Birds. 1061 



shrill cry, as a call-note by which the diminutive flock is kept toge- 

 ther. Begins to pair early in March. 



Pied Wagtail, Motacilla Yarrellii. A very common and domestic 

 bird. It may often be noticed in moist pastures, running close to the 

 legs of horses and cows, in order to catch the flies and other insects. 



Grey Wagtail, Motacilla Boarula. 



Ray's Wagtail, Budytesfiava. A bird of passage with us, delight- 

 ing more in dry and upland places than the Motacillae. 



This Cuvierian genus, Budytes, which is also adopted by the Prince 

 of Musignano, constitutes, from the elongation of the hind claw, a 

 good and connecting one with the genus Anthus of Bechstein. 



Tree Pipit, Anthus arboreus. This is the field-lark, tree-lark, or 

 Alauda minor, of some British authors. Much like, and often mista- 

 ken for, the following species, but it is less common. It migrates and 

 breeds here. 



Meadow Pipit, Titlark, Anthus pratensis. Frequent in barren pas- 

 tures and moory places. A pleasing songster. It varies much in its 

 winter and summer dress, and is a stationary bird with us. 



Rock Pipit, Sea-beach Pipit, Anthus petrosus. This is the Alauda 

 obscura of Latham, and the dusky lark of Pennant. I propose to give 

 it the more appropriate trivial name of sea-beach pipit, because it is 

 confined to the cliffs, rocks and low lands close to the sea. It is very 

 frequent upon the magnesian limestone rocks of the Durham coast. 

 Identical with the A. campestris of my former Catalogue, 6, No. 36. 



Skylark, Alauda arvensis. Begins its delightful and cheerful song 

 nearly as soon as the sun commences to dispel the wintry days — usu- 

 ally in the month of February. Larks make an excellent roast ; and 

 every Londoner knows the goodness of the Dunstable larks. So in 

 Germany, every epicure esteems Leipsic larks : indeed, in Saxony, a 

 Lerchenpesser, or lark-eater, is a common phrase for a luxurious fel- 

 low — a bon vivant. The flat and unenclosed corn-fields around Leip- 

 sic, are a famous habitat for this bird. In the south of France, in 

 Italy, Sicily, &c, not only are larks in common use for the table, but 

 also most sorts of little birds ; in fact, nearly all the Dentirostres and 

 the smaller Conirostres are eaten indiscriminately. The fame of the 

 true ortolan and Beccafico requires no comment. 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea. I have never seen this species in our 

 district ; but it is inserted in Graves's ' Catalogue of the Birds of 

 Cleveland : ' and Mr. J. Grey tells me that he has one stuffed in his 

 collection. Mr. Selby likewise has included it in his ' Catalogue (No. 

 76) of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham.' 



