SKY-LARK. 



503 



Alouette blanche. Buff\ Hist, Nat, Ois. 5. 20. 



White Lark. Lath, Gen. Syn, 4. 369. a. 



y./usco-nigra. 



Variety of a brown black, 



Alauda nigra. Briss, Orn. 3. 340. b. 



Alouette noire. Buff, Hist, Nat. Ois, 5. 22,^Buff, PI. Enl, 

 650. f. 1. 



Dusky Lark. Lath, Gen. Syn. 4. 370. 1. b. 



This delightful singingbird is about seven inches 

 in length : its beak is dusky ; the base of the under 

 mandible yellowish : the feathers on the top of 

 the head are dusky, edged with rufous brown ; 

 they are rather elongated, and may be set up like 

 a crest ; the back of the head is inclined to cine- 

 reous : the feathers on the upper part of the body 

 are reddish brown, with the middle darkest, and 

 the edges pale: the under parts are dirty buff; the 

 neck and breast are darkest, and streaked with 

 dusky : quills brown, with the outer webs and the 

 tips lightest: the tail is dusky brown, the two 

 middle feathers darkest, with light rufous edges ; 

 the outer feather is white on the exterior web and 

 tip of the inner; the second that colour on the 

 outer web only, and the next with a slight edging 

 of white on the outer web : legs dusky ; claws 

 dusky, the hind one very long and straight : the 

 female differs in being much less than the male. 



This species is subject to considerable variety, 

 some being found of a pure white, others of a 

 light cream-colour ; again mixed brown and white, 

 with the belly white ; and also of a dusky black, 

 the hind part of the head, the beak, and legs, 



