260 BRITISH BIRDS. 
almost meet on the nape; the outer tail-feathers are brown on the ter- 
minal half, and the three next on each side have white terminal triangular 
spots. The underparts are pale buftish white, and the streaks on the breast 
are very distinct. Bill dark brown above, paler below; legs, feet, and 
claws light brown ; irides hazel. 'The female resembles the male in colour. 
After the autumn moult the general colour of the upper parts is rich buffish 
_brown, and the underparts are suffused with pale olive-brown. Birds of 
the year have the streaks on the breast more numerous and extending to 
the flanks. Young in first plumage are spotted on the upper parts with 
black and buff, and the underparts are very yellow and profusely spotted 
with blackish brown, except on the centre of the belly and under tail- 
coverts. 
The Wood-Lark may be recognized on the wing by its short tail. In 
the hand its bastard primary, which is well developed, almost as long as 
the primary-coverts, and the white spots at the end of the tail-feathers are 
its chief characteristics ; and its nostrils are quite distinct from those of any 
other British species of Lark, being half exposed and overhung by an 
operculum. The peculiarities of this bird have induced some ornithologists 
to recognize it as generically distinct under the name of Ludlula ; and if it 
was advisable to split up the genus Alauda, this genus would certainly be 
the most distinct of the subgenera contained in it. Strange to say, it is 
not recognized by Newton or Dresser, both of whom recognize Otocoris, 
Calandrella, and Melanocorypha, and the latter Galerita also, none of 
which are nearly so distinct. 
