THE SHORE-LARK. 9 



Family ALA UDID/E. 



THE SHORE-LARK. 



Otocorys alf>estris, LjNN. 



BREEDS within the Arctic Circle beyond the limits of forest-growth in 

 the northern portions of the Old and New Worlds ; on migration it 

 occurs throughout the greater part of Europe, though hitherto not recorded 

 from Spain and Portugal ; eastwards it is met with in Turkestan, S. Siberia, 

 and N. China. 



To Great Britain this bird was at one time only an irregular visitor, but 

 since the winter of 1869-70 when there was a considerable immigration to our 

 eastern coasts, its appearance in autumn and winter has been regular ; according 

 to Mr. Aplin specimens have visited us on the northward migration in spring 

 .as late as April 22nd. On the eastern coast of Scotland it has been met 

 with as far north as St. Andrews. 



The adult male of the Shore-Lark has the forehead, a stripe partly en- 

 closing the eye and ear-coverts and extending over the sides of neck and 

 uniting with a patch over the chin and fore-throat creamy-white ; the front 

 of the crown and an erectile tuft on each side of the crown, the lores, cheeks 

 and a belt across the lower throat and breast, black ; ear-coverts creamy, tipped 

 with brown ; nape, mantle, lesser wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts vinaceous 

 brown ; wing-coverts tipped with white ; quills smoky brown, the first primary 

 white externally, the others with ashy margins ; feathers of the back greyish 

 brown with black centres to the feathers ; two central tail-feathers coloured 

 like those of the back, the remainder black, the outer feather with white 

 margin to the outer web ; remainder of under parts creamy white, becoming 

 vinous on the breast, flanks, and thighs ; flanks streaked with brown ; bill 

 and feet black ; iris deep brown. The female is smaller, duller, with less 

 black and no erectile tufts on the head, but with dark centres to all the 

 feathers of the upper parts. Young males resemble the winter plumage of 

 the female, but young females show no yellow on. the forehead and have black 

 bases to the feathers of the crown. After the autumn moult adult birds have 

 yellow margins to the feathers on the head and nape. 



VOL. 11. 2 H 



