among other oscinine 

 families is seen in the scutellation of the tarsus. The anterior 

 half of this is covered by divided scales lapping around on the 

 sides, but instead of the two plates which go on each side of the 

 posterior half and unite ultimately behind as an acute ridge, there 

 is but one, which laps round on the sides, and is divided into scales 

 like the anterior ones, but alternating with them. The posterior 

 edge of the tarsus is as obtuse as the anterior, instead of being very 

 acute. There is a deep separating groove on the inner side of the 

 tarsus ; and there may be really but one plate divided transversely, 

 the edges meeting at this place. 



"In the elongated hind claw and lengthened tertials, general styli- 

 of coloration, mode of life, and manner of nesting, there is decided 

 approximation in the Alaiuiid(e to the AnthitKe, of the family Mo- 

 tacill'uhr; but in these the posterior edge of the tarsus is sharp and 

 imdivided transversely, the toes more deeply cleft, the bill more 

 slender, etc. — their relations being rather nearer to the Si/lricolidie 

 than the present family." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Genus OTOCORIS Bonaparte. 



Kremophiln BoiE. Isis. ISB. \i£i. Type, .Wniirfa n/pcsfns Linn. (Xec Eremophilng 



HuJLB. 1805.) 

 Otoeoris BoNAr. Fauna Hal. Ueoclli. Iiitrod. 1S», (not pagodl. 



Gen. Chab. No spurious primary: bill small, seareidy higher than broad; nostrils 

 circular (the nasal fossa' oldiquei. concealed by a dense tuft of fi-athers. Adult with a 

 narrow tuft of feathers on each side of the erown (most developed in the male). Colors 

 of the adult pinkish gray or brownish above, with more or less distinct streaks on the 

 back; a black cheek patch and pectoral crescent (Indistinct in the fvmulo). 



