SYLVIADiE. 231 



[58.] 1. Anthus aquaticus. (Bechstein.) Reddish-brown Titlark. 



Sub-family, Motaeillinae. Swainson. Genus, Anthus. Bechstein. 



The Little Lark from Pennsylvania (Alauda Pennsylvania!). Edwards, pi. 297-* 



Red Lark. Pen n. Arct. ZooL, ii., p. 393, No. 279 ? 



Brown Lark (Alauda rufa). Wilson, v., p. 89, pi. 42, f. 4. 



Anthus spinoletta. Bo nap. Syn., p. 90, No. 144. 



Plate xliv. 



This bird was observed in small flocks on the plains of the Saskatchewan, 

 in the spring of 1827, feeding on the larvae of small insects, particularly of a 

 species of ant, whose habitations are constructed with small twigs and loose 

 straws. It most probably goes further north to breed. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a specimen, killed at Carlton House, 14th May, 1827. 



Colour. — Dorsal aspect hair-brown ; most of the feathers darker in the centre. Wings 

 and tail liver-brown ; the quills narrowly, and the tertiaries and coverts broadly, edged with 

 pale brownish-white. The outer tail feather white t, except at the base of its inner web ; 

 the adjoining one also white exteriorly and at its tip. Under surface. — Chin and line over 

 the eye brownish-white. Neck and body wood-brown, inclining a little to ochraceous, 

 with some small liver-brown spots on the breast and flanks. Inner wing coverts cinereous, 

 with small brown spots. Bill and legs black. 



Form, &c. — Typical. Wings. First quill feather the longest; second, third, and fourth 

 becoming in succession just perceptibly shorter ; the fifth half an inch shorter than the 

 fourth ; the second, third, and fourth sinuated exteriorly, and the tips of the secondaries 

 truncated and emarginated. Tertiaries long ; one of them only a line or two shorter than 

 the fourth quill feather. Tail lengthened and emarginated : the middle pair of feathers 

 nearly a quarter of an inch shorter than the others. Tarsus much longer than the middle 

 toe. Toes slender ; hind toe a little shorter than the inner, which nearly equals the outer 

 one : the middle toe does not exceed these above a line and a half. Nails slender, subulate, 

 acute, and but slightly curved ; the hinder much the longest. 



Length total 

 „ of tail 

 „ of wing 



* The Little Pennsylvanian Lark of Edwards is probably a variety of ours, in which " the outer, feathers on each 

 side of the tail are white, and the two next to them have white tips. The under side, from bill to tail, is of a light 

 reddish-brown, with dusky spots." In our bird, these spots are confined to the breast and flanks. His figure is poor. 

 That of Wilson is well drawn, but so inaccurately coloured, that, but for the description, we should have supposed it 

 represented another species. — Sw. 



•f The extent of the oblique brown mark on the inner web of the outer tail feather varies in different specimens. 



Inch. 



Lin. 



Dimensions. 



Inch. 



Lin. 





Inch. Lin. 



7 







Length of bill to rictus 



. 



71 



Length of middle toe . 



. 



2 



9 



,, of bill above 







6 



„ of middle nail 



. 3 



. 3 



4 



„ of tarsus 



. 



10 



„ of hind nail 



• 41 



— R 



