MOTACILLID^E — THE WAGTAILS. 



175 



its claw but, slightly curved, and about half the total length. Inner lateral toe rather longer 

 than outer. Wings much longer than tail ; first quill longest. Tertials considerably longer 

 than secondaries. Tail rather short, emarginate. 



But one species of this genus is known, it being peculiar to the Western 

 plains. 



Neocorys spraguei, Sclat. 



MISSOURI SKYLARK; SPRAGUE'S PIPIT 



Alauda spraguei, Aud. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 335, pi. cecclxxxvi. Agrodonut spraguei, 

 Baird, Staiisbury's Eep. 1852, 329. Neocorys S2Jraguci, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, 5. — 

 Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 234. — Blakiston, Ibis, 1862, 4 (Saskatchewan). — Cooper, 

 Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 80. Anthus {Neocorys) sjyraguei, Bauid, Rev. 155. 



Sp. Char. 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 forepart 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 Avings. 

 Bill and feet yellow, the former brown above. Length (female), 5.75 ; wing, 3.35 ; 

 tail, 2.50. 



Hab. Plains of Yellowstone and Upper Missouri to Saskatchewan ; Nebraska. 



This little-known species has the general appearance of a Titlark, but is 

 readily distinguished from Anthus lu- 

 dovicianus by the purer white of its 

 under parts, the much darker centres 

 and much paler margins to the feathers 

 above, the entirely white external tail- 

 feather, and the yellow legs and bill, as 

 well as by its generic peculiarities. In 

 its song and general habits it approaches 

 nearer the European Skylark than any 

 bird belonging to our fauna. 



Habits. This interesting species was 

 first described by Audubon, in the sup- 

 plementary portion of his Birds of Ameri- 

 ca. It was obtained by the party which 

 accompanied him to the Upper Missouri in 1843. It was first met with on 

 the 19th of June near Fort Union, in Dacotah Territory. It has since been 

 found on the fork of the Saskatchewan, but little additional information 

 respecting its habits has been obtained since its first discovery. 



It seems to more nearly approach, in its hal)its, the European Skylark 

 than any other of our North American birds. ]\Ir. Edward Harris was com- 

 pletely misled, at first, l)y the sound of tlieir song, so that on several occa- 

 sions he sought for them on the grouud. Their voices appeared to come to 



Neocorys spraguei. 



