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"WHITE-SPOTTED DARK. 
which marks the visible creation. Continually 
exposed by the nature of their haunts to the ob- 
servation of birds of prey and other enemies, the 
colouring of these birds has been assimilated so 
nearly to that of the ground, that they can scarcely 
be distinguished, even when close, hy an ordinary 
observer ; and however keen may be the sight of a 
hawk, the plumage of the Lark is so exactly like 
the earth upon which it moves, that although its 
presence might be detected by watching, it rvould 
never attract a passing enemy. 
The present species appears to be altogether new, 
and is readily distinguished hy its spotted, plumage, 
when that of nearly all the other species is striped. 
Although the hill is shorter and less curved than in 
the typical Certkilaudw, it has not the essential cha- 
racters of the genus Alauda as now restricted ; that 
is, the first quill is spurious, but in Alauda it is the 
longest; while the slenderness and length of the 
bill seems to point out this species as connectant 
between Alauda and Certhilauda. 
The general tint of the upper plumage is of a very 
light fawn or clay colour, with a darker shade down 
the middle of each feather, more especially those on 
the crown, — each of which, together with those on 
the hack and wing-covers is tipt with a roundish 
pale spot, almost white ; the colour of the quills is 
precisely like that of the back, — the margins of the 
primaries and secondaries having a rufous tinge, 
while the tertials and scapulars are margined with 
whitish ; the four middle tail-feathers and outer- 
