648 i The Sparrow-like Birds 



to the last that a separate description is not needed, the only essential difference 

 being its constantly smaller size. Its habits and song are also practically indis- 

 tinguishable. 



Wood Lark. Very similar to the Skylarks and formerly included with 

 them is the Wood Lark (Lullula arbor ea) of Europe and western Asia. The 

 sole tenant of its genus, it is simply a "lesser Skylark, with a shorter tail in 

 proportion to its body, and no apparent difference in color, except that the 

 spots on the breast and the pale streak over the eye are more conspicuous." It 

 also frequents much the same situations, being, however, partial to sandy locali- 

 ties and heaths, as well as wooded parks, the edges of woods and grassy fields, 

 where the trees and hedges are scattered about. It is a lively but rather shy 

 bird, and notwithstanding its name spends by far the larger portion of its time 

 on the ground, where it exclusively secures its food of seeds and insects. It 

 does, however, perch on trees and bushes, often having a favorite perch which 

 it frequents day after day while the young are being reared. It not infrequently 

 sings from a perch, or from it launches into the air to ascend in spirals to a con- 

 siderable height, giving forth a continuous stream of melody. Its song is so 

 similar to that of the Skylark that it is often mistaken for that bird, but it is 

 perhaps not so powerful, though sweeter and more flute-like in quality. It is 

 nowhere so abundant as the Skylark, in many parts of its range, as for instance 

 in the British Isles, being very locally distributed; nor is it so migratory, as it 

 only moves slightly to the southward. In winter they collect in small parties 

 during the severe weather, but on the advent of mild days these flocks break up 

 and re-form on the return of cold. The Wood Lark nests on the ground, plac- 

 ing its frail structure in a slight hollow by the side of a bush or tussock of grass. 

 The four or five eggs are whitish with numerous spots of reddish brown. It is 

 sometimes kept as a cage bird, though not so generally as its relative. 



Crested Larks. Resembling the members of "the last two genera in habits, 

 and to a large extent in appearance, are the Crested Larks (Ptilocorys), which 

 are distinguished from them at once by the larger and stronger bill, and the 

 presence of a conspicuous crest composed of a few feathers springing from the 

 middle of the crown. The few, perhaps half a dozen, species, range from 

 central and southern Europe to northern Africa, and eastward to central Asia, 

 India, and China, the best-known being the common Crested Lark (P. cristata). 

 A resident or a partially migratory species according to locality, it is a common 

 bird in many parts of continental Europe, but is only a rare straggler to the 

 British Isles. While traveling about, especially in spring, it is often seen in 

 flocks and is rather wild, but in its summer home it is one of the most confiding 

 and fearless of birds. Thus Mr. Dresser states that " when in southern Ger- 

 many and Hungary, where it is very common, I observed it on almost all the 

 highroads and in the streets of the small towns and villages, pecking amongst 

 the horse droppings almost as tamely as a London Sparrow. They appear very 

 fond of inhabited places and frequent highroads, seldom being found very far 

 from these, and when disturbed by a passing vehicle will either run on one side 

 and let it pass or fly on, again and again, as the traveler approaches them." 



