SHORE LARK. $y 



black ; the two middle feathers, which by some have been mis- 

 taken for the coverts, are reddish drab, centred with brownish 

 black ; the two outer ones on each side, exteriorly edged with 

 white ; breast, of a dusky vinous tinge, and marked with 

 spots or streaks of the same ; the belly and vent, white ; sides, 

 streaked with bay ; bill short (Latham, in mistake, says seven 

 inches*), of a dusky blue colour ; tongue, truncate and bifid ; 

 legs and claws, black ; hind heel, very long, and almost 

 straight; iris of the eye, hazel. One glance at the figure on 

 the plate will give a better idea than the whole of this 

 minute description, which, however, has been rendered 

 necessary by the errors of others. The female has little or 

 no black on the crown ; and the yellow on the front is narrow, 

 and of a dirty tinge. 



There is a singular appearance in this bird, which I have 

 never seen taken notice of by former writers, viz., certain long 

 black feathers, which extend, by equal distances beyond each 

 other, above the eyebrow ; these are longer, more pointed, 

 and of a different texture from the rest around them ; and the 

 bird possesses the power of erecting them, so as to appear as 

 if horned, like some of the owl tribe. Having kept one of 

 these birds alive for some time, I was much amused at this 

 odd appearance, and think it, might furnish a very suitable 

 specific appellation, viz., Alauda cornuta, or horned lark. 

 These horns become scarcely perceivable after the bird is 

 dead. The head is slightly crested. 



Shore lark and sky lark are names by which this species 

 is usually known in different parts of the Union. They are 

 said to sing well, mounting in the air, in the manner of the 

 song lark of Europe ; but this is only in those countries 

 where they breed. I have never heard of their nests being 

 found within the territory of the United States. 



* Synopsis, vol. ii. p. 385. 



