402 



ALAUDID.K. 



INSESSORES. 

 CONIROSTRES. 



ALAVDIDjE. 



'^^«-^^>!---^ .^ 



THE SHORE LARK. 



Alauda alpestris, Shore Lark, Jenyns, Brit. Vert. p. 126. 



,, ,, ,, Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. vii. 



,, ,, ,, ,, EyroN, Rarer Brit. Birds, p. 15. 



,, Aloiiette a hausse-col iwir, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 279. 



Alauda. Generic Characters. — Beak short, subconic, mandibles of equal 

 length, the upper one convex, and slightly curved. Nostrils basal, oval, partly 

 covered by small feathers directed forwards. Head furnished on the top with 

 a few elongated feathers, capable of being elevated, and forming a crest. 

 Wings rather long ; the first quill-feather generally very short, the second 

 rather shorter than the third, which is the longest in the wing. Feet with 

 three toes before, divided to their origin ; one toe behind with the claw elon- 

 gated, and almost straight. 



With the Larks commences the second division of the 

 Second Order of Birds, the Conirostres, a distinction 

 drawn from the conical form and great strength of the beak. 

 Many of the birds of this division live almost entirely on 



