242 WOODLARK. 



In summer the Woodlark inhabits the southern portions of Scan- 

 dinavia, and 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. 



The nest, rather firmly constructed of grass and a little moss, 

 with fine bents for a lining, is generally placed in a depression of 

 the ground, sheltered by a low bush or a tuft of grass, but some- 

 times in smooth turf. The eggs, 4-5 in number, often laid by the 

 middle of March, are white or pale greenish-white, finely spotted 

 and often boldly zoned with warm-brown and violet-grey : average 

 measurements "83 by '6;^ in. They are quite unlike Skylark's eggs, 

 resembling rather some varieties of those of the Crested Lark. 

 At least two broods are produced in this country, but on the Con- 

 tinent the bird does not appear to nest so early as with us ; while 

 in autumn young and old rove about in family parties. The food 

 consists principally of insects, supplemented by small seeds and ten- 

 der herbage. The sweet and flute-like song, fairly indicated by the 

 French name ' Lu-lu ' repeated several times, is very attractive, and 

 is uttered by day, and not unfrequently by night, almost throughout 

 the year, except during the moulting season ; the bird hovering in 

 the air and descending spirally with half-closed wings. 



The adult male resembles the Skylark in the general mottled- 

 brown colour of its upper parts and in its crest, but it may always 

 be distinguished from that species by its smaller size, much shorter 

 tail, more slender bill, and by a very broad bufifish-white stripe 

 which runs backward over each eye to the nape, and shows up the 

 dark ear-coverts ; the bastard primary is nluch longer, and there is a 

 conspicuous triangular patch of dark brown tipped with buffish- 

 white on the larger wing-coverts; the tail-feathers are chiefly brown- 

 ish-black with triangular white tips ; the throat and breast are 

 yellowish-white streaked with dark brown ; belly yellowish-white ; 

 legs and feet flesh-brown. Length 6 in. ; wing 3 "6 in. The female 

 is slightly smaller and shows less crest ; the young are more rufous 

 and have light buff tips to their feathers. 



