214 WHITE-SPOTTED LARK. 



which marks the visible creation. Continually 

 exposed by the nature of their haunts to the ob- 

 servation of birds of prey and other enemies, the 

 colouring of these birds has been assimilated so 

 nearly to that of the ground, that they can scarcely 

 be distinguished, even when close, by an ordinary 

 observer ; and however keen may be the sight of a 

 hawk, the plumage of the Lark is so exactly like 

 the earth upon which it moves, that although its 

 presence might be detected by watching, it would 

 never attract a passing enemy. 



The present species appears to be altogether new, 

 and is readily distinguished by its spotted plumage, 

 when that of nearly all the other species is striped. 

 Although the bill is shorter and less curved than in 

 the typical Certhilaudce, it has not the essential cha- 

 racters of the genus Alauda as now restricted ; that 

 is, the first quill is spurious, but in Alauda it is the 

 longest; while the slenderness and length of the 

 bill seems to point out this species as connectant 

 between Alauda and Certhilauda. 



The general tint of the upper plumage is of a very 

 light fawn or clay colour, with a darker shade down 

 the middle of each feather, more especially those on 

 the crown, each of which, together with those on 

 the back and wing-covers is tipt with a roundish 

 pale spot, almost white ; the colour of the quills is 

 precisely like that of the back, the margins of the 

 primaries and secondaries having a rufous tinge, 

 while the tertials and scapulars are margined with 

 whitish ; the four middle tail-feathers and outer- 



