204 THE LARKS 



us as a bird of passage from North Europe to countries south of our coasts. 

 Most of the records are for the east coast of England, a few for the east coast 

 of Scotland, even as far north as Fair Isle (Shetlands), and for the west coast of 

 England, and none as yet for the west of Scotland or for Ireland. With the west- 

 ward spread of the shorelark as a breeding species in Northern Europe, it has 

 become a more numerous migrant to the western countries. Thus on Heligoland 

 it was of rare and irregular occurrence previous to the considerable migration of 

 1847 ; since then it has become an abundant bird of passage (cf. Gatke, Heligo- 

 land as an Orn. Obs., 1895, pp. 363-368). Similarly, it had only been recorded a 

 few times in the British Isles until 1860. In that autumn a considerable immi- 

 gration took place, and since then the numbers, although fluctuating somewhat 

 from year to year, have gradually increased. The species may now be regarded 

 as an annual visitor to the eastern seaboard from Yorkshire to Kent (cf. Nelson, 

 B. of Yorks., 1907, pp. 259-261 ; ZooL, 1898, p. 115; 1900, pp. 101, 408; 1902, 

 p. 112; 1907, p. 136: Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, pp. 222-224; etc.). It is a 

 gregarious migrant : increasingly large parties are now recorded in England, 

 while enormous flocks sometimes pass over Heligoland. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not nest in the British Isles. 



5. Food. Seeds appear to be the main article of diet, but the bird also eats 

 insects, especially beetles, small crustaceans and molluscs, and other animal food. 

 [A. L. T.] 



6. Song Period. No record of its song in this country. 



The following species and subspecies are described in the supplementary chapter 

 on " Rare Birds " : 



Asiatic Skylark, Alauda arvensis cinerea, Ehmcke. 

 Crested Lark, Alauda cristata, Linnseus. 

 Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (Leisler). 

 White-winged Lark, Melanocorypha sibirica (Gmelin). 

 Black Lark, Melanocorypha yeltonensis (Forster). 



