260 BRITISH BIRDS. 



almost meet on the nape ; the outer tail-feathers are brown on the ter- 

 minal half, and the three next on each side have white terminal triangular 

 spots. The underparts are pale buflSsh white, and the streaks on the breast 

 are very distinct. Bill dark brown above, paler below ; legs, feet, and 

 claws light brown ; irides hazel. The female resembles the male in colour. 

 After the autumn moult the general colour of the upper parts is rich huffish 

 brown, and the underparts are suffused with pale olive-brown. Birds of 

 the year have the streaks on the breast more numerous and extending to 

 the flanks. Young in first plumage are spotted on the upper parts with 

 black and buff, and the underparts are very yellow and profusely spotted 

 with blackish brown, except on the centre of the belly and under tail- 

 coverts. 



The Wood-Lark may be recognized on the wing by its short tail. In 

 the hand its bastard primary, which is well developed, almost as long as 

 the primary-coverts, and the white spots at the end of the tail-feathers are 

 its chief characteristics ; and its nostrils are quite distinct from those of any 

 other British species of Lark, being half exposed and overhung by an 

 operculum. The peculiarities of this bird have induced some ornithologists 

 to recognize it as generically distinct under the name of iMllula ; and if it 

 was advisable to split up the genus Alauda, this genus would certainly be 

 the most distinct of the subgenera contained in it. Strange to say, it is 

 not recognized by Newton or Dresser, both of whom recognize Otocoris, 

 Calandrella, and Melanocorypha, and the latter Galerita also, none of 

 which are nearly so distinct. 



