144 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



Were it otherwise, I feel sure they could never 

 encourage its destruction, for the love of birds is 

 too strongly implanted in most of the English 

 people to sacrifice so sweet a songster to satisfy 

 so disgusting a vice as gluttony. Many a pipit 

 and many a woodlark is doubtless included in the 

 bag of the hedge-potterer, who, prowling about 

 with his gun, shoots at anything and everything 

 which presents itself. Last winter I encountered 

 one of these loafers proudly carrying a large 

 bundle of skylarks, which he was doubtless taking 

 to the nearest poulterer's shop. 



The song of the woodlark equals, if it does not 

 excel, that of the skylark, although it is a consider- 

 ably smaller bird, being nearly an inch shorter.* 

 It may be distinguished from the skylark by its 

 habit of perching on trees, as also by its flight 

 when it soars. The skylark flies straight up into 

 the air or waves to and fro, whereas the woodlark 

 mounts in circles. The skylark never perches, 

 for the best of all reasons, viz., that it cannot, its 

 hinder toe being too straight to admit of its so 

 doing. 



The pipits and larks are so similar in plumage 

 as to be frequently mistaken. It may be of 

 service to some of my readers if I briefly ex- 

 plain how they may be readily distinguished. 



Referring to Colonel Irby's list of British birds, 

 I find that there are no less than seven varieties 

 of pipits included. Of this number, two, viz., the 

 * At times it also sings by night. 



