THE BIRDS OF XKW JERSEY. 201 



Family ALAUDID^. 



Tpie Larks. 



These birds arc poorly represented in America. All our forms, of 

 wli it'll two occur in the State, seem to be sub-species of one widely- 

 distriljuted species. The European Skylark has been liberated about 

 Xew York, and at least one attempt was made to introduce them in 

 Xew Jersey. Larks are terrestrial birds with a very large hind claw. 



473 Alauda arvensis Linnaeus. 

 European Skylark. 



In the Ornithologist and Oologist, ISS-t, p. 11, it is stated that 

 eighty-four European Skylarks were liberated on a farm in New 

 Jersey, in 188"3, and that some were still to be seen there. 



Mr. '"William J. Sherratt" [^ William J. Eogers] states in the 

 same journal for 188-1, p. 2A, that several European Skylarks were seen 

 during the summer of 1883, along the Camden and Atlantic railroad, 

 l)elow Winslow Junction. Skylarks have been introduced in snuiU 

 numbers on Long Island, but have not increased. 



474 Otocoris alpestris (Linnaeus). 

 Horned Lark, Shore Lark. 



PLATE 46. 



Adttlt male. — Length, 7.50-8. Wing, 4-4.50. Upper parts vinaceous, more 

 or less washed and streaked with brown ; rump and shoulders brighter ; a line 

 along each side of the crown, including some elongated erectile feathers, black ; 

 forehead and line over the eye. pale yellowish ; a broad black stripe from the 

 base of the bill down the side of the throat, and a triangular breast patch, black ; 

 whole throat and ear region, pale yellow ; abdomen, white ; sides, vinaceous ; 

 hind part of breast streaked with dusky ; middle tail feathers, vinaceous ; others 

 black, outer ones edged with white. In winter, when the birds are with us, the 

 black areas are all veiled with whitish edgings. 



Adult female. — Similar, but duller. 



