THE SWIFTS, WOODPECKERS, ETC. 189 



exceedingly rare in parts of Scotland and Ireland, and 

 most numerous in the south of England. It perches more 

 commonly, and its sweet song, little inferior to 

 that of the last, is heard both from its perch 

 and on the ground. The nest is a more elaborate estab- 

 lishment than that of the skylark, being usually made of 

 twigs and bents lined with grasses and hair. It is found 

 in similar situations. Eggs, 5, 4 inch ; greenish, with 

 reddish and violet spots. 



Crested Larh. — A rare straggler from the Continent, of 

 which seven examples only are authenticated — two in 

 Sussex, the rest in Cornwall. 



Short - toed LarJc. — A rare straggler from Southern 

 Europe, of which about eight have been taken in the 

 south of England and one in Ireland. 



White-ivinged Larh. — A rare straggler from Asia, one 

 example of which was taken many years ago near 

 * Brighton. 



The Shore-lark is a spring and autumn visitor on migra- 

 tion to and from the North. It is distinguished by its 



yellow throat, black crown and collar, and 

 § Shore-lark. , , , . n • 1 n ,^ 



black crest, and is rarely seen away irom the 



sea-shore, where it sings as it trips among the pools, look- 

 ing for molluscs. It has not yet been noticed in Ireland. 



CHAPTER 11. THE SWIFTS, WOODPECKEHS, 



ETC. 



[In this, the next order after the Passerine birds, we 

 have a somewhat motley group, their feet being the com- 

 mon point wherein most of them differ from the foregoing. 

 In some we find all four toes directed forward, enabling 



