Wood-Lark. 185 



72. WOOD-LARK (Alauda arborea). 



In France, Alouette lulu ; in Germany, Baumlerche ; in Sweden, 

 Trad Ldrka, ' Tree Lark ;' in Malta, CiuJdaita, or ' Rattle ;' in 

 Portugal, Cotovia pequena, 'the Lesser Lark.' Very like its 

 congener, but considerably smaller, with, a shorter tail, and a 

 white line over the eye and round the back of the head, this 

 species is sparingly scattered through the county, frequenting 

 woods, as its name implies, and singing sweetly while perched 

 on some tree as well as while sailing about on the wing : indeed, 

 it has generally the reputation of excelling the Skylark in song, 

 though I am scarcely willing to allow this. Montagu was the 

 first to call attention to the fact that, with the hedge warbler, 

 redbreast, missel thrush, and throstle, it will frequently sing in 

 frosty weather after Christmas if the weather is bright in midday, 

 and, he adds, all these birds are early breeders. It is a permanent 

 resident with us, and in food and nesting closely resembles the 

 preceding. I have before me many notes of its occurrence from 

 various localities both in North and South Wilts, proving that it 

 is generally distributed throughout the county. Mr. Morres 

 relates what, I think, is very unusual, that a flock of sixty was 

 seen in a wheat stubble near Lord Nelson's seat at Trafalgar, and 

 that nine of them were caught by a bird-catcher. 



EMBERIZIM: (THE BUNTINGS). 



Members of this family may at once be distinguished from all 

 others by a hard, bony, oblong knob in the upper mandible, 

 which is narrow and smaller than the lower one. They are 

 somewhat clumsy in form, with large heads and short necks, and 

 heavy in flight ; they eat grain and seeds in the winter, but in 

 the summer insects and their larvse form no small portion of 

 their food. Our English word 'Bunting' means, according to 

 Professor Skeat, ' one that pokes his head forward,' the old word 

 luntin signifying ' short,' ' thick,' ' plump,' which is sufficiently 

 descriptive of the short neck of members of this family. 



