SKY-LARK. INSESSORES. ALAUDA. 275 



its station, and from whence it pours forth its melodious 

 song. 



PLATE 50. Fig. 1. Natural size. 



Bill brownish-black, with the base of the lower mandible General 

 ochreous-yellow. The feathers upon the crown rather tj on< 

 elongated, and capable of being erected at pleasure ; 

 their colour brownish-black, margined with pale yellow- 

 ish-brown. Hind part of the head pale broccoli-brown. 

 Upper parts of the body yellowish-brown, with the cen- 

 ters of the feathers darker. Above the eye is a yellow- 

 ish-white streak. Cheeks pale yellowish-brown. Breast 

 pale wood-brown, spotted with brownish-black ; the 

 middle white, with a reddish-brown tinge. Tail brown, 

 the outer feather having the tip and exterior web 

 white ; the next with the outer web only white. Legs 

 yellowish-brown ; paler in young specimens. Claws 

 wood-brown; the hind claw very long,, and slightly 

 curved. 



The female is similar to the male bird. 



The young, previous to the first moult, have the black 

 and brown shades of their upper plumage more distinct 

 and deeper than the adults. 



