PASSERCULUS ALAUDINUS. 
LARK SPARROW. 
PASSERCULUS ALAUDINUS. Boot. Compt. Rend. XXXYII. (1853.) P. 918. Baird. B. of X. A., p. 446. 
This species, so closely resembling the P. Savanna as to make it very doubtful if it should really be considered distinct, is a 
native of California and Texas. On comparing this bird with the P. Anthinus and P. Savanna, the variations are indeed so slight that 
one might easily be pardoned if he should refer them all to one and the same species. The P. Anthinus is a little smaller, and some 
specimens possess a greater number of spots upon the uuder parts, but this does not appear to be constant in all examples, and the 
variations between the three species (?) are not greater than can be found among other species of birds which extend over a large 
tract of country. I do not believe that the science of Ornithology is in any way advanced, by instituting species so closely allied 
as to make their recognition impossible, without having a large number of specimens for comparison, which are not often attainable ; 
and this custom, which appears to be increasing, is to be deprecated, as tending more to confuse than to elucidate this beautiful 
study. 
The species of this genus coniine themselves chiefly to the ground, run with great agility, are seldom seen upon the wing, and 
hide themselves in the grass on the approach of danger. The nest is placed upon the ground, and is formed of grasses. The eggs, 
four to six in number, are bluish-white, faintly mottled with brown. 
The present bird has the crown brown spotted with black ; a broad median stripe of yellowish-gray. A superciliary streak 
from the bill to the back of head, and eyelids, yellow. A white stripe on the ear coverts, margined on each side with brown. 
Upper parts, grayish- brown, each feather with a central stripe of blackish-brown. Entire under parts, white; somewhat thickly spotted 
with brown, on the throat, sides of neck, upper part of breast, and flanks. Tail, brown; the two central feathers, blackish-brown, 
edged with whitish. Primaries, brown ; the outer one, edged with wdiite. Upper mandible, dark brown ; under mandible, horn-color. 
Legs and feet, flesh-color. 
The specimeu from w r hich the above description was taken came from California, and, except in its smaller size, can hardly be 
distinguished from the P. Savanna. 
The figures are life-size. 
