WOODLAKK. 627 



since trees of this kind cannot have been planted there for 

 much more than a century, and the bird, though seldom 

 using them as a perch, is scarcely ever to be seen far from 

 them. Montagu remarked that it was more common in 

 Devonshire than in any other part of England, and especially 

 so in winter, thus indicating that the species sought southern 

 quarters at that season, as has since been proved to be the 

 case, for though not numerous enough to form anything like 

 the enormous hosts that the Skylark does, Mr. Knox has 

 noticed it congregating during severe frosts in vast flocks on 

 the coast of Sussex, and in the cold winter of 1866-67 espe- 

 cially these flocks seem to have been exceptionally large both 

 in that county and in Kent (Zool. s.s. pp. 705, 756, 792). 

 But however diversified are the Woodlark's habits, all 

 observers will agree in admiration of its song. Though its 

 voice has neither the variety nor the power of the Skylark's, 

 it is superior to that in quality of tone, and by many people 

 preferred accordingly. The duration of each song is longer 

 even than in the Skylark, and the Woodlark sings for quite 

 as many months in the year indeed the period of moult^ 

 ing seems to be the only time when it is absolutely silent. 

 Sometimes uttered from a perch on the upper branches of 

 a tree, its soothing notes never sound more sweetly than 

 while the performer is mounting in the air by wide circles, 

 or having attained the summit of its lofty flight is hanging 

 almost stationary overhead. Yet the strain which accom- 

 panies the spiral descent is hardly inferior and the quavering 

 call-note of both sexes is equally musical. There is also a 

 plaintive character in the song of the cock, which is second 

 only to the Nightingale's and, like that bird's, is said also to 

 be heard in hot summer-nights as 



" High in air, and pois'd upon his wings, 

 Unseen, the soft, enamour'd Woodlark sings." 



The nest is built in a depression of the ground, sheltered 

 by a low bush, or a tuft of grass ; or if the herbage be scanty, 

 as it often is in places frequented by the bird, wherever the 

 bents grow thickest ; but it may be placed on turf that is as 



