486 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



picion that this view is quite erroneous, but accept the present position at least pro- 

 visionally. Additional characters of less importance are the length of the last 

 secondaries, the ends of which nearly reach the tip of the folded wing ; the usually 

 strong and conical bill ; the elongated and straight hind claw ; the very short first 

 (tenth) primary, visible in all, though extremely reduced in some ; and the peculiar 

 sandy-brown plumage longitudinally streaked with dusky. So general is the uniform- 

 ity of the plumage that ' lark-colored ' has become a technical term. This stylo is 

 well illustrated in the accompanying cut, which represents three common European 

 species, Alauda arborea, A. arvensis, and A. cristata. There are, however, several 

 forms which show considerable differentiation in color, as, for instance, a number of 

 pale sandy-colored desert-forms, among which the long-legged, long-billed Certhilauda 

 alaudipes ; the curious South African Megalophonus apiatus, with the nostrils not 

 covered by the usual bristles, and a coloration highly suggestive of that of a quail ; 

 the black Melanocorypha yeltonensis, from western Siberia; the unspotted Aitmio- 

 manes phoenicura, with the basal half of the tail rusty, and the tip blackish ; the 

 sparrow-like Pyrhulauda grisea, with the middle of the lower surface black. Sev- 

 eral of the last mentioned forms have a somewhat lengthened first primary, while in 

 some the secondaries are short as in most birds, a feature which reaches its maximum 

 in the genus Pterocorys. Finally, we have to mention the shore-larks, or horned-larks 

 (Otocoris), which are easily recognizable on account of the curious elongated tuft over 

 each eye forming a kind of pointed hornlet. To us they are of special interest, since 

 they are the only larks which occur regularly in this hemisphere; for the European 

 skylark has only a right to a place in our fauna as a straggler to Greenland and the 

 Bermudas. This latter bird is the most famous and familiar of the whole group, being 

 one of the favorite migratory birds, the early arrival of which, in spring, is a welcome 

 messenger from a milder sky in those countries where it makes its home. This, in 

 connection with its marvellous song, has made the skylark a favorite with writers and 

 poets, in this respect successfully rivalling with the nightingale. We quote from Yar- 

 rell : " It is an inhabitant of all the countries of Europe, preferring cultivated dis- 

 tricts, and particularly arable land. Here in early spring its cheerful and exhilarating 

 song, fresh as the season, is the admiration of all. The bird rises on quivering wing, 

 almost perpendicularly, singing as he flies, and even after gaining an extraordinary 

 elevation so powerful is his voice that his wild, joyous notes may be heard distinctly 

 when the pained eye can trace his course no longer ; but an ear well tuned to his song 

 can yet determine by the notes whether he is still ascending, stationary, or on the 

 descent, for the strain is continued on his downward course till he approaches the 

 ground, when it stops abruptly, and with a headlong dart the bird alights." The sky- 

 lark likewise has a high reputation as a dainty for the table, and was formerly caught 

 during the fall migrations in incredible numbers. Thus it is estimated that during the 

 last century, in Leipzig alone, over five million larks were received annually; in ls. r >4 

 there were brought to the London markets about four hundred thousands, and the official 

 returns state that in 1867-68 more than a million and a quarter were taken into the 

 town of Dieppe, France. These stupendous figures make it easy to understand that 

 during the cold season the larks "do a considerable amount of damage to the autumn- 

 sown wheat, if the ground be free from snow, and to such green crops as they may 

 find." It is, therefore, a matter of congratulation, that the attempt to introduce the 

 skylark into our country has not proved a success, as otherwise we should have had a 

 repetition of our deplorable experience with the English sparrow. 



