426 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



in summer-plumage has the upper-parts rich brown, bordered with russet, becoming- 

 lighter on the nape ; the crown, lesser wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts being 

 a brilliant red-russet, which gives the bird a marked and distinct character ; the 

 primaries are dark brown, the first white on the inner web, and becoming almost 

 entirely so in the middle ; the tail-feathers are brown edged with white on the 

 inner webs ; the throat and sides of the neck are spotted with brown and russet : 

 and the under-parts are white. The female is similar, but duller and less pure 

 in tint. 



The Homed The horned larks are distinguished in the adult male plumage by 



Larks. a £ u f£ f feathers springing from each side of the crown ; the bill being 



rather short, and slightly arched ; the nostrils are densely covered by plumes, the 



HORNED, OR SHORE LARK (J nat. size). 



wings are long, and the claw of the first toe is straight and about as long as the toe. 

 These birds are remarkable for the constancy of the pattern of their plumage ; 

 yellow and black being usually associated with vinaceous brown. This genus 

 (Otocorys) is strongly represented in the New World, the northern parts of which 

 possess several species, one of the number at least being virtually identical with the 

 common horned lark of Europe. The latter bird (0. alpestris) appears to inhabit 

 the whole of the northern parts of Europe and Siberia ; and other species are 



