252 WOOD- LARK. 



60' N. lat., as far east as the Ural Mountains; while it is common 

 in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. It is also found, in 

 places suited to its habits, in Switzerland, the P)Tenees up to 4,000 

 feet. Central Spain, and Southern Europe generally, to the Medi- 

 terranean, Black and Caspian Seas ; its numbers being increased 

 by accessions from the north in winter. At that season it also visits 

 Northern Africa and Palestine, while in the former, and probably 

 in the latter, it breeds on the high ground. 



The nest, rather firmly constructed of grass and a little moss, 

 with fine bents for a lining, is generally placed in a depression of 

 the ground, sheltered by a low bush or a tuft of grass, but sometimes 

 in smooth turf. The 4-5 eggs are said by Prof. Newton to be often 

 laid by the middle of March ; they are white or pale greenish-white, 

 finely spotted and often boldly zoned with warm brown and violet- 

 grey : average measurements "83 by ■63 in. They are quite unlike 

 eggs of the Sky-Lark, rather resembling some of those of the Crested 

 Lark. Two broods are produced in this country', but on the Con- 

 tinent the bird does not appear to nest so early as with us ; while 

 in autumn young and old rove about in family parties. The food 

 consists principally of insects, supplemented by small seeds and 

 tender herbage. The sweet and flute-like song, fairly indicated by 

 the French name " Lu-lu " repeated several times, is very attractive, 

 and is uttered by day — and not unfrequently by night^almost 

 throughout the year, except during the moulting season ; the bird 

 hovering in the air and descending spirally with half-closed wings. 

 This .species is partial to sandy or light soils, rough and barren hill- 

 sides sprinkled with bushes, sheep-walks, and stony table-lands. 



The adult male resembles the Sky-Lark in the general mottled- 

 brown colour of its upper parts, but it may always be distinguished 

 from that species by its smaller size, more pronounced crest, much 

 shorter tail, more slender bill, and by the very broad buffish-white 

 stripes which run backward over each eye to the nape, where they 

 join and show up the dark ear-coverts ; the bastard primary is much 

 longer than in the Sky-I^rk, and there is a conspicuous triangular 

 patch of dark brown tipped with bufifish-white on the larger wing- 

 coverts ; the tail-feathers are chiefly brownish-black with triangular 

 white tips ; the throat and breast are yellowish-white streaked with 

 dark brown; belly yellowish-white; legs and feet flesh-brown. 

 Length 6 in. ; wing 37. The female has shorter wings and shows 

 less crest ; the young are more rufous and have light buff tips to 

 their feathers. 



