4 SHOBE LARK. 



very nearly equal in length, and the longest in the wing; 

 the second rather the longest, the first being a little longer 

 than the third, the fourth a quarter of an inch shorter than 

 the third; greater wing coverts, dark brown with light brown 

 margins, broadest and most distinct after the moult; lesser 

 wing coverts, dark brown tinged with red, and tipped with 

 white, most so after the moult; primaries, dusky brown, with 

 very narrow light-coloured edges, widest after the moult; 

 secondaries, brown; tertiaries, brown, some with light brown, 

 and some with whitish margins, widest after the moult. Tail, 

 black, except on part of the edge of the outer web of the 

 outside feather on each side, which is white; the two middle 

 leathers are dark brown, with light brown margins; upper 

 tail coverts, brown, the central part of the feathers darker 

 than the edges; under tail coverts, dull .white. Legs, toes, 

 and claws, bluish black; the hind claw straight, and longer 

 tli an the toe. 



The female is a little smaller than the male, being about 

 six inches and a half in length, and her colours duller; the 

 streak over the eye pale yellow. Head on the crown, neck 

 on the back, and nape, of the same colour as the back, the 

 black changing into brown and greyish. The breast has only 

 a narrow brownish black band, fringed with yellow on its 

 upper part; back, with more grey than in the male, with the 

 shafts of the feathers darker, and with hardly any of the 

 red tint. 



The young males after their first autumnal moult resemble 

 the adult female. 



