In this family the hinder part of the tarsi is transversely scutellated, a character which separates it from all the other Passerine families. The bill has the edges of both mandibles smooth with a notch in the upper. The wing has either nine or ten primaries, the tail has twelve feathers; the plumage of the nestling is spotted below and barred above; the sexes are alike or nearly so; the head is usually crested and the hind claw generally long and rather straight; there is but one full moult, which takes place in the Autumn.
In their general superficial appearance the Larks are very like the birds of the genus Anthus in the preceding family, the Motacillidae.
Key to Genera.
A. Wing with nine primaries, the first reaching to about the tip of wing, a. A tuft of feathers springing from each side of the crown…………….Otocoris, p. 306.
b. No tuft of feathers.
a1. Inner secondaries reaching to tip of wing…………….Calandrella, p. 323.
b1 Inner -secondaries falling considerably short of tip of wing…………….Alaudula, p. 329.
B. Ten primaries, the first always very small.
c. First primary exceeding primary cov¬erts in length.
c1. Bill as long as head…………….Alaemon, p. 304.
d1. Bill much shorter than head.
a2. Nostrils not covered by plumelets…………….Mirafra, p. 333.
b2. Nostrils quite concealed by plumelets…………….Ammomanes, p. 349.
d. First primary not exceeding primary coverts.
e1 Crest absent, or short and covering whole crown.
c2. Hind claw long and straight.
a3. Wings long, reaching almost to tip of tail; inner secondaries falling short of tip of wing by more than length of tarsus…………….Melanocorypha, p. 311,
b3. Wings shorter, falling decidedly short of tip of tail; inner secondaries falling short of tip of wing by less than length of tarsus…………….Alauda, p. 314,
d2. Hind claw short and more curved…………….Pyrrhulauda, p. 353.
f1 A crest formed of a few long feathers springing from centre of
crown …………….Galerida, p. 342.
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