SUPPLEMENT ON THE CONIROSTRES. 



The first genus to be considered in this family, is that of 

 the Larks. To the very brief indication of their generic 

 characters in the text, we may add, that they are distinguished 

 by a cylindrical and subulated bill, furnished at the base 

 with small feathers, directed forwards, and completely cover- 

 ing the nostrils. This bill is straight in some, and more or less 

 arched in others ; the nostrils are rounded, and half closed 

 by a membrane ; the tongue is cartilaginous, and cleft at the 

 point ; the liinder claw is straight, or nearly so, acuminated, 

 and usually longer than the thumb. The first remex is some- 

 times shorter than the fourth ; but more generally they are 

 of equal length ; the second and third are the longest of all. 

 There are two secondaries, nearly as long as the primaries, 

 notched on the end, as well as the intermediate feathers. 

 There are four toes, three before and one behind. 



All the larks nestle on the ground ; and the majority rise 

 so high that they are often lost sight of, and sing during their 

 flight. Some of them perch, but not often ; they are semi- 

 nivorous, insectivorous, and herbivorous, and they swallow 

 grains entire ; they are to be found in all parts of the 

 world. 



Some naturalists have divided the larks into three sections, 

 according to certain differences of conformation observable in 

 the bill. The first of these differences is that the bill is 

 conical, straight, or nearly so, more high than wide at the 



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