Passeres 97 



or five eggs of a whitish ground-colour thickly dotted 

 with brown and grey. The Skylark is a great migrant 

 and is constantly seen passing backwards and forwards 

 to the Continent on passage, while it breeds throughout 

 the Palaearctic region (in several forms), and even 

 beyond the Arctic Circle northwards. 



The Wood-lark (Lullula arborea) is easily distin- 

 guished from the Skylark by its smaller size, short tail 

 and much broader buff streak over the eye, or at 

 a distance by its lighter appearance and somewhat 

 Chat-like movements. It does not frequent the interior 

 of woods, but is to be found on dry sunny fields or 

 banks on their outskirts, heaths and sandy places, 

 where it makes its nest in rather bare spots and lays 

 four or five eggs, generally with brighter markings than 

 those of its congener. They are small and vary con- 

 siderably in colour. The sweet song of reiterated notes 

 is uttered while the bird is hovering at a moderate 

 height in the air, or while sitting on the outer branch 

 of a tree ; it is very noticeable in autumn, as well as 

 spring, and would be more generally admired were the 

 songster not so local, for it is never abundant, though 

 found in small colonies in England, chiefly in the 

 eastern and southern districts, in Wales, and Wicklow 

 in Ireland. In Europe and north-west Africa this 

 species breeds in the temperate regions, as it does in 

 Persia and Transcaspia, but it is equally local or but 

 little commoner than with us, while it hardly changes 

 its quarters in Britain during the year. In Scotland the 

 Tree-pipit is often termed " Wood-lark," but the former 

 bird does not arrive till the latter has begun to breed, 

 while the habits, nest and eggs are quite unmistakeable. 

 The food is similar to that of the Skylark. 



E. B. 7 



