276 INSESSORES. ALAUDA. WOOD-LARK. 



WOOD-LARK. 



ALAUDA ARBOREA, Linn. 

 PLATE L. FIG. 2. 



Alauda arborea, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 297. 3 Gmel Syst. 2. p. 793. 



Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 492. sp. 3. Raii Syn. p. 69. A. 2. Will 



p. 149. t. 40 Briss. 3. p. 340. t. 20. f. 1 

 Alauda nemorosa, Gmel. Syst, 1. p. 797- sp. 21. 

 Alauda cristatella, Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 2. p. 499. sp. 36. 

 Le Lulu, 1'Alouette des Bois, ou le Cujelier, Buff. Ois. v. 5. p. 74. and v. 5. 



p. 25 Id. PL Enl. v. 503. 



Alouette Lulu, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. v. 1. p. 282. 



Baumlerche, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 3. p. 781. 



Waldlerche, Meyer., Tasschenb. v. 1. p. 262. 



Wood-Lark, Br. Zool. No. 137 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 395. B. Will. (Angl.) 



p. 204.Lewin's Br. Birds, 3. t. 90 Lath. Syn. 4. p. 371. 3 Albin. 1. 



t. 42 Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 8 Wale. Syn. 2. t. 190 Mont. Ornith. 



Diet. v. 1 Bewick's Br. Birds, v. 1. p. t. 183 Shaw's Zool. v. 10. 



p. 506. t 47. 



THE Wood-Lark is, with us, by no means an abundant 

 species ; it is confined to the southern and western parts of 

 England ; and, according to MONTAGU, is most numerous in 

 Devonshire *. This bird is a delightful songster, surpassing 

 the Sky-Lark in the melodious richness, though not in the 

 variety of its notes. Its song is generally poured forth on 

 wing ; but it differs from the preceding in describing its 

 flight in widely extended circles, and will thus continue in the 

 air for a whole hour, singing without intermission. 



It sometimes also utters its song from the branch of a de- 

 cayed tree, but rarely upon the ground. It frequents culti- 

 Food. vated lands and corn-fields, feeding upon grain, various, 

 seeds, insects, and worms. It breeds very early, and eggs 

 Nest, &c. have frequently been found in its nest in the beginning of 

 April. This is placed on the ground, under the shelter of a 

 tuft of grass or low shrub ; and is formed of dry grasses and 

 stalks, lined with finer materials of the same kind, and usu- 

 ally with a few hairs intermixed. 



* A fine specimen of the Wood-Lark was killed near Twizell, on the 

 24th of November 1827. 



