6o THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 

 Family ALAUDID/E. Genus Alauda. 



WOOD-LARK. 



Alauda arborea, Lhinceus. 

 Double Brooded, generally. Laying season, March to June. 



British breeding area : The Wcod-Lark is another 

 very local, if somewhat widely distributed, species. Its 

 principal breeding area in our islands is in the southern 

 counties, from Devon to Kent, and northwards to 

 Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk. North 

 of these limits it becomes more local and rare, but 

 probably breeds sparingly here and there, in suitable 

 localities, as far as the Lake District. It is only known 

 to have bred once in Scotland, in Stirlingshire, but 

 probably has been overlooked. Its distribution in 

 Ireland is very imperfectly known. 



Breeding habits : The favourite breeding-grounds 

 of the Wood-Lark are well-timbered districts, where the 

 soil is light, dry, and sandy. It is specially partial to 

 heaths and commons, to fields on the borders of woods, 

 and to parks ; but everywhere the presence of trees 

 seems essential to the Wood- Lark's requirements. The 

 parties of Wood-Larks that have lived together during 

 autumn and winter begin to disband early in spring, and 

 to separate into pairs for the purpose of reproduction. 

 The Wood-Lark appears to pair for life, and each season 

 returns to some chosen spot in which to nest. In March 

 the males may be seen toying with and chasing the 

 females ; and as soon as they have got back to their old 

 haunts, the cock-birds repair to their accustomed perch- 

 ing-places on the tree-tops, close to where the nests are 

 about to be made. The nest is almost invariably made 

 upon the ground (although Professor Newton has re- 



