122 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 

 yellowish 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 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 ' lulu ' , 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 lulu 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 w'hite ; abdomen white. Length nearly seven inches. 

 Eggs greyish white, spotted with pale blue and brown. 



The Shore Lark, like the last, is a \'ery rare visitor of Britain, 



