123 THE SHORE LARK 
folds its wings, drops like lead to the ground, and, crouching among 
the herbage, often escapes detection. 
THE WOODLARK 
ALAUDA ARBOREA 
Upper parts reddish brown, the centre of each feather dark brown ; a distinct 
ellowish white streak above the eye passing to the back part of the head ; 
ower parts yellowish white, streaked with dark brown; tail short. 
Length six inches and ahalf. Eggs greyish white, speckled and sometimes 
faintly streaked with brown. 
THE Woodlark is much less frequent than the Skylark, and {is 
confined to certain districts, also it is only resident northwards 
up to Stirling. 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 in liquidness of tone, and is thought to resemble the 
syllables ‘ Zulu’, by which name the bird is known in France. When 
soaring it may be distinguished from the Skylark not only by its 
song, but by its ascending in circles, which it describes, poets tell 
us, and perhaps correctly, with its nest for a centre. Sometimes, 
especially during sunshine after a summer shower, it alights on 
the summit of a lofty tree, to ‘unthread its chaplet of musical 
pearls’, and its simpler Ju/u notes may be heard as it flies from 
place to place while but a few feet above the surface of the ground. 
In autumn, Woodlarks assemble in small sociable parties (but not 
in large flocks), and keep together during the winter. Early in 
spring these societies are broken up into pairs, and the business of 
the season commences. The nest is composed of bents and a little 
moss, and is lined with finer grass, and, though built on the ground, 
is generally concealed with more art than that of the Skylark, 
the birds availing themselves of the shelter afforded by a bush or 
tuft of grass. 
THE SHORE LARK 
OTOCORYS ALPESTRIS 
Throat, forehead, and ear-coverts yellow; over the forehead a black band ; 
lore, moustache, and gorget black ; upper parts reddish brown; breast 
and flanks yellowish white ; abdomen white. Length nearly seven inches, 
Eggs greyish white, spotted with pale blue and brown. 
THE Shore Lark, like the last, is a very rare visitor of Britain, 
