

THE WOUDLAEK. 



ALAUDA ARBOREA. 



Upper parts reddish brown, the centre of each feather dark brown ; a distinct 

 yallowish white streak above the eye passing to the back part of the head ; 

 lower parts yellowish white, streaked with dark brown ; tail short. Length 

 six inches and a half. Eggs greyish white, speckled and sometimes faintly 

 streaked with brown. 



The Woodlark is mucli less frequent than the Skylark, 

 and is confined to certain districts. It is distinguished by 

 its smaller size, short tail, a light mark over the eye, and 

 by its habit of perching on trees, where the Skylark is 

 never known to alight. It builds its nest very early in the 

 season, sometimes so soon as the end of March, and 

 probably rears several broods in the year, as it has been 

 found sitting as late as September. It is consequently 

 among the earliest songsters of the year, and among the 

 last to bid adieu to summer. It sings on until the occurrence 

 of severe frosts, and its note is among the sweetest and 

 most touching sounds of nature. The song, though of less 

 compass and less varied than that of the Skylark, is superior 



