90 Synopsis of the Birds 



Female and young generally much like the adult male, 

 which assumes somewhat more brilliant colours only during 

 a few days of the breeding season. Moult annually. 



Frequent open fields, cultivated grounds, he. near the wa- 

 ter; the greater part of the species never alight on trees. 

 Feed exclusively on insects. Build on the ground. Move the 

 tail vertically like the Motacillae. Sing when rising on the 

 wing like the Alaudae. 



Species few, but spread all over the globe. Closely allied 

 to Motacilla in form and habits ; to Alauda in colour and 

 structure of the hind nail ; exactly intermediate between the 

 two ; thus connecting the two families Canori and Passerini, 

 though remotely distinct from the latter. 



144. Anthus spinoletta, Nob. Beneath, and line over the eye, 

 pale rufous; breast spotted with black ; tail feathers black- 

 ish, the outer half white, the second white at tip ; hind nail 

 long, arcuated. 



Brown Lark, Alauda rufa, Wils. Am. Orn. v. p. 89.pl. 42- 

 Jig \. Alauda spi oletta, L. Anthus aquations, Bechst. 



Inhabits the north of both continents ; during winter only 

 in the United States : not very frequent in Pennsylvania. 



25. REGULUS. 



Motacilla, L. Gm. 111. Cuv. Parus, Briss. Sylvia, Lath. 

 Te 'im. Ranz. Regulus, Ray, Vioill. Boie. Brehm. 



Bill short, straight, very slender, subulate, compressed 

 from the base, narrowed in the middle, with bristles at base ; 

 edjzes somewhat inflexed ; upper mandible finely notched, 

 and a little curved at tip : nostrils basal, oval, half closed 

 by a membrane, covered by two small, porrect, rigid, decom- 

 pound feathers : tongue cartilaginous, bristly at tip. Feet 

 slender ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; lateral toes 

 subequal ; inner free ; hind toe stoutest, with a larger and 

 thicker nail. Wings short, rather acute ; spurious feather 



