AMERICAN PIPIT OR TITLARK. 43 



the lower part of which and the sides are streaked with dark brown, and 

 tinged with reddish-brown. 



Male, 6h, 10 J. 



Throughout the Western and Southern Districts during autumn and 

 winter. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Abundant. 



FAMILY' XIV. ALAUDINJE. LARKS. 



Bill rather short, or of moderate length, somewhat conical, compressed 

 toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line sloping and slightly 

 convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches generally obsolete; the 

 tip narrow and a little deflected; lower mandible with the angle of moderate 

 length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, the edges 

 slightly inflected, the tip acute; gape-line straight. Nostrils elliptical or 

 oblong, basal. Head oblong, of moderate size; neck rather short; body ovate. 

 Feet of moderate length, or rather long; tarsus compressed, with eight ante- 

 rior scutella; toes slender, compressed; the hind toe elongated, second and 

 fourth about equal, third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, slender, 

 much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long, 

 straightish, tapering. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings rather 

 long, broad, the inner secondaries tapering, and one so elongated as nearly 

 to equal the longest primary, when the wing is closed. Tail of twelve 

 feathers, generally emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible concave, gene- 

 rally with three prominent lines; tongue slender, thin, flat, tapering to a 

 slit and bristly tip; oesophagus of uniform width; stomach a very strong 

 muscular gizzard of a roundish form and compressed, its lateral muscles very 

 large, its epithelium dense and rugous; intestines short, of moderate width; 

 cceca very small, cylindrical. Nest on the ground. Eggs five or six, oval, 

 spotted. 



