INTEODTJCTIOir. 



109 



these are the not less familiar Blackbird, the Fieldfare, the 

 Wheatear (Scueieola oenanthe), our Eobin (Erithacus ruhecula), 

 and, most distinguished of all, the ever-welcome Nightingale 

 (Erithacus lusdnid). Not less welcome, because most melodious, 

 even in the month of March, is the song of the Sky-lark (Alauda 

 arvensis). It is one of a group of about seventy species which, 

 with two exceptions, are all confined to the Eastern Hemi- 

 sphere. One of the most familiar on the continent of Europe 

 is the Crested Lark {Qalerita cristata). 



Fig. 116. 



^.J^p^^Miff'^ "SJ:\ 



The Crested Lark {Gcderita cristata). 



The renowned American Mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottus) is 

 the type of another family, numbering forty-seven species. 



Certain Birds called "Ant-thrushes" may, on account of 

 this denomination, be here referred to, though they cannot be 

 considered to resemble Thrushes at all. They are more properly 

 called Pittas, and the Bengal Pitta (Pitta hengalensis) may be 

 considered as a representative of about fifty species. AU of 

 them are confined to the Old "World, the Malay Archipelago 

 being their headquarters, whence they extend, in difierent 

 directions, to Australia, Africa, and Northern China. They are 



