The Skylark 



alike in plumage but the female is rather smaller. Bird- 

 catchers measure them from tip to tip of the expanded 

 wings, rejecting those which are under one foot, as females. 

 The young have the chin and throat unspotted, and have pale 

 edgings to the feathers of the upper parts. Length about 

 7 in. ; wing (of male) 4 to 5 in. 



THE WOOD LARK 



Alauda arborea, Linnaeus 



The Wood Lark is a much rarer bird than the Skylark, 

 and very local in distribution. Kows of trees bordering 

 open fields are the localities chiefly favoured by this species, 

 which, except that it frequently perches, and may often be 

 heard singing from the topmost branch of a tree, much 

 resembles its commoner congener in habits. It feeds almost 

 entirely on the ground, living chiefly on insects. The nest 

 is placed a few yards from the hedge and composed of 

 bents and grass, with a lining of finer materials. The eggs, 

 usually four in number, are of a creamy ground colour, very 

 thickly freckled with reddish brown markings. This species 

 may be most easily distinguished by its song, which is much 

 sweeter and fuller in tone than that of the preceding bird, 

 but lacks the power and exuberance. When rising from the 

 ground to sing, it always does so in a wide spiral curve, 

 differing in that respect also from the Skylark, which rises 

 straight. 



The sexes are alike in plumage and resemble the Sky- 



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