FAMILIAR 



WILD_ B1EDS. 



THE WOODLAEK. 



Alciuda arlorea. 



HIS charming songster, although 

 neither so well known nor so 

 highly appreciated as its near 

 relative the Skylark, is never- 

 theless a most sweet and ac- 

 complished vocalist. By some 

 ardent admirers it is even con- 

 sidered second only to the 

 Nightingale, so plaintive, full, 

 and pleasing are the melodies 

 it utters. 



It is never found so abund- 

 antly as the Skylark, although 

 in hard weather the birds con- 

 gregate in flocks in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the sea-shore, roam- 

 ing about in search of food, and, 

 of course, offering irresistible 

 temptations to destroyers of 

 various sorts. They commonly 

 keep in parties varying from 

 three to twenty occasionally 

 single specimens are met with. 

 They may be easily recognised 



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