xii SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS 



forked. Claws considerably curved, that of hind toe of moderate 

 length. Page io6 



43. Plectrophenax (Snow Bunting). Bill with upper mandible narrower 



than lower, otherwise as in Emberiza. Wings long and pointed, 

 first primary obsolete, second and third nearly equal and longest 

 in wing, fourth considerably longer than fifth. Tail moderate 

 and sUghtly forked. Front claws rather long and curved ; hind 

 claw considerably curved and elongated. Page no 



44. Calcarius (Lapland Bunting). Bill with considerably inflected 



cutting edges (tomia) ; claws of front toes short and slightly curved ; 

 hind claw nearly straight and elongated ; other characters much 

 as in Plectrophenax. Page in 



FAMILY MOTACILLID^ 



(Wagtails and Pipits) 



Wings with nine visible primaries. Inner secondaries nearly as long as 

 primaries. 



45. Motacilla (Wagtail). Cutting edges of both mandibles slightly 



compressed inwards ; nostrils basal, oval, partly concealed by a 

 naked membrane ; first primary acuminate and nearly obsolete, 

 second and third nearly equal and longest ; one of the scapulars 

 as long as the quUls ; tail long, nearly even at the end ; tarsus 

 much longer than the middle toe. Page in 



46. Anthus (Pipit). Bill and nostrils very much as in Motacilla ; two 



of the scapulars as long as the closed wing ; first primary acuminate 

 and nearly obsolete, second shorter than the third and fourth, 

 which are the longest; hind claw very long. Page 116 



FAMILY ALAUDID.^E 



(Larks) 



Wings with nine or more visible primaries. Planta tarsi scntellate. Grani- 

 vorous birds, frequenting open spaces, and singing during their flight ; nesting 

 on ground and seeking their food there by running ; they are ' pulverators ', 

 i.e. they shake dust or sand into their feathers instead of bathing. 



47. Alauda (Lark). Bill moderate, slightly compressed at edges ; upper 



mandible more or less arched from middle. Nostrils basal, oval, 

 covered by bristly feathers directed forward. Gape straight. 

 Wings long ; first primary short but unmistakably developed ; 

 second, third and fourth nearly equal, but third longest. Tail 

 moderate, sUghtly forked. Tarsus longer than middle toe ; claws 

 slightly curved and moderate, except that of hind toe, which is 

 generally elongate and nearly straight. Page no 



48. Otocorys (Shore-lark). BiU rather short, subconic ; upper mandi- 



ble sUghtly arched. Head — in adult male — with tuft of lone 

 erectile feathers on either side of occiput. Wings long ; first 

 primary so small as at first sight to seem wanting, second longest but 

 third nearly its equal, fourth decidedly shorter, outer secondaries 

 short and emarginate at tip. Tail rather long, slightly forked. 

 Tarsus shorter than middle toe ; claws moderate and very sUghtly 

 curved, that of hind toe being comparatively straight. Page 122 



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