uf the United States. 10 1 



Moult annually. Some have rich colouring in the spring, 

 and assume the humble dress of the female in autumn. 



Granivorous ; separating the grain from its envelope : 

 some feed occasionally on insects, and nourish their young 

 with them. Few build very skilful nests. Generally migra- 

 tory in the temperate climates of North America and Eu- 

 rope : some migrate in large flocks in autumn. Many sing 

 well. Flesh generally palatable. 



Allied to the JEgithali by the genus Parus ; but much 

 more intimately to the Gregarii, which exhibit an insensible 

 passage, by the short thick-billed Icteri, to Fringilla.* In- 

 timately related also to the Canori by Alauda, which is 

 so closely allied to Anthus, that no natural series ought to 

 separate them. 



31. ALAUDA. 



Alauda, L. Briss. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz. 



Bill rather short, somewhat robust, straight, conic-attenu- 

 ated, acute, with bristles at base ; upper mandible convex, 

 entire ; lower hardly shorter, compressed : nostrils basal, 

 oval, with an arched membrane, covered by the porrect fea- 

 thers of the frontlet : tongue cartilaginous, bifid. Tarsus 

 not very slender, longer than the middle toe ; toes free; hind 

 toe thickest, and nearly equal to the outer : hind nail nearly 

 straight, acuminate, generally longer than the toe. Wings 

 moderate ; spurious feather very short ; second and third 

 primaries longest ; first and fourth subequal ; secondaries 

 emarginate at tip ; two of the scapulars nearly as long as 

 the primaries. Tail generally emarginate. 



* The African genus Tloceus is another link between the two families 

 as it may be placed with equal propriety in either, thoug-h, on account of 

 its habits, we, with Vieillot, place it in Gregarii. 



Vol. II. j 3 



