94 



SPECIES 91 __ THE WOODLARK. 

 Alauda arbor ea. Linn. 

 Alouette lulu. Temm. 



THE WOODLARK, although indigenous, is found in so very 

 few localities that we might almost account it a rare bird, at 

 least from our observation in the eastern counties : a recent 

 specimen has never been observed by us. A resident in li- 

 mited numbers in some few counties, both north and south, 

 it has come under the notice of Mr. J. H. Lamprey in the 

 county of Wicklow, and has been repeatedly observed by that 

 gentleman in woods fringing the Vale of Ovoca, where it is 

 commonly observed whilst singing in its favourite position on 

 a branch, and is nearly as much appreciated by the people in 

 the vicinity for its song, as the better known species we have 

 described. 



In conversing with dealers of cage -birds, who are con- 

 stantly employed procuring song-birds of every species, they 

 all appear unacquainted with this individual. 



Although Rutty, in his History of the County of Dublin, 

 mentions the woodlark as a species found here, yet, in later 

 years, it has become exceedingly rare. 



Its habits are described as nearly similar to those of the 

 skylark, and its song, although not so diversified, as more 

 melodious : it is also continued a longer time, and the bird 

 perches indifferently upon bush or tree whilst singing. 



An allied species, the crested lark (Alauda crestata). is be- 

 lieved to have occurred in a single instance, at Taney, near 

 Dublin ; but the specimen was not preserved. 



Indigenous. 



GENUS XL VI. ANTHUS (PIPIT). 



SPECIES 92 __ THE MEADOW PIPIT. 



Anthus pratensis. Bechstein. 



Pipit farlouse. Temm. 



The Titlark. 



THE TITLARK, the most common and widely distributed of 

 its species, frequents the sea-shore and vicinity of mountains 

 in considerable numbers. 



Of the most unobtrusive plumage, we might suppose it a 

 species little known to the general observer, but it is gene- 

 rally successful in attracting notice from its peculiar habits. 

 The same either on the hill-side or on the sea- shore, the titlark, 



