EOCK-PIPIT. SHORE-LARK. 171 



breast,^ corresponds with the Anthus rupestris of Nilsson ; 

 but though this is not, m his opinion, entitled to specific 

 distinction, his decision, as affecting a Norfolk specimen, 

 is the more interesting from the fact, that the chief 

 home of A. rupestris is in Scandinavia, whence, as has 

 been previously shown in this work, our few examples 

 of the dipper (Cinclus aquaticus) and the blue-throated 

 warbler (Plicenicura suecica) — birds which like the pre- 

 sent do not breed in the county, but only occur here as 

 occasional visitors — are apparently derived. 



ALAUDA ALPESTRIS, Linnseua. 



SHOEE-LAEK. 



The first recorded specimen of the Shore-Lark in 

 Norfolk, and probably the first ever recognized in Eng- 

 land, is the one thus referred to by Yarrell : — ^^In the 

 year 1831, I learned of my late friend, Mr. John Sims, 

 then residing at Norwich, that a British killed specimen 

 of the Shore-Lark, the Alauda alpestris of authors, had 

 come into his possession. The bird was shot on the 

 beach at Sherringham, in Norfolk, in March, 1830 ; it 

 was preserved by Mr. Sims, and is now in the collection 

 of Edward Lombe, Esq., of Great Melton, near Nor- 

 wich." This bird, which is also described by Messrs, 

 Gurney and Fisher as an immature male, is still pre- 

 served in the above collection, which is now in the pos- 

 session of Mrs. E. P. Clarke, of Wymondham. A second 

 example, purchased by Mr. Gurney some few years ago. 



* The other bird, though killed in company, exhibits no 

 indication of this warm colouring. It is probably a female, but 

 unfortunately I had no opportunity of dissecting these pipits, 

 before they were stuffed, to determine their respective sexes. 

 z2 



