Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME III.
GENUS I.--ALAUDA, Linn. LARK.
Bill rather short, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, straightish, acute;
upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the edges without notch,
the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex,
the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Head rather large; neck short;
body ovate. Legs of ordinary length, anteriorly scutellate; lateral toes nearly
equal, hind toe of moderate size, with a very long, tapering, acute, and nearly
straight claw. Plumage rather dense and compact. Wings of moderate length, the
second and third quills longest; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail of
moderate length, emarginate.