i 



184 

 THE SHOEE LARK. 



ALAUDA ALPESTRIS. 



Throat, forehead, and ear-coverts yellow ; over the forehead a black band ; lore, 

 moustache, and gorget black ; upper parts reddish brown ; breast and flanlii^ 

 3'ellowish white ; abdomen white. Length nearly seven inches. Eggs greyish 

 white, spotted with pale blue and brown. 



The Shore Lark, like the hist, is a very rare visitor of 

 Britain, and appears to be equally uncommon in France. 

 A few have been shot in jSTorfolk, and in the high lati- 

 tudes both of the Old and ISTew Worlds it is a common 

 resident on the rocky coasts. It builds its nest on the 

 ground, and shares in the great characteristic of the family, 

 that, namely, of soaring and singing simultaneously. In 

 colouring, it is strongly marked by its black gorget and 

 ert'st. 



THE SHORT-TOED LARK. 



ALAUDA BRACHYDACTYLA. 



Upper parts yellowish brown, the centre of each feather darker ; a whitish yellow 

 streak above the eye ; under parts yellowish white, almost without spots ; bill 

 stout ; hind claw and toe short. Length five inches and a half. Eggs buff, 

 without spots. 



Yet rajer than either of the preceding, as a single speci- 

 men only has been obtained in Britain. It is not un- 

 frequent in many parts of France, where it is remarkable 

 for its habit of running along the furrows in advance of 

 the sportsman's dogs ; and is sometimes shot by mistake 

 for a Quail. Its song is melodious, and, like the rest of 

 the Larks, it sings while soaring. 



