274 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



brown ; the under parts greenish-white, conspicuously streaked with dark 

 brown. The bill is dusky, the base and edges paler ; the legs dusky flesh- 

 color, not dark brown. 



The occurrence of this species in Greenland was noticed in the Eeview ; 

 and since the publication of that work a specimen has been obtained at St. 

 Michael's, in Alaska, by Mr. W. H. Dall, and is now in the Smithsonian 

 collection. The specimen in question appears to be the true pratensis. 



Habits. This European species claims a place in the North American 

 fauna on the ground of a single specimen having been found in Greenland, 

 in 1845, and one at St. Michael's, Norton Sound. In the Old World it is 

 the counterpart of our ludovicianus, which, in all respects, it closely resem- 

 bles. It is the most common and the best known of European Titlarks. In 

 Great Britain, where it is found throughout the year, it appears to prefer the 

 uncultivated districts, inhabiting commons and waste lands, and in the more 

 northern parts frequenting the moors. It is also found in meadows and 

 marsh lands, in winter seeking more sheltered places. It is rarely seen to 

 alight on a branch or to sit on a rail. Its song is soft and musical, and is 

 usually uttered when on the wing or when vibrating over its nest. It seeks 

 its food altogether on the ground, running nimbly in pursuit of insects, slugs, 

 and worms. According to Yarrell its nest is built on the ground, generally 

 among the grass. It is composed externally of dried sedges, lined with finer 

 materials and some hair. The eggs are six in number, of a reddish-brown 

 color, mottled over with darker shades of the same, and measure .80 by .60 

 of an inch. 



According to the observations of English naturalists, this bird resorts to 

 various ingenious devices to conceal its nest, or to draw aside attention from 

 it, such as feigning lameness when it is approached, and concealing it by 

 artificial covering when it has been once discovered. 



The Meadow Pipit is common during the summer months in Denmark, 

 Sweden, and Norway, visiting also the Faroe Islands and Iceland. It in- 

 habits the whole continent of Europe as far south as Spain, Italy, and Sicily. 

 It has also been found in Northern Africa, and, according to Gould, in West- 

 ern Asia. Temminck also states it to be among the birds of Japan. 



According to Degland these larks, after the breeding-season, unite in small 

 flocks, probably families, and frequent low and damp localities. In summer 

 they are more often found on high and dry mountain plains. Their flesh is 

 said to be delicious. 



Genus NEOCORYS, Sclater. 



Neocorys, Sclatee, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1857, 5. (Type, Alauda spraguei, AuD.) 



Char. Bill half as long as the head ; the culmen concave at the base, slightly decurved 

 at the tip. Rictus without bristles. Legs stout ; tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer than 

 the middle toe. Hind toe very long, equal to the tarsus, much longer than the middle toe; 



