WOOD LARK. 7 
to exceed five in number, vary as much in general colour and 
markings as the Tree Pipit’s and quite baffle verbal description. 
I found three in a nest two years ago, altogether dusky in general 
hue and so dark that I can hardly use the word brown in describ- 
ing the shade; while generally “dark grey” and “ash brown” 
will succeed in conveying an idea of the mottlings characterising 
the egg. Besides which, by no means a small proportion of a 
large collection of Sky Lark’s eggs will always be found to show 
a prevailing tinge of green in the surface colourmg. The Lark 
is a very faithful mother, and will not easily be induced to leave 
her nest; and even when the nest has become quite untenable 
longer, from any cause, the parent birds have been known to 
-move both eggs and young to a safer place, by grasping them 
with the long prehensile claws of their feet.—J%g. 24, plate ILI. 
88. WOOD LARK—(4lauda arborea). 
The Sky Lark is seen everywhere; on the moors here in 
small parties, on the Saltings in Essex and other southern 
counties, in our meadows and corn-fields all over the kingdom. 
The Wood Lark, on the other hand, is strictly local, though 
sufficiently abundant where it does occur. I knew, in one case, 
where a shot was fired at a lot. of Larks in the snow, that out 
of five or six which were killed all but one proved to be Wood 
Larks. So local is it, that though I have been a resident in 
Hssex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Berwickshire, and 
Yorkshire, as well asa visitor in other counties, I have never 
lived among or near its haunts, saving only in the western-most 
county named. The nest is formed on the ground, usually well 
concealed by grass or a neighbouring scrubby bush, is composed 
of dry grass and moss, and lined with fibres and a few hairs. The 
eggs are four or five in number, of a lighter ground-colour (but 
