WOODLAEK SHORE LARK. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, worms ; in winter, 

 seeds and the like. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In natural depression in the ground, in cart-rut, &c. 

 Always well sheltered by growing herbage. 



Materials. Dry grass, bents, and moss, lined with fine grass, 

 fibres, and hair. 



Eggs. Four to five. Dull white, thickly mottled and clouded 

 with olive-brown ; often zoned ; variable. 



WOODLAEK (Alauda arbor ea). 



Kesident. Much rarer and more local than the last. Found 

 principally in the South and West of England and Wales ; rare 

 in Scotland and Ireland. 



Haunts. Well-timbered districts. 



Plumage. In general appearance like a lesser Skylark with 

 a shorter tail and much more striking eye-stripe. Upper parts 

 reddish brown, with blackish brown centre to each feather; 

 yellowish white streak over eyes ; under parts yellowish white, 

 streaked with dark brown. Conspicuous dark brown patch, 

 tipped with buffish, on the great wing-coverts. Bill dark brown 

 above, paler below. Legs light horn-brown. Length 6^ in. 

 Female, slightly smaller. Young, rather more rufous above, and 

 feathers tipped with buff ; yellower below, and more spotted. 



Language. Song resembles the last somewhat, but sweeter 

 and more flute-like in tone and not so powerful. 



Habits. It sings whilst soaring, but does not usually soar 

 so high as the last. It ascends in a series of circles. It also 

 sings from a tree-top. Although fond of perching, it obtains 

 most of its food and builds its nest on the ground. 



Food. Like the last. 



Nest. March onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In slight depression in the ground, under a bush, or, 

 sheltered by growing herbage, in tussock of grass. 



Materials. Dry grass, bents, and moss, lined with finer 

 grass and a little hair. 



Eggs. Four to five. Greenish or buffish white, spotted and 

 freckled with reddish brown and brownish lilac, and purplish 

 grey under-markings. Always more ruddy than Skylark's. 



SHOEE LAKE (Otocorys alpestris). 



An irregular winter visitor. 



Observation. Distinguish at once from other Larks by black 

 lores and band on chest. 



Plumage. Band on crown, erectile tuft of feathers, lores, 

 and cheeks, and band on chest black. Forehead, throat, and 



