86 BROWN BIRDS WITH SPOTTED BREASTS. 



unknown. It has been known to breed in Counties 

 Wicklow and Cork. 



Like its kinsman the Skylark, the Woodlark nests, 

 feeds, and sleeps on the ground, and there is little 

 in its motions or general appearance to enable it to 

 be distinguished upon cursory inspection from the 

 former bird. Closer attention, however, reveals in 

 the smaller bird a much shorter tail, a more con- 

 spicuous white eyebrow, and a rounded, instead of 

 an angular, elevated crest. Although the Woodlark 

 frequents grass and arable lands, it is a denizen of the 

 woodside, perching habitually upon some chosen tree, 

 and singing from its perch, or launching itself to 

 mount skywards, carolling like the Skylark. Its 

 manner of mounting, however, differs from that of the 

 latter bird in that it is characterised by wide circling 

 movements as the bird ascends. The song, too, 

 although a sustained carolling in both birds, is in the 

 case of the Woodlark less vehement, less checked by 

 certain harsher notes to be heard in the performance 

 of the Skylark, and is delivered at an inferior 

 altitude. 



SKYLARK 7 inches ; fainter eyebrow ; outer tail-feathers 

 white ; angular crest. 



TREE-PIPIT 6 inches ; seldom rises higher than forty feet 

 from its perching tree, then breaks back, singing, to its 

 perch. Outer tail-feathers white. 



MEADOW-PIPIT 5| inches; outer tail-feathers white; 

 wags its tail ; rarely perches on trees. Cry, ' Wheet ! 

 wheel ! ' Flight jerky and undulating. During song- 

 flight seldom ascends higher than fifty feet, after 

 which descends immediately, singing, to the ground. 



ROCK-PIPIT- 6i inches; exclusively a bird of the coast. 

 Flight and song-flight similar to those of Meadow- 

 Pipit. 



