THE WOOD-LARK. 241 



. Woodweete is an old name for the wood-lark ; 

 and the woodwele of our old English writers is 

 also thought to signify this bird, though some 

 refer it to the thrush. In the old ballad of Kobin 

 Hood, we have — 



" The woodwele sang, and would not cease, 

 Sitting upon the spray, 

 So loud, he waken'd Robin Hood, 

 In the green-wood where he lay." 



The night-song of the bird is plaintive in its 

 tones, and a very melancholy little note, sounding 

 out softly the syllable " lu, lu, lu, lu," is also uttered 

 by the wood-lark ; hence Cuvier calls the bird the 

 lulu. As winter approaches, these larks associate 

 in small flocks, of ten or twelve in number, and 

 ramble over the fields for food, seeking there some 

 scattered gi-ain, or flower-seed, or the insects and 

 worms which lie hid among the clods and herbage. 

 The wood-lark is less general than the sky-lark, 

 though not uncommon in the southern and mid- 

 land counties, and the cultivated fields bordered 

 by woods or trees. In the northern countries of 

 Europe it is migratory, going southwards in win- 

 ter. It is much like the sky-lark, but smaller, 

 and may be distinguished from it by its shorter 

 K 



