82 TREATISE ON 



but the head of the cock-bird is very flat and full 

 behind : this, and the brightness of the whitish 

 streak proceeding from the bill to behind the eye, 

 forming a curved line over it, and almost meeting 

 behind the neck, are the best marks to distinguish 

 the song-bird from the female. 



Description and Plumage. 



This is a very elegant bird, and the plumage, 

 though plain, is harmonious and prettily varied. • 

 Length near six inches, — bill pale yellowish-brown, 

 darkest at the point, — eye chesnut-brown, — upper ^ 

 part of the head, neck, back, wings, and tail, pale 

 umber-brown, streaked down the middle of each 

 feather with a very dark mark of the same colour, 

 — spurious wing edged with dingy yellowish- white, 

 — a streak of the same passes over each eye, ex- 

 tending pretty far back, — throat, breast, and under 

 parts very pale wood-brown, passing into yellow- 

 ish-white towards the tail, — the throat and breast 

 spotted sparingly with umber-brown, — the two 

 outer feathers of the tail snow-white, — legs and 

 feet dingy yellowish- white, — hind claw long ; but 

 neither the hind claw nor tail so long in proportion 

 as that of the skylark's. 



