330 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



Length 7-] in. ; tail reaches 4- 1. beyond the closed 

 wings ; hind toe 1 in., of which the claw is often 6 1. ; 

 colour above rusty grey, with dark spots, below rusty 

 white, with black spots on the breast ; the outer tail 

 feather white at the tip. 



A very early spring migrant to this country, and met 

 with during the summer throughout the whole of Scan- 

 dinavia nearly to the North Cape. I believe a few remain 

 in Scania throughout the winter, if the weather be open. 



123. A. CEISTATA, L. Toffs Larka. The Crested Lark. 



D. F. 



Resembles the skylark in appearance, but is plumper, 

 and has a shorter tail ; legs flesh-coloured ; eye red- 

 brown ; colour paler than in the last, more grey, and 

 without the pure black spots ; tail rusty yellow, instead 

 of white, and the under wings and sides are red-yellow, 

 which distinguishes the bird at a glance ; crest on the 

 head thin and pointed. 



Most probably breeds sparingly in Sweden. I have shot 

 both old and young birds in the south in autumn, but they 

 are rare. Has only once been killed in Finland. 



124. A. AEBOEEA, L. Trad Larka. The Woodlark. D. F. 



Smaller and shorter than the skylark ; tail shorter, 

 reaches only ^ in. beyond the closed wings ; hind toe 

 71.; claw about 4 1. 



Breeds in the southern and midland districts, but every- 

 where sparingly. "Wright mentions a curious fact, that early 

 in every spring they are seen near Helsingfors, in South 

 Finland, for eight to fourteen days, when they disappear; 

 nobody knows where they go to, nor are any seen again in 

 the autumn. 



The short-toed lark, A. J}rachydactyla } Gould, has not as 

 yet been identified in Scandinavia. This is, however, very 

 likely to be confounded with the woodlark, but the short 

 hind claw, scarcely one- fourth of an inch, the shorter front 

 toes, and the second wing feather being longest (in the 

 woodlark the third is longest), are marks of distinction. 



