426 



ANTHID^E. 



elongated spots of dark brown, which are better defined 

 in the males than in the females; belly and under tail- 

 coverts pale brown ; the flanks streaked with darker 

 brown ; the legs, toes, and claws, pale yellow brown ; the 

 hind claw considerably curved, and shorter than the hind 

 toe, hence one of the provincial names for this bird is the 

 Short-heeled Field Lark. 



The whole length of the bird is about six inches and a 

 half. From the carpal joint to the end of the wing three 

 inches and three-eighths : the first three primaries nearly 

 equal in length, but the first is the longest ; one broad 

 tertial feather reaching beyond the longest primary, when 

 the wing is closed. 



The male is rather larger than the female ; but the two 

 sexes are nearly alike in plumage. At the moult, these 

 birds acquire a greenish tint on the upper surface of the 

 body, and an ochreous yellow on the throat and breast. 



