234 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
NEOCORYS SPRAGUEI, Sclater. 
Missouri Skylark. 
Alauda spraguet, Aup. Birds Amer. VII, 1843, 335; pl. 486. 
Agrodoma spraguei, Bairp, Stansbury’s report G. Salt Lake, 1852, 329.—Bonap. Notes Delattre, 1854. 
Neocorys spraguei, ScLaTeR, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1857, 5. 
Sp. Cx.—Above wood brown, all the feathers edged with paler, especially on the neck, where there is a brownish yellow 
tinge. The under parts are dull white, with a collar of sharply defined narrow brown streaks across the fore part and along 
the sides of the breast. Lores and a superciliary line whitish. Tail feathers, except the middle ones, dark brown ; the outer 
one white, the second white, with the inner margin brown. The outer primary is edged with white, and there are two dull 
whitish bands across the wings. Bill and feet yellow, the former brown above. Length, (female,) 5.75 ; wing, 3.35; tail, 2.50. 
Hab .—About Fort Union, Nebraska. 
This little known species has the general appearance of a titlark, but is readily distinguished 
from Anthus ludovicianus by the purer white of its under parts; the much paler margins to the 
feathers above, the entirely white external tail feather, the yellow legs and bill, as well as by its 
general peculiarities. In its song and general habits it approaches nearer the European sky- 
lark than any bird belonging to our fauna. 
This species has thus far been seen only in the vicinity of Fort Union. 
List of specimens. 
| 
| | | 
Catalogue No.) Sex. Locality. | When collected. Whence obtained. | Collected by— 
| 
| 
If etal ale eG ET Se eT eae PPT (a= tone meet sT ns PLT al 
Fort Union, Nebraska--..---- | 1843 S/W. Baird =<. sone J.J. Audubon._.22<-= 
1854 Q 
— 
| 
Sub-Family SYLVICOLINAE. 
The characters of this extensive sub-family are sufficiently expressed in the synopsis on 
page 231. The variety of form is very great, but the transitions are so imperceptible as to 
render it a matter of much difficulty to define the genera with precision. The entire group 
appears to be wanting in the Old World. It may be conveniently divided into the following 
sections : 
A.—Rictus with short bristles or none. 
Myrotmrrsar.—Bill notched. Hind toe longer than the lateral ones, its claw shorter than 
the digit. Wings pointed. Tail nearly even, spotted. 
GEOTHLYPEAE.—Bill notched. Legs very stout. Hind toe longer than the lateral; its claw 
equa) to the digit. Tail unspotted. 
TcTERIEAE.—Bill without notch, very stout, much compressed. Commissure and culmen both 
much curved. 
VERMIVOREAE.—Bill entirely without a notch; conical, slender, weak, acutely pointed. 
SyivicoLeAE.—Bill notched. Wings pointed. Hind toe equal to the lateral. 
B.—Rictus with well developed bristles. 
SrropHacEAr.—Bill depressed, broad, notched at tip. 
