176 ALAUDA ARBOREA. 



reddish-brown, on the fore part of the back brownish-red, all 

 the feathers with a narrow brownish-black central spot towards 

 the end, excepting those of the rump and the upper tail- coverts. 

 The quills are chocolate-brown, edged and tipped with light 

 reddish-brown ; the larger coverts darker, tipped with pale 

 brown, as are the larger small coverts, so that there are two 

 rather conspicuous bands on the wing. The tail feathers are 

 blackish-brown, the central broadly edged with reddish-brown; 

 the outermost with an oblique terminal space of brownish- 

 white, and the three next on each side having a triangular spot 

 of white at the tip. The hind part of the neck and a band 

 over each eye, are yellowish-white ; the ear-coverts reddish- 

 brown tinged with dusky. The fore part of the neck is reddish- 

 white having a tinge of yellow, its sides more deeply tinged 

 with red, all, excepting a small part of the throat, streaked with 

 narrow oblong brownish-black spots, as is a portion of the 

 breast. The rest of the lower parts yellowish-white. 



Length to end of tail 6j^ ; extent of wings 12^ ; bill along 

 the ridge /g, along the edge of lower mandible |f ; wing from 

 flexure 8^^ ; tail 2j% ; tarsus i§ ; first toe j%, its claw ^^ ; 

 second toe j^, its claw ^^ ; third toe /j, its claw /^ ; fourth 

 toe ^1, its claw f |. 



Female. — The female differs very little from the male in 

 external appearance, the dark markings however being gene- 

 rally larger, and the lower parts less tinged with yellow. 



Length to end of tail 6 inches ; extent of wings 12. 



Habits. — The Wood Lark is met with chiefly in the southern, 

 western, and midland districts of England, being of rare occur- 

 rence in the northern parts of that country, and not having 

 hitherto, I believe, been observed in Scotland. It is a permanent 

 resident, and in winter generally appears in small parties, which 

 search the fields for insects, larvae, and seeds of various kinds. 

 Its mode of progression on the ground, and its ordinary flight, 

 are similar to those of the Sky Lark ; it reposes at night in 

 the fields or pasture grounds ; but by day it frequently perches 

 on trees or bushes. In time of snow, it betakes itself to marshy 



