AI.AUDID-^.. 



239 







THE SKYLARK. 



Alauda arvrxsis, Linnaeus. 



This favourite songster is of general distribution tliroughout 

 the British Islands, being especially abundant in the vicinity of 

 arable or pasture land. A considerable emigration takes place 

 from the northern districts in autumn ; and at that season the Hocks 

 of our home-bred birds are augmented by hordes from the Con- 

 tinent, which are sometimes observed arriving on our east coast 

 for days in succession ; while in Ireland a similar invasion from 

 England takes place. 



The Skylark only breeds in small numbers in the Faeroes, 

 although large bands visit that group of islands in autumn. In 

 Scandinavia it nests as far north as lat. io'\ but is comparatively 

 rare beyond the Arctic circle : while eastward it is found, in suit- 

 able localities, across Russia, Siberia, and Asia generally north of 

 the Himalayas, as far as the coast of the Pacific, the Kuril and 

 other islands, and Japan. In winter it visits China. North-western 

 India, Afghanistan, Persia, Asia Minor, Palestine and Egypt. 

 During the summer it is found throughout Europe, though com- 

 paratively few breed in the southern portions of the Spanish Penin- 

 sula, where it has been noticed that the examples resident on the 

 higher grounds are rather dark in colour. In autumn a general 



