BROWN LARK. 387 
BROWN LARK.—ALAUDA RUFA.—Fic. 177. 
Rec Lark, Edw. 297.—.1rct. Zool. No. 279.— Lath. ii. 376.— L’Alowette aux 
joues brunes de Pennsylvanie, Buff. v.58.— Peale’s Museum, No. 5138. 
ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS. — Bonarante.* 
Synonyms of Anthus Ludovicianus, Bonup. (from his Nomenclature,)— -‘ Alanda 
rubra, Gmel. Lath. — Alauda Ludoviciana, Gmel. Lath. — Alauda Pennsylva- 
nica, Briss. — Farlouzanne, Buff. Ois. — Alouette aux joues brunes de Penn- 
sylvanie, Buff. Ois. — Lark from Pennsylvania, Ed. Glean. p. 297. — Red Lark,. 
enn. Brit. and Arct. Zool. Lath. Syn.— Louisiana Lark, Lath. Syn.” — An- 
thus spinoletta, Bonap. Synop. p. 90. 
In what particular district of the northern regions this bird breeds, 1 
am unable to say. In Pennsylvania, it first arrives from the north about 
the middle of October; flies in loose scattered flocks; is strongly at- 
tached to flat, newly-ploughed fields, commons, and such like situations ; 
has a feeble note, characteristic of its tribe; runs rapidly along the 
ground; and, when the flock takes to wing, they fly high, and generally 
to a considerable distance before they alight. Many of them continue 
in the neighborhood of Philadelphia all winter, if the season be mode- 
rate. In the Southern States, particularly in the lower parts of North 
and South Carolina, I found these Larks in great abundance in the 
middle of February. Loose flocks of many hundreds were driving 
about from one corn-field to another; and, in the low rice grounds, 
they were in great abundance. On opening numbers of these, they 
appeared to have been feeding on various small seeds, with a large 
quantity of gravel. On the &th of April, I shot several of these birds 
in the neighborhood of Lexington, Kentucky. In Pennsylvania, they 
generally disappear, on their way to the north, about the beginning of 
May, or earlier. At Portland, in the District of Maine, 1 met with a 
flock of these birds in October. I do not know that they breed within 
the United States. Of their song, nest, eggs, &c. we have no account, 
* Anthus is a genus of Bechstein’s, formed to contain us which have been 
generally called ‘ks, but which have a nearer resemblance to the Motacille, or 
age and the Accentors. They are also allied to the Seiurus of Swainson. 
The Prince of Musignano made this identical with the European Rock Lark. 
Anthus aquaticus, Bechst. Alauda spinoletta, Linn. ; but in his observations on Wil- 
son’s nomenclature, saw reason to change his opinion, and it will now stand as A. 
Ludovici: of that gentl Audubon has, on the other hand, placed it in his 
Biography as the European bird. but, I fear, with too slender comparison; and the 
same name is mentioned in the Northern Zoology, without comparing the arctic 
specimens with those of Britain or Europe. On these accounts. I rather trust to 
the observations of Bonaparte, which have been made from actual comparison. It 
must also be recollected, that the summer and winter dress of the Anti: differ very 
considerably in their shades. 
Audubon has introduced in his Biography another Anthws, which he considers 
new, under the title of pipiens. It was only met with once, in the extensive prairies 
of the Northwestern States, where two were killed; and though allied to the com- 
mon Brown Titlark, were distinguished by the difference of their notes. If these 
specimens were not preserved, the species must rest on the authority of Mr. Audu- 
bon’s plate, and, of course, admitted with doubt. — Ep. 
