236 
WESTERN SHORE LARK. 
of small coverts, and several of those adjoining. Primary quills brownish- 
black edged with white, secondaries much darker and more broadly edged 
and terminated by white ; tail feathers light blue, with a narrow band of 
black, terminating in a broad white band. Third quill longest, the first and 
second nearly equal. 
Total length about IO2 inches ; wing from flexure 6^ ; bill along the ridge 
f, along the edge 1 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe 1, its claw ; hind toe f , its claw 
i ; the tail, which is slightly rounded, measures 4 £. The female remains 
unknown. 
FAMILY XIV.* — ALAUDINiE. LARKS. 
Genus I.f — ALAUDA, Linn. LARK. 
WESTERN SHORE LARK. 
Alauda rufa, Lath. 
PLATE CCCCXCVIL— Male. 
Here, reader, is another of those species which, by its general habits as 
well as appearance, I did not notice until this moment 5 afraid, indeed, of 
promulgating an error myself before the world of naturalists that exist, and 
who do not excuse an error, unless indeed that error is committed by them- 
selves. Now, however, that years have elapsed, and that in the meantime 
I have had ample opportunities of watching this species, and of comparing it 
with our Alauda alpestris, I have not hesitated to figure it, and present it 
to you as a good species, not hitherto placed in my works on the ornithology 
of our country. 
This species is quite common on all the western prairies which I lately 
visited, and is also found in Texas, as well as in several portions of South 
America. It breeds on the prairies, forming its nest somewhat imbedded in 
the ground, and raises only one brood in a season. As I have already said, 
See yoI. iii. p. 43. 
f Ibid. p. 44 
