( 6o ) 



O R D. III. GEN. VIII. LARK. 



SPE. VII. TIT LARK. 

 PI. 91. 



Alauda pratenfis. Lin. Syji. I. p. 287. 



The eye of this fpecies is red brown : bill dark horn colour : from the bafe 

 of the beak is a pale line to the eye : the head and upper parts of the body are 

 dull yellowifh brown, with very few of the darker markings as in the other 

 larks ; thofe on the back in particular are very faint : throat and breaft pale 

 brownifh white, fpotted on the throat, and much blotched on the breaft, with 

 blackifh brown ; belly white : the middle tail feathers dull black, the next edged 

 with white, the exterior ones white : legs pale flefh colour, hind claw fhort, 

 ftrong, and curved, which forms a diftinguifliing character in this fpecies from 

 all the other larks, well known to the fanciers of finging birds. 



This is a bird of paflage, coming to us in April to breed, and emigrating again 

 early in the Autumn. It makes its neft on the fides of dry banks or hedges, 

 and lays four eggs. It feeds only on infefts, and has a ftrong powerful fong,' 

 which it begins on a branch or pott, flying up a little way and returning again 

 to the fame place. It is held in much efteem for its cheerful fong, and is placed 

 next the nightingale by the fanciers of fong birds, by whom it is fed in the fame 

 manner when caged. 



The egg is reprefented PI, XXI. Fig. r. 



