CHAPTER XIII 



THE MIGRATIONS OF THE SKYLARK, ALAUDA ARVEA'SIS 



In the British Islands the Skylark is not only one of the 

 best known species, but also one which can be almost 

 always met with, so that comparatively few people 

 suspect the extent to which it is migratory, and fewer 

 still are aware that the complexity of its migrations 

 presents problems more difficult to solve than those of 

 any other British bird, the Starling alone excepted ; yet 

 this is undoubtedly the case. 



As a migrant, no species makes so great a show in 

 the returns from the light-stations, and the account 

 which follows is based upon upwards of Jive thousand 

 individual records. Yet within the British area the 

 Skylark is for the most part resident as a species, though 

 shifting its quarters when affected by frost or snow, as 

 is obvious to almost any observer. The degree to 

 which our native Skylarks are migratory depends on the 

 varying conditions of climate and food. In the lowlands 

 of Great Britain, especially in the south-west of England, 

 and throughout Ireland generally, the migratory habit is 

 less exercised, presumably because it is less necessary 

 there than elsewhere. On the other hand, there are 

 considerable tracts which, from their elevated, exposed, 

 or northerly situation, are not suited for winter residence, 

 and to these the Skylark is merely a summer visitor, as 



