312 SHORE LARK. 



straight; iris of the eye hazel. One glance at the figure on the 

 plate will give a better idea than the whole of this minute des- 

 cription, which, however, has been rendered necessary by the 

 errors of others. The female has little or no black on the crown; 

 and the yellow on the front is narrow, and of a dirty tinge. 



There is a singular appearance in this bird which I have never 

 seen taken notice of by former writers, viz. certain long black 

 feathers, which extend, by equal distances beyond each other, 

 above the eye-brow; these are longer, more pointed, and of a 

 different texture from the rest around them; and the bird pos- 

 sesses the power of erecting them so as to appear as if horned, 

 like some of the Owl tribe. Having kept one of these birds 

 alive for some time I was much amused at this odd appearance; 

 and think it might furnish a very suitable specific appellation, 

 viz. Jllauda cornuta, or Horned Lark. These horns become 

 scarcely perceivable after the bird is dead. The head is slight- 

 ly crested. 



Shore Lark and Sky Lark are names by which this species is 

 usually known in different parts of the union. They are said to 

 sing well; mounting in the air, in the manner of the Song Lark 

 of Europe; but this is only in those countries where they breed. 

 I have never heard of their nests being found within the terri- 

 tory of the United States. 



