71 



THE WOOD LARK. 



This bird bears so strong a resemblance 

 to the sky lark in its plumage, that it might 

 readily be mistaken for the same bird, did 

 not its form, which is shorter and thicker in 

 its proportions, with a shorter tail, sufficient- 

 ly distinguish it : in old birds, the cock may 

 be known from the hen by the superior depth 

 and brightness of its colours, the greater 

 length and size of his body, and more par- 

 ticularly by his song, the hen singing but 

 very little ; he may also be known by the 

 stateliness of his walk, the length of his 

 heel, the largeness of his wing, and by 

 his setting up the feathers on the top of 

 his head, which is flatter than that of the 

 female. When in the nest, it is much more 

 difficult to distinguish one from the other, 

 though the highest coloured and biggest 

 bird generally proves a cock ; this, how- 

 ever, is not of such consequence, as but 



