ALAUDIB^ — CALANDBITINM : SHOBE LABKS. 



281 



AlcmdidcB, belong to an entirely different family, the MotacillidtB; while the American field- 



larlc is one of the Icteridce, much further removed. 



According to shape of bill, sti'uoture of nostrils, and apparent number of primaries, the 



family may be divided into two subfamilies, the* Alaudince, typified by the celebrated sky-lark 



of Europe, and the Calcmdritince, of which the well-known horned lark is a typical representa- 

 tive. Both of these occur in North America ; 

 tjie Alauda, however, only as a straggler from 

 Europe. 



CALAKDRiTiif.a:, Without evident spurious 1st primary, 

 tlie primaries apparently only 9. 



A.LAumNjs , witli spurious 1st primary, the primaries 

 therefore evidently 10. 



I I. 



Subfamily CALANDRITIN/E 

 Shore Larks. 



!Fig. 153. — Shore Lark, much reduced, 

 ney, after Baird.) 



Kepresented in America by the single genus 

 Eremophila, of which there are nominally ten, 

 (From Ten- really four or five species, one of which occurs 

 in North America. 



27. EREMO'PHILiA. (Gr. ipfijws, eremos, a desert ; (/>tXe(», phileo, I love.) Hokned Larks. 

 Primaries apparently only 9 (no obvious spurious 1st primary). Point of the wing formed 

 by the first 3 developed primaries. Inner secondaries elongated. Tail of medium length, 

 nearly even, the middle pair of feathers different in shape and color from the rest. Bill com- 

 pressed-conoid, acute, shorter than head. Nostrils completely concealed by dense tufts of 

 antrorse feathers. Head not crested, but a peculiar tuft of feathers over each ear, somewhat 

 like the so-called " horns" of some owls. Feet of ordinary alaudine characters, as already 

 given. Coloration peculiar in the presence of yellowish tints and strong black bars on the 

 head and breast. The birds of this genus frequent open places, are strictly terrestrial in habits, 

 and never hop when on the ground, like most Passeres ; they are migratory in most localities, 

 and gregarious, except when breeding ; nest on the ground, and lay 4-5 speckled eggs ; sing 

 sweetly in the spring time. 

 83. E. alpes'tris. (Lat. alpestris, alpine. Figs. 153, 154.) Horned or Shore Lark. <? 9 > 

 adult, in breeding plumage : Upper parts in general pinkish-brown, this pinkish or vinaceous 

 or liliaceous tint brightest on the nape, lesser wing- 

 coverts, and taU-coverts, the rest of the upper parts 

 being duller and more grayish-brown, boldly variegated 

 with dark brown streaks; middle pair of tail-feathers 

 and several of the inner secondaries rufous-brown, vrith 

 darker centres. Under parts, from the breast backward, 

 white ; the sides strongly washed with the color of the 

 upper parts, and mottling of same across the lower part 

 of the breast. A large, distinct, shield- shaped black 

 area on the breast. Tail-feathers, except the middle 

 pair, black, the outermost edged with whitish. Wing- 

 quiUs, except the innermost, plain fuscous, the outer 

 web of the 1st primary whitish. Lesser wing-coverts Fio. 154. — shore Laru, nat. size, (Ad 

 usually tipped vrith grayish-white. Top of head like "* ■ ® • ■^■> 



nape; bar across front of vertex, thence extended along sides of crown, and produced into a 

 tuft or " horn, " black ; front and line over eye, also somewhat produced to form part of the 

 tuft, white or yellowish ; a broad bar from nostrils along the lores, thence curving below the 

 eye and widening as it descends in front of the auriculars, black ; rest of the sides of the head 



