ments. 



133 



in type. In some cases the brown spots are wanting and only a, few 

 underlying grey blotches are visible. Eggs closely resembling those of 

 Alcmcla arvensis and Antlms pratensis have been ascribed to this species, 

 perhaps through errors in authentication. 



In Great Britain the Woodlark is a very early breeder, and the eggs Breeding 

 of the first brood are generally found in the last week of March and the 

 first fortnight of April, but occasionally as early as mid March, both in the 

 south of England and in Wales; while eggs of later broods may be found 

 till late in June. In Germany most eggs are found between the beginning 

 of May and the end of June, but exceptionally earlier. A nest with 1 egg 

 is said to have been found in Oldenburg on Feb. 21, 1884, {Journ. f. Orn. 

 1886, p. 313), but this is scarcely credible. In central Spain Lilford found 

 fresh eggs about the beginning of May at 2000 ft., and in Corsica Whitehead 

 found many nests after May 13, but in Sardinia eggs may be found early 

 in April, and Kriiper took eggs of the Balkan race from April 25 to 

 June 14, but found most nests in the latter half of May, The hen sits 

 closely, and incubation lasts 14 — 15 days. 



Average of 100 eggs (46 by Rey and 54 by the writer) from Eng- Measure- 

 land, France, Holland and Germany, 21.12X15.59 mm., Max. 24X16.3 

 and 22 X 17.2 mm., Min. 18x15.2 and 20X14.5 mm. Corsican eggs 

 are generally large and light coloured. Average of 14 eggs, 21.45 X 16.01 

 mm.. Max. 24.2 X 16.3 mm., Min. 19.5 X 16 and 20.7 X 15.2 mm. Eggs 

 from the Balkan peninsula resemble those from Corsica. Average of 23 

 from Greece, 21.21 X 16.05 mm.. Max. 22.5 X 16.5 and 21.3 X 17.2 mm., 

 Min. 20.5 X 16.6 and 21.5 X 15.1 mm. Average weight according to Bau 

 (39 eggs), 153 mg., while Rey gives 156 mg. as the average of 46 German eggs. 



68. Skylark, Alauda arvensis L. 



Plate 16, fig. 1 — 5 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXVI, fig. 1, a — e. Hewitson, 

 I. Ed. I, pi. CXXXIX, fig. 1—3; II. Ed. I, pi. XXXVI, fig. 1, 2; III. Ed. I, 

 pi. XLV, fig. 1. Baedeker, Tab. 66, fig. 4. Taczanowski, Tab. LXII, fig. 1. 

 Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 15; id. Col. Fig., pi. 58. Frohawk, Br, Birds, II, 

 pl.^VIII, fig. 245—254. 



Nest: 0. Lee, IV, p. 22, 24. 



British Local Names^ Field Lark. Welsh: TJchedydd. Scotland: 

 Laverock. Gaelic: TJiseag. Manx: TJsliag y tappee. Erse: Fuiseog. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Skfivan point. Denmark: Sang- or Gra."- 

 laerke. Finland: Leivonen. France: Alouette des champs. Germany: Feld- 

 lerclie. Holland: Leeuiverik. Hungary: Mezei pacsirta. Portugal: Laverca. 

 Sweden: Sdngldrka. Spain: Alondra. 



