Gen. Pyrrhulauda, A. Smith.

Char. - Bill short, very stout, sides compressed ; 'tip entire ; culmen strongly arched ; commissure straight; wings moderately long, broad, and well developed, and the tertiaries lengthened ; first quill very small, the four next equal and longest; tail moderate, slightly forked ; tarsus short; toes small; hind claw slightly lengthened and curved.

This genus of small Larks was formerly classed among the Finches by some naturalists. With much of the structure of the true Larks, it differs remarkably by its short stout bill; and the sexes differ in colour, the males having some large patches of black on their under parts.