A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 31 



ALAUDA ARVENSIS 



62. Alauda arvensis arvensis L. — THE SKY-LARK. 



Alauda arvensis Linnaeiis, Syst. Nat. ed. x, i, p. 165 (1758 — " Habitat 

 in Europaj apricis." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 

 Alauda arvensis scotica Tschusi, Orn. Jahrb., xii, p. 162 (1903 — Scotland). 

 Alauda arvensis Linnreus, Yarrell, i, p. 614 ; Saunders, p. 249. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Common and generally 

 distributed but somewhat local in north-west parts of mainland 

 Scotland. Mam^ if not most, home-bred birds leave in autumn. 



Migrations. — British Isles. — Southward movement of breeding- 

 birds begins in Shetlands and Hebrides late Aug., continuing 

 to early Nov. ; many cross Channel ; others pass to Ireland. In 

 spring return migration along same routes from late Feb. to early 

 April. From late Sept. to early Nov. vast numbers from central 

 Europe arrive between Tees and Kent ; from north Europe through- 

 out Oct. and early Nov. in Shetlands, and east coast Scotland and 

 north-east coast England. Majority of central European birds 

 pass on, following route taken by our residents, while north 

 European birds form bulk of winter-residents, many crossing to 

 Ireland. Spring-emigration from Ireland along same lines from 

 mid-Feb. to late March. Our winter- visitors leave north-east 

 and east coasts for north and central Europe from late Feb. to 

 early April. During March return movement of " passage-birds " 

 observed. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Europe mth exception of south Italy 

 and south-east Europe, and Mediterranean islands, where it is 

 represented by a very closely- allied subspecies. Other allied forms 

 inhabit west Siberia and other portions of north and middle Asia 

 and north-west Africa. 



ascervs * 

 63. Alauda arvensis ciner^^ Ehmcke— THE EASTERN SKY- 

 LARK. 



Alauda cinerea Ehmcke, Journ. f. Orn., 1903, p. 149 (Bamoul in W. 



Siberia). 



Alauda arvensis cinerea, W. E. Clarke, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1906, p. 139. 



Distribution. — Scotland. — One Flannan Islands Light (0. 

 Hebrides) Feb. 24, 1906 {ut supra). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — West Siberia, Turkestan, and parts of 

 Persia. In winter farther south and as far west as Algeria. 



*6rlt.'^..lS:., ^.3 



