SKY-LARK. 



273 



few of the birds alight here, the great majority pass down the coast at ouce. 

 I do not think the Sky-Lark flies very close to the sea when migrating, 

 for it is very seldom caught in the flight-nets." 



Probably some of these newly arrived birds drift inland at once ; but by 

 far the greater number continue their migrations, following the coast-line 

 to the south, and at many of the stations the stream of migratory birds 

 passing from north to south along the coast in autumn is greater than that 

 arriving from the east over the sea. The coast-line seems to be followed 

 for some distance, for at Brighton the migrations of Sky-Larks in October 

 is very remarkable, on account of its direction being exactly opposite to 

 that of the Greenfinches, Linnets, Redpoles, and other birds which cross 

 the Channel when the opposite coast can easily be seen. The Sky-Larks 

 and other birds coming into the country to winter all migrate from east to 

 west; the Linnets and other birds going out of the country after the 

 breeding-season is over all migrate from west to east. 



The typical form of the Sky-Lark in breeding-plumage has the general 

 colour of the upper parts brown ; the dark centres of the feathers are well 

 defined throughout ; the outside tail-feather on each side is entirely white 

 except the outside half of the inner web, and the next feather on each 

 side is only white on the outer web. The underparts are pale bufnsh white, 

 darkest on the breast, and the spots on the breast are very distinct. Bill 

 dark brown above, paler below ; legs, feet, and claws yellowish brown ; 

 irides hazel. The female resembles the male in colour. After the autumn 

 moult the general colour of the upper parts is rich buflish brown, the 

 underparts are suffused with pale olive-brown, and the throat is faintly 

 spotted. Birds of the year resemble adults, but have nearly white narrow 

 tips to the ends of the feathers of the upper parts. Young in first plumage 

 are spotted on the upper parts with black and buff, and the underparts are 

 creamy buff, profusely spotted with blackish brown, except on the centre of 

 the belly and under tail-coverts. The Sky-Lark may be distinguished by 

 its very small bastard-primary, well-developed hind claw, and spotted 

 breast. 



VOL. II. 



