70 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Alaudarubra . . Gmelin, ' Syst. Nat.,' 1788, i. 



794, 



rufa . . Wilson, 'Amer. Orn.,' 1812, 89, 

 pi. 89. 



This rare visitant from North America is not in- 

 cluded in Yarrell's ' History of British Birds,' 

 although Pennant, Edwards, and Montagu all speak 

 of it as having been taken in England. 



On the authority of the two last-named authors, I 

 have given it a place in this Catalogue. 



Edwards describes and figures it* under the title 

 of " Lark from Pennsylvania," and says : " I have 

 found it in the neighbourhood of London." Mon- 

 tagu calls it the Eed Lark, Alauda rulra t (as also 

 do Pennant and Latham), and after fully describing 

 the bird, he adds, " the above description was taken 

 from a specimen which was killed in Middlesex, and 

 now in my possession." 



As this species, from its close resemblance to 

 other members of the genus, has probably been 

 often overlooked, I have given the above synonyms 

 to establish its identity and to furnish references for 

 those who may have the opportunity of obtaining 

 specimens which they have, perhaps, hitherto looked 

 upon as only a variety of one of our commoner 

 Pipits. 



* Edward's 'Gleanings,' ii. 185, pi. 297. 

 | Montagu's ' Ornithological Dictionary, 1805-13, art. 

 Bedlark. 



