FAMILY MOTAClLLID.gE. 171 



unbroken sheath. Front of tarsus with more or less fused scutes, 

 sometimes in old birds only distinct on lower part. Wings with 

 nine primaries as in Fringillidce (p. 42), secondaries more or less 

 elongated, often fully as long as longest primaries. Tail generally 

 rather long, twelve rectrices. Bill thin and slender. Plumage 

 soft. Two moults, a complete one late in summer, an incomplete 

 one end of winter and early spring ; this at least in all European 

 species. Mostly terrestrial, walking like Larks, not hopping like 

 Thrushes. Nests on ground or in hollows in buildings, banks, 

 trees, etc. Eggs spotted. Nearly cosmopolitan, richest in Palse- 

 arctic region. Northern species migratory. 



Key to genera of family MOTACZLUD^:. 



Tail shorter than wings, upper-parts brown, mostly 



spotted Anthus, p. 171 



Tail as long as, or longer than, wings, upper-parts 



uniform grey, black or greenish .... Motacilla, p. 191 



Genus ANTHUS Bechst. 



ANTHUS Bechstein, Gem. Naturg. Deutschl., n, pp. 247, 302, 465 (1805 

 Type by subsequent designation Mathews, 1915 A. campestris). 



Appearance of most species Lark-like, upper-parts spotted or 

 streaked. Tail as a rule considerably shorter than wing, secondaries 

 as long as primaries. Sexes alike, young much like adults. Eggs 

 spotted, Lark-like. Nearly cosmopolitan, but absent from islands 

 in Pacific Ocean. Numerous in Palsearctic region. Ten species 

 Palsearctic, some with several subspecies, six in Europe. 



Key to species of genus ANTHUS. 



Tarsus and foot longer and stronger, tarsus 



over 30 mm A. r. richardi,p. 172 



1 



Tarsus and foot shorter and weaker, tarsus 

 I under 30 mm 2 



Blackish-brown spots on upper-parts and 

 breast , very conspicuous and sharply 

 defined 3 



Darker centres to feathers of upper-parts not 

 obvious and ill -denned, those on breast as a 

 rule not sharply defined 5 



{Hind claw considerably curved, equal to or 

 shorter than hind toe" A. trivialis, p. 176 



Hind claw slightly curved, longer than hind 

 toe 4 



