THE WOOD LARK 
ALAUDA ARBOREA 
Loca names in surrounding counties : 
Stratus 1N British Avirauna: A local resident in 
England, especially in the southern and midland counties ; 
very rare in Scotland, and exceptionally local in Ireland. 
Raprat DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: ‘There is much evidence to suggest that the 
Wood Lark was a by no means rare bird within the Metro- 
politan area years ago. Unfortunately the bird-catcher 
and the builder have both done their best to exterminate 
it, and itis doubtfulif there are any localities at all close to 
London which the Wood Lark frequents. It is sometimes 
met with at Wimbledon, and was found breeding at 
Kingston upwards of twenty years ago. It formerly 
frequented the Epping area, but seems to be extinct or 
nearly so there now, thanks entirely, very likely, to the 
persecution of bird-catchers. ‘There are many likely 
haunts for the Wood Larkin Surrey within our limits, and 
where the dry, sandy soil which the species seems every- 
where to desire is eminently suited to it, but I know of 
no place where the bird is at allcommon. It is excessively 
local nowadays everywhere in the Metropolitan area, 
but is of more frequent occurrence during autumn and 
winter, when the species is more addicted to wandering 
from its usual haunts. 
The habits of a species so rare within our limits require 
but little detailed notice in the present volume. ‘There 
is much in the ways of the Wood Lark (which may be 
readily recognised in the air by its short tail) resembling 
the habits of the ‘Tree Pipit. ‘The Wood Lark is by no 
means a bird of the open fields, but loves to resort to 
spots where trees are abundant, the well-timbered parks 
and pastures, the borders of woods and _ plantations. 
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