ALAUDID^E. 101 



snow, we saw thousands of Larks flying out to sea from the coast between Dawlish and 

 Teignmouth ; and when heavy snow had fallen on lilsL December, 18'JU, multitudes were 

 seen arriving from the east ail over the south of Devon, flying in a continuous stream 

 for several hours, with Kedwings, Fieldfares, Starlings, and Lapwings, towards the 

 south-west. 



Some of the Larks that come to us in winter are of very much smaller size than our 

 resident birds, and probably come to us from Germany. A white specimen was in tlie 

 possession of Mr. Prideaux, of Plymouth (E. M., Trans. Plym. Inst. 183U). A similar 

 specimen was shot at Topsham, October i9th, 1847, and is low in the A. M. M., where 

 there is also a buff variety, shot at Hoopern, Exeter, February 3rd, 18lj(3, and Mr. Henry 

 Nicholls also has a buif specimen. There is a melanie variety in Mr. Byne's collection 

 from Devon, and we have recently seen a "Black Lark" in a cage at Littleham, near 

 Exmouth, which was reared from a nest found tliere. Another very d.irk-coloured 

 individual obtained there has the quill-feathers of the wings and the tail-feathers all 

 white. 



Wood-Lark, Alauda arhorea, Linn. 



llesident; common in some woodland districts in the county. Thi.s 

 bird is easily overlooked, even where it is numerous, by those who are 

 unacquainted with its note. It is more often heard than seen, and is an 

 excellent ventriloquist. Specimens are difficult to procure, except in 

 winter, whea Wood-Larks are to be found in small hocks. When mi- 

 grating it is found on high rough ground. Montagu considered the 

 AVood-Lark more common in Devonshire than in any other part of England, 

 and especially so in winter (Orn. Diet., Suppl.). lireeds. 



This species is rather local at Plymouth, but a few may be seen near their 

 favourite haunts throughout the year. During severe storms in winter^ 

 however, great numbers appear on the sea-coast in small parties, or pair^, 

 from the east (J. G., Zool. 18G7, p. 3050 ; 1872, p. 3258 j. Woodlarks were 

 more plentiful than Sky-Larks under the northern slopes of Dartmoor in 

 October 1873, little parties being seen in almost every held (M, A. M., Zool. 

 1874, p. 382.5); and on 1st October in that year they were plentiful at 

 Tiverton (J. G., Zool. 1873, p. 3785). The Wood-Lark is not unfrequentiy 

 heard near Teignmouth (W. li. H. J., Trans. Devon. Assoc, vi. p. 70); 

 breeds in the neighbourliood of KingsbriJge (R. P. N., MS. Notes) ; and 

 occurs in a small wood near Topsham. A buff-coloured specimen was 

 shot near Crediton in August 1851 (W. T., 'Naturalist,' 1852, p. 19). 

 Interesting observations on the habits of this bird are to be found in 

 Bellamy's ' Nat. Hist. S. Devon,' p. 38-1. 



The high price to be obtained by bird-catchers for Wood-Larks — we 

 have known cocks in good song fetch 15*., and even a guinea, each — has 

 led to the extermination of this delightful songster in several places in 

 the West of England. When we lived in North Devon it was a very 

 common bird, and was never far away from our house at any time of the 

 year. Wo have had it nest in our strawberry-bed, and ou all line days 

 could hear its delightful song. Wo once heard it singing througliout a 

 cold March night. Every now and then there would be a sijuall of hail, 

 when the little songster would 1)e hushed, but directly the moonlight 

 shone out again the clear notes rang once more througli the night. In the 



