BROWN TITLARK. 451 



them closely allied in this and other respects to the Wagtails of 

 Europe, of which no species has hitherto been found in America. 



The description given of this species at p. 50 of Vol. I. is sufficient- 

 ly correct for the adult, and that at p. 408 of the same volume for the 

 young. The species to which it approaches nearest are Anthus aquati- 

 cus and Anthus pratensis, from both of which it is undoubtedly distinct. 

 It resembles the former in size, and in the colour of the upper parts, 

 which in some individuals is precisely the same ; but differs in having 

 the bill much shorter (5 twelfths and 7 twelfths), the tarsi, toes, and 

 claws more slender, although very similar, as well as in the following 

 respects. The Ajnerican bird has a whitish band from the nostril over 

 the eye, which is not seen in A. aquations; the outer tail-feather has 

 the greater part of the outer web and a large portion of the inner to- 

 ward the end, together with an oblique patch on the next, pure white, 

 whereas the outer tail-feathers of A. aquaticus is merely paler than the 

 rest ; the latter bird has its lower parts marked with ill-defined dusky 

 spots, while those of the former are distinctly defined, and the ground 

 colour generally of a light rufous or cream-coloured tinge, which they 

 never are in the European bird. From Anthus pratensis it diflFers in 

 having the bill much stouter, although nearly of the same length, the 

 tarsus longer (10| and 9^ twelfths) ; the hind claw stouter, more 

 curved, and much shorter (4J and 6 twelfths), the colour of the feet 

 much darker, in being always much more rufous beneath, and in some- 

 times, when the season is advanced, being almost entirely unspotted 

 there. On the other hand, it agrees in having the upper parts simi- 

 larly coloured, as are the lateral tail-feathers, in being of nearly the same 

 size and proportions, with the exceptions mentioned, and often in having 

 the lower parts spotted in precisely the same manner. It is, in short, 

 much more intimately allied to Anthus pratensis than to A. aquaticus, 

 and yoimg individuals of these species, as well as old birds in which 

 the plumage is fresh, can hardly be distinguished by the plumage. 



In a specimen preserved in spirits, the roof of the mouth is flat, its 

 width 4 twelfths ; the palate with two ridges, its anterior part with a 

 median and two slight lateral ridges. The tongue is 4^ twelfths long, 

 emarginate and papillate at the base, slender, channelled above, horny to- 

 wards the end, tapering to a slightly lacerated point. The oesophagus 



