WOODLARK. 125 



on board the Royal Mail Steamer Ulster, and remained 

 on board for a short time; and again when, in company 

 with Rev. J. Hoffe, of Arklow, we visited Ovoca on the 

 invitation of a gentleman resident. There we saw 

 three Woodlarks, and were told that they frequented 

 the locality, and had been singing throughout October. 

 Observations, however, of this bird seem to be few and 

 far between. At Ovoca, indeed, Mr. Lamprey reports 

 that it has been heard singing ; and Dr. Burkitt has 

 noticed it in the neighbourhood of Waterford. Mr. 

 Thompson states that in Antrim and Down it only 

 frequents districts where the soil is warm and the 

 country well wooded and cultivated ; in such localities 

 the Woodlark may be heard singing, chiefly in the 

 morning, from September until June. 



The Woodlark sings either perched on a tree or 

 hovering in the air. Mr. Selby states that it remains 

 for an hour on the wing; but Bechstein asserts that it 

 is often for hours in the air. The ascent is made in 

 circles, and not in spirals, like that of the Skylark, nor 

 does the Woodlark mount so high, although it remains 

 much longer aloft. 



The nest, we are told, is the centre of the circles the 

 Woodlark describes, warbling all the while its sweet, 

 soft song, which, more continuous than the Skylark's, 

 has all the richness of the Blackcap's. The French 

 name, lulu, is supposed to resemble the most frequently 

 recurring syllables in this song, which, uttered as it is 

 sometimes in the stillness of the night, whilst the bird 

 unseen floats high above the earth, sounds almost like 

 heavenly music. 



The Woodlark may readily be distinguished from the 



