(41) 



TTse Titlark. Alauda pratorum. 

 Numb. XLIir. 



ITS Weight is five Drams and a half; Length, from the tip of the Bill to the end of 

 the Tail, fix Inches; Breadth, when the Wings are extended, ten Inches and a quar- 

 ter. It is fomething lefs than the comraon Lark, having a long Body and a fmall head; 

 a flender fharp Bill, half an Inch long, flat and deprefled tow^ard the Head ; the tip of 

 the Tongue is jagged ; the Circle about the Pupil hazel colour'd ; the Colour on the top 

 of the Head, Shoulders and middle of the Back, various , of a yellowifh green and 

 black, the middle parts of the Feathers being black, the Outfides or Edges of a 

 yellowilh green ; the lower part of the Back or Rump is only green without any 

 mixture of Black; the upper Side of the foremention'd various Colour, the finglc 

 Colour being lefs confpicuous by reafon of a fmall mixture of cinereous or afh Colour. 

 The under fide of the Body, the Breaft, and fides under the Wings, were of a fordid 

 yellowifh white, fpotted with black, the lower Belly, Throat and under the Chin 

 white without any black Spots, The quill Feathers of the Wings are dusky, their 

 exterior Edges being of a yellowifli green ; the middle Feathers of the firfl Row of 

 Coverts have their tips and exterior Edges whitifh, and the middle of the fecond Row 

 white; the refi: of the covert Feathers of the Wing are of the fame Colour with thefca- 

 pular Feathers. I believe it is peculiar to this Kind to have the four firfi: Feathers equal. 



The Tail is made up of twelve Feathers, the two outermofl on each Side are parti-co- 

 lour'd of white and brown ; the outermoft Feather, the upper half of which is white, 

 dividing the Feather obliquely ; the next Feather the tip only is white ; the reft of the 

 Feathers are of a dark brown, and their exterior Edges of a yellowifh green as it were 

 jagged or fringed. The Tail when folded up is a little forked, near three Inches long. 



The Feet are yellow ; the Claw of the Back-Toe, as in the reft of the Lark kind, 

 very long and dusky. The Gizzard not fo mufculous as in other Larks, in which was 

 found Beetles and Infedts like Meal Worms; the BUnd-Guts are fomething longer than 

 in the common Lark^ it hath alfo a Gall or Bladder. 



Mr. Jejfop fufpefts that there is yet another different fort of Bird which may be called 

 the LeJJer Field-Lark, or more commonly called the Pippit. See Plate No. 44. 



They build commonly in Bulhes near the Ground; their Neft is outwardly of Mofs, 

 inwardly of fine Straw, with a httle Horfe-Hair, and lay five or fix Eggs. 



The Cock is all over more yellow than the Hen, efpecially under the Throat, on the 

 Breaft, Legs and Soles of the Feet. 



They fit on Trees like the IFood-Lark, fing moft like the Canary-Bird of any Bird 

 whatfoever, whifking, curring and chewing; but their J^ong is ftiort and hath no variety 

 in it. This Bird comes with the Nightingale dihout the beginning of -^r//, and goes away 

 about the beginning of September ; the young are to be fed, when firft taken, after the 

 manner of the Nightingale : The old one (if taken) in like manner to be at firft cram'd. 



When he will feed himfelf , give him Wood-Lark's Meat. Before his going away he 

 is apt to grow fat, like the Nightingale, but will eat though never fo fat : He is a hardy 

 Bird, and long liv'd, if preferved with Care, and is not fubjedt to Colds or Cramps. 



M I'h' 



