200 cassele's book of birds. 



perched amongst the branches of trees, from which peculiarity it derives its distinguishing name of 

 Wood Lark. The breeding season commences with the spring, and numerous and violent are the 

 battles between the male birds during this period of the year, for as their numbers usually exceed 

 those of the females, it is a matter of no slight difficulty for each to find a mate. This important 

 point, however, once settled, the males regain all their wonted gentleness, and confine their activity 

 entirely to rendering themselves agreeable to the partner they have obtained with so much courage 

 and perseverance. The nest, which is very compact and elaborate in its construction, is usually built 

 in the grass, often under the shelter of a pine or juniper tree, and is composed of dry blades of fine 

 grass. In shape, the little fabric resembles the half of a ball ; its interior is warmly and neatly lined 

 with soft materials for the reception of the eggs ; these are usually four or five in number, white, and 

 thickly strewn with grey or light brown markings (see Coloured Plate X., fig. 37). The female alone 

 broods, but she is carefully tended during her seclusion by her mate, who also assists in taking care of 

 the young, which are very soon capable of leaving the nest. No sooner is it vacated than another 

 brood replaces the first, and it is only when the work of incubation is fully accomplished that the 

 whole family unites to form a small flock, and fly about the country in search of food. During these 

 expeditions many visits are paid to newly ploughed or stubble fields ; and even during their autumnal 

 migration, which commences about the end of October, entire days are often spent in exploring such 

 spots in search of the precarious supply of seeds and insects, upon which they rely for food. These 

 migratory excursions frequently extend as far as Africa, but by February the birds are with us again, 

 and may be sometimes seen flying and singing cheerfully upon our mountains before the snow has 

 fully disappeared from the surface of the ground. The song of the Wood Lark is extremely beautiful, 

 and has inspired many eloquent writers with a theme ; indeed, the impression made upon the mind 

 of a traveller passing through the dreary plains inhabited by these birds, may well be of a most 

 enthusiastic description, when, amidst the deep silence that surrounds him, this glorious little songster 

 suddenly rises into the air, and commences pouring out an uninterrupted flow of exquisite music as 

 it soars above him for half an hour at a time. Those who have been fortunate enough to listen to 

 the Wood Lark in the stillness of the night, speak still more warmly of the effect its voice is capable 

 of producing. We would, however, by no means lead our readers to suppose that the song of this 

 bird can bear comparison with that of the Nightingale ; nevertheless, whilst the latter is only heard 

 during two months of the year, the former enlivens its native haunts from March to October, and, 

 when caged, sings with such unflagging zeal and spirit as to render it a great favourite with all who 

 have kept it in their aviaries. Large numbers of Wood Larks are captured by the mountaineers 

 during the night by means of nets spread over the ground ; few, however, survive captivity for moi e 

 than two or three years. 



THE SKYLARK. 

 The Skylark, or Field Lark (Alauda arvmsis), is distinguished from its congeners by the 

 slender formation of its body, its weak short conical beak, and its somewhat pointed wings, the third 

 quill of which is longer than the rest ; its tail, of moderate length, is slightly excised at the extremity, 

 and its delicate feet are furnished with somewhat short toes. The length of this species is about six 

 inches and three-quarters, its breadth twelve inches and a quarter ; the wing measures from three 

 to four inches, and the tail from two inches and a half to two and three-quarters. The colour of the 

 plumage is reddish brown upon the back, the under part of the body being white, the head distinctly 

 spotted with brown, and the sides marked with dark streaks ; the bridles and sides of the neck are 

 of a lighter colour than the rest of the feathers ; the exterior tail quills are white, as is the outer web 

 of the second quill ; the eye is reddish brown, the beak blueish grey, and the feet reddish grey. 



