THE LARKS. 47 



THE LARKS. 



the Pipits we pass very naturally to the Larks, members of 

 the same family group, and only lately placed in a separate genus, 

 under the Latin title Alauda, that word signifying a Lark. Of this 

 genus there are five British representatives, the same number as there 

 are of the Pipits and the Wagtails; the Tits give us one more 

 species to number among British Birds. 



Macgillivray, in his "History," makes this genus Alauda a very 

 restricted one, including only three species, viz : the Shore, Sky, and 

 Wood Larks; so also does Morris. Tarrell gives four, adding to the 

 above list the Short-toed Lark, a very rare bird in this country, which 

 the first-named authority, in the " Appendix of Recently Observed 

 Species," added to his "Manual," also notices, with the Crested Lark, 

 thus completing the list of those we shall have to describe. It may 

 be here mentioned that according to Stevenson only the three common 

 species of Larks have yet been observed in Norfolk, except a single 

 specimen of the Shore Lark. 



Very pretty and sprightly creatures are these Alaudine Birds, all of 

 them good songsters, and one the very sweetest and cheeriest singer 

 that ever soared aloft in the sunshine, and gladdened the ear of man 

 with music. All graceful and slender birds, with longish legs and 



