THE WOODLAKK. 315 



a striking resemblance to that bird in form and habits. The 

 upper mandible of the beak is black, the lower brown, and 

 both inclining to flesh colour at the tip ; the feet are flesh- 

 coloured, and three quarters of an inch in height. The top 

 of the head is reddish brown, marked with four blackish brown 

 streaks; and the plumage consists of long straight feathers, 

 which, when the bird is excited, erect themselves into a crest. 

 The base of this crest is surrounded by a whitish grey stripe, 

 which passes from one eye to the other. The temples are 

 brown ; the nape of the neck, and upper part of the back, are 

 reddish brown, with blackish brown spots ; the lower part of the 

 beak greyish brown. The throat and breast are yellowish white, 

 spotted with blackish brown ; the rest of the lower part of the 

 body, yellowish white. The wing coverts are dark brown, 

 edged with pale reddish brown ; and there is a white spot on 

 the shoulder, on the articulation of the wing, and on each of the 

 four first feathers. The pen feathers are dark brown, edged 

 with yellowish white on the lesser plume. The tail feathers 

 are broad and blackish brown ; the first and second are tipped 

 with white, and on each is a reddish white wedge-shaped 

 spot ; while the two in the centre, as well as the long upper 

 coverts, which reach almost to the end of the tail, are entirely 

 greyish brown. 



The female is a handsomer bird ; the ground colour of her 

 plumage is lighter, and the marks upon it darker, while the 

 breast is more thickly spotted, and the white line round the 

 crest more distinct. It may be remarked, that in all species 

 of Larks, those in which the ground colour of the plumage is 

 more decidedly white, and the spots more numerous, are 

 generally females. 



Habitat. The Woodlark is found in all the more temperate 

 countries of Europe, and in summer may be noticed in such 

 woods of coniferous and other trees as are occasionally broken 

 by meadows and fields. Except in the breeding season, it flies 

 in flocks of from ten to twelve. It is a bird of passage, taking 

 its departure in October, and returning in the beginning of 

 March. 



In confinement, the Woodlark sings better when allowed to 

 range the room than when kept in a cage. In any case it 

 ought to be plentifully supplied with river sand, both for 

 dusting, and to aid digestion. 



