ALAUDA. BIRDS. 235 



brown spots on the breast ; quills bordered and terminated with 

 white ; middle tail-feathers terminated by a white spot ; the la- 

 teral ones white. 7 inches long. Inhabits Europe, &c. Edw. 268. 



A. crlstata, Lin. The Crested-Lark. Body above grayish, with 

 narrow brown spots ; wing-feathers bordered with reddish ; mid- 

 dle feathers of the tail reddish, the exterior ones red at their ter- 

 mination ; lower parts yellowish white ; coronal tuft of elonga- 

 ted acuminated feathers black in the middle. 6J inches long. 

 Inhabits Southern Europe Tern. Man. 277- 



A. alpestris, Lin. Plumage above reddish ash- coloured ; line above 

 the eyes and a band on the breast black ; lateral feathers of the 

 tail black, the exterior white on the outside ; lower parts whit- 

 ish fawn-colour. 6i inches long. Inhabits Europe and America. 

 Catesby, Car. i. pi. 32. 



A. arvensis, Lin. The Skylark. Upper parts reddish gray, each 

 feather blackish in its middle ; a whitish band above the eyes ; 

 throat white ; neck, breast, and flanks tinted with reddish ; tail 

 brown, the outer feather with the tip and exterior feather white ; 

 coronal feathers capable of erection. 6J inches long. Inhabits 

 Europe. B Selby, Illust. pi. 50, fig. 1. 



The Skylark is one of the most esteemed British song-birds. It is found throughout 

 the whole of Europe, many parts of Asia and the north of Africa. Its song is be- 

 gun early in spring and continued during the greater part of summer. It rises per- 

 pendicularly in a spiral direction, singing as it rises, till it frequently soars beyond 

 the reach of vision. On the approach of winter larks begin to collect in immense 

 flocks, quitting the more elevated parts of the country, and resorting to the coasts. 

 At this period they are fat, and vast numbers are taken for the table. 



A. arborea, Lin. The Woodlark. Plumage above reddish ash-co- 

 loured, with a blackish brown spot on the middle of the feathers ; 

 a white band above the eyes and surrounding the occiput, and a 

 triangular whitish spot on the cheeks; under parts yellowish white; 

 wing-coverts terminated by white ; feathers of the head longer, 

 and tail shorter than the skylark. 6 inches long. Inhabits Eu- 

 rope. B.Selby, Illust. pi. 50, fig. 2. 



The Woodlark is chiefly confined in Britain to the southern and western parts of 

 England. It surpasses the skylark in the richness, though not in the variety of 

 its notes. Its song is generally poured forth when on the wing ; but it differs from 

 the skylark in describing widely extended circles in its flight. 



A. brachydactyla, Tern. Plumage above reddish-yellow ; throat and 

 band above the eyes white ; breast and flanks red ; abdomen white ; 

 greater coverts of the wings as long as the quills ; toes very short ; 

 exterior tail-feathers reddish. 5 inches long. Inhabits South- 

 ern Europe. Tern. Man. 284. 



A. bilopha, Tern. Head double-crested ; the crests, a band on the 

 head, the feathers at the base of the upper mandible, a broad stripe 

 through the eyes, and a crescent at the base, black ; body above va- 

 ried with red, brown, and white; beneath whitish. 5 J inches long. 

 Inhabits Arabia. Tern. PL Col 244, fig. 1. 



A, isabellina, Tern. Plumage isabella-red above, paler below ; throat 



