i88 The Wood-Lark 



Family^ ALA UDID. F. 



The Wood-Lark. 



Alaitdn ar/iorca, LlNN. 



" T N summer the Wood-Lark inhabits the southern portions of Scandinavia, and 

 I Russia below about 60° N. lat., as far east as the Ural Mountains, while 

 in Northern Germany it is common. Southward, it is found in places 

 suited to its habits — especially in Central France — down to the Mediterranean, 

 Black and Caspian Seas ; its numbers being increased by accessions from the 

 north in winter, at which season it also visits Northern Africa and Palestine, and 

 in the latter it is said to breed on the high ground. "^ — Iloivard Saunders. 



In Great Britain the Wood-Lark is by no means a common bird, and is very 

 local in its distribution ; occurring chiefly on undulating sandy or chalky soil 

 dotted about with small woods, copses, or plantations. It is most frequently to be 

 met with in suitable localities in the southern counties of England and Wales ; 

 six specimens have been obtained on the Scilly Islands ; but has, from time to 

 time, occurred in most of the northern counties. In Scotland it is very scarce, 

 but has once been stated to have bred in Stirlingshire. A few appeared from 

 early in November to about the middle of December, on Fair Isle, in 1906. In 

 Ireland it is principally confined to the east and south. 



In general colouring the Wood-Lark nearly resembles the Sky-Lark, but can 

 always be distinguished both when perching and on the wing by its short tail. 

 It is also smaller and has a more slender bill ; the bastard primary is much 

 longer ; the blackish centres to the feathers of the iipper surface are wanting on 

 the rump and upper tail-coverts, the primary-coverts have white tips ; central tail- 

 feathers reddish-brown, with dusky centres, outermost feather brown, the outer web 

 dusky at the tip, the inner web with a broad black patch ; remaining feathers 

 blackish, with terminal triangular white spots; a broad buffish-white superciliary 

 stripe extending backwards to the nape ; ear-coverts rufous, with darker upper 

 margin ; cheeks and throat whitish, becoming distinctl}' yellowish-buff on the 

 breast and abdomen ; flanks brownish ; throat narrowly streaked with black ; 

 breast and flanks broadly streaked ; bill dark brown above, paler below ; feet light 



