AMERICAN PIPIT OR TITLARK. 
43 
the lower part of which and the sides are streaked with dark brown, and 
tinged with reddish-brown. 
Male, 6i, 10i. 
Throughout the Western and Southern Districts during autumn and 
winter. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Abundant. 
FAMILY XIY. ALAUDINTE. LARKS. 
Bill rather short, or of moderate length, somewhat conical, compressed 
toward the end ; upper mandible with its dorsal line sloping and slightly 
convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches generally obsolete; the 
tip narrow and a little deflected ; lower mandible with the angle of moderate 
length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, the edges 
slightly inflected, the tip acute ; gap-line straight. Nostrils elliptical or 
oblong, basal. Head oblong, of mod'erate size ; neck rather .short ; body ovate. 
Feet of moderate length, or rather long ; tarsus compressed, with eight ante- 
rior sc-utella ; toes slender, compressed ; the hind toe elongated, second and 
fourth about equal, third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, slender, 
much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long, 
straightish, tapering. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings rather 
long, broad, the inner secondaries tapering, and one so elongated as nearly 
to equal the longest primary, when the wing is closed. Tail of twelve 
feathers, generally emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible concave, gene- 
rally with three prominent lines ; tongue slender, thin, flat, tapering to a 
slit and bristly tip ; oesophagus of uniform width • stomach a very strong 
muscular gizzard of a roundish form and compressed, its lateral muscles very 
large, its epithelium dense and rugous ; intestines short, of moderate width ; 
coeca very small, cylindrical. Nest on the ground. Eggs five or six, oval, 
spotted. 
