PERCHING-BIRDS. 129 
species with brightly coloured under parts bearing a strange superficial 
resemblance to certain American species of ‘“* Meadow-Lark ” (Sturnella) 
belonging to the family Icteride (p. 182). The Common Cuckoo fre- 
quently places her egg in the nests of Wagtails and Pipits, the Titlark 
or Meadow-Pipit (A. pratensis) (2376) being‘a favourite host. 
Family XXXT. Ataupip#. Larks. 
Of the hundred or more species recognised, the majority are inhab- 
itants of the Old World, but the Horned or Shore-Larks (Otocorys) 
(2394-6) are also found in America, where they range as far south as 
Colombia in Sonth America. Larks are almost entirely terrestrial in 
their habits and generally frequent open grassy plains or desert districts, 
but the species of Mirafra (2392) and Lullula prefer the vicinity of 
bushes or copses, and frequently perch, while Otocorys, except during the 
winter months, dwells on the high upJands. The habit of soaring while 
utiering their song is common to the group, and with the exception of 
afew species of Mirafra, all nest on the ground. The eggs are generally 
white, closely spotted with brown and grey. Asin the Wagtails and Pipits 
the inner secondary quills are greatly developed and equal in length to 
the primaries, but the Larks are distinguished from these and other 
Passerine birds by having the hinder aspect of the metatarsus scutel- 
lated or covered with scales. The Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis) (2389), 
and the Wood-Lark (Luilula arborea) (2890) are the only resident 
species in the British Islands, but the European Horned Lark (Otocorys 
alpestris) (2894) is a more or less regular winter visitor, and the Crested 
(2388), Short-toed (2399), White-winged (2400), and Black (2400 a) 
Larks are occasional stragglers to our shores. The Finch-Larks 
(Pyrrhulauda} (2391-8) have short thick bills, and form a rather 
distinct genus with the sexes differing in colour. 
Family XXXII. Frineryipa. Frncues and Buntrnes. 
The Finches form one of the largest families of Song-birds and 
number about six hundred species, which are nearly universally distri- 
buted. As may be inferred from the structure of their short, stout, 
conical bill, they live principally on seeds. In many species the summer- 
dress is gained not by moult, but by the shedding of the edges of the 
winter plumage, so that the underlying pattern comes into prominence. 
The change thus effected is specially marked in the male of the Snow- 
Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (2413), the rufescent winter dress 
becoming entirely black and white in summer. Three subfamilies are 
recognised : the Grosbeaks (Coccothraustine), the true Finches (Fringil- 
line), and the Buntings (Eméerizine), characterised in the typical forms 
K 
[Case 78.7 
[Cases 
79, 80.] 
