[58.] 1. A n t h u s a q u a t ic u s . (Bechstein.) Reddish-brown Titlark.
Sub-f a m il y , MotaciUinas. Swainson. Genus, Anthus. B e c h s t e in .
The Little Lark from Pennsylvania (.Alauda Pennsylvaniea). E dwards, pi. 297-*
Red Lark. P e n n . Arct. Zool.,-it., p, 393, No. 279 ?
Brown Lark (Alauda rufa). W il so n , v., p. 89, pi. 42, f. 4.
Anthus spinoletta. B o nap. Syn., p. 90, No. 144.
P late xliv.
This bird was observed in small flocks on the plains of the Saskatchewan,
in the spring of 1827, feeding on the larvae of small insects, particularly of a
species of ant, whose habitations are constructed with small twigs and loose
straws. It most probably goes further north to breed.
DESCRIPTION
Of a specimen, killed at Carlton House, 14th May, 1827-
C olo u r .—Dorsal aspect hair-brown ; most of the feathers darker in the centre. Wings
and tail liver-brown $ the quills narrowly, and the tertiaries and coverts broadly, edged with
pale brownish-white. The outer tail feather white except at the base of its inner web;
the adjoining one' also white exteriorly and at its tip. Under surface.-^Chin and line over
the eye brownish-white. Neck and body wood-brown, inclining a little to ochraceous,
with some small liver-brown spots on the breast and flanks. Inner wing coverts cinereous,
with small brown spots. Bill and legs black.
F orm, &c.—Typical. Wings. First quill feather the longest; second, third, and fourth
becoming in succession just perceptibly shorter; the fifth half an inch shorter than the
fourth; the second, third, and fourth sinuated exteriorly, and the tips of the secondaries
truncated and emarginated. Tertiaries long; one of them only a line or two shorter than
the fourth quill feather. Tail lengthened and emarginated: the middle pair of feathers
nearly a quarter of an inch shorter than the others. Tarsus much longer than the middle
toe. Toes slender ; hind toe a little shorter than the inner, which nearly equals the outer
one : the middle toe does not exceed these above a line and a half. Nails slender, subulate,
acute, and but slightly curved ; the hinder much the longest.
Dimensions. - , ,. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. # Length total . . . 7 0 Length of bill to rictus . 0 71 Length of middle toe . . 0 b
„ of tail . . 2 9 „ of bill above . 0 6 „ of middle nail . 0 3
1 of wing . . 3 4 „ oftarsus . . 0 10 „ ofhindnail . . 0 4%
* The Little Pennsylvanian Lark of Edwards is probably a variety of ours, in which “ the outer, feathers on each
side of the tail are white, and the two next to them have white tips. The under side, from bill to tail, is of a light
reddish-brown, with dusky spots.” In our bird, these spots are confined to the breast and flanks. His figure is poor.
That of Wilson is well drawn, but so inaccurately coloured, that, but for the description, we should have supposed it
represented a •f* The extennott hoefr t hspee ocibelsiq.—ueS bwr.own mark on the inner web of the outer tail feather varies in different specimens.