506 WOOD-LARK. 



ORIGINALLY described by Aldrovandus, who 

 tells us that it is not so brown as the Greater-crested 

 Lark, and the tuft on the head is larger in propor- 

 tion to the size of the bird, and that the legs are 

 red : all other authors have given the above de- 

 scription, from which it should appear that it can- 

 not be a species, as it could not well have passed 

 unnoticed so great a length of time as has elapsed 

 since Aldrovandus wrote. 



Colonel Montagu appears to think that it is 

 only an accidental variety of the Lesser Field Lark, 

 as in Harmonia Ruralis that bird is figured for the 

 one now under consideration ; and Dr. Latham 

 received a specimen of that bird from Yorkshire 

 under the name of Lesser-crested Lark. Dr. La- 

 tham informs us that it is said to fly in flocks, 

 contrary to the Greater-crested Lark, and that it 

 is for the most part met with in woods and thickets, 

 where it makes its nest : he also tells us that it is 

 found in Italy, Austria, Poland, and Siberia ; and 

 according to Mr. Bolton is abundant in Yorkshire, 

 but the latter fact cannot be substantiated, as it 

 is shewn above, that he has mistaken the Lesser 

 Field Lark for this bird. 



WOOD-LARK. 



(Alauda arborea.) 



AL. nigricante griseo ritfescenteque varia, capite mtta annulari 



alba cincto. 

 Lark varied with dusky, grey, and reddish ; the head with an 



annular stripe bordered with white. 



