302 LARK. 



and a quarter, middle toe a quarter of an inch, the others shorter ; 

 hind toe near half an inch, claws a little bent, and channelled 

 beneath ; the hind one longer than the middle by one-third, and very 

 little bent. 



Supposed to inhabit Abyssinia. — In the collection of Mr. Salt ; 

 at first sight appears to belong to the Wader family ; and it is not 

 improbable, from a very slight covering above the joint, that it 

 frequents watery places, into which it may have occasion to wade 

 for its food ; but this is not unusual, as the Titlark will frequently 

 wade into the water, after aquatic insects. The make and shape of 

 the shins is singular, being greatly similar, in respect to the segments, 

 to those of the Courser, which it also resembles in plumage, though 

 of a somewhat darker hue. 



Mr. Salt observes, that these Larks are common in the desert 

 Islands of Amphila, where few land birds could exist; frequent also 

 on the coast; their colour so exactly resembles that of the sandy 

 ground, that they are with difficulty distinguished from it. 



39 —SHORT-TOED LARK. 



Alauda brachidactyla, Alouette a doigts courts, ou Calandvelle, Tern. Man. d'Orn. 



p. 164. Id. Ed. ii. 285. 

 Alauda Calandrilla, Bonelli, Mem. de V Acad, de Turin. 

 Der kurtzehige Lerche, Leisl. Annul, der Wetter, iii. 357. t. 19. 

 Alauda arenaria, Sand Lark, Shaw's Zool. x. p. 515. 



LENGTH five inches and a half. Bill short, strong, and reddish ; 

 plumage on the upper parts of the body fine rufous, Isabella-colour, 

 inclining to cinereous on the nape, and along the shafts of the feathers, 

 which are deep brown ; chin and streak over the eyes white; on the 

 sides of the neck, two or three brown dots; breast and sides rufous; 

 belly white, tinged with rufous ; the two middle tail feathers black, 

 edged with rufous; the three next black, edged and tipped with 



