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the nest was not far distant." Magnus von Wright records the occurrence of one near 

 Helsingfors, in Finland, on the 27th of March, 1851; and Professor Malmgren informs me. 

 that one was shot near Wyburg on the 27th of January, 1870 ; but it does not inhabit Northern 

 Eussia. I have observed it in the Baltic Provinces, where, however, it is not common. In 

 Germany, Naumann records it as "far more abundant in the southern portion than in the 

 north, and not equally distributed, being far more numerous in some than in other districts. 

 In Holstein, Prussia, and Livonia it is not very common, in Anhalt, however, one of the most 

 abundant of the birds found there. Many remain over winter on the Main and Rhine, in 

 Franconia and Thuringia, arriving there in October and November, and leaving early in the 

 spring. In the north of Germany they are resident, only wandering to a certain extent in 

 small companies or pairs, being found in November and December, where they do not occur at 

 other seasons of the year. Old pairs breed year after year at the same place. Like the 

 Sparrows they affect the neighbourhood of habitations, and frequent public roads." Mr. A. 

 Benzon, of Copenhagen, informs me that " it occurs but rarely in Denmark, and is met with 

 now and then, especially during the winter, on roads, in villages, and amongt farm buildings. 

 In habits it differs considerably from the Sky-Lark, and does not, like this, rise singing into the 

 air, but sits twittering in a rut ; and when a cart or carriage approaches it flies off to a short 

 distance, and settles again, singing, and performs this manoeuvre several times in succession. 

 In general it is not shy. I do not know if it breeds in Denmark ; but I have eggs from the 

 peninsula, which are said to be those of this bird ; and Fischer thinks that it breeds there 

 occasionally." In Belgium, Baron de Selys-Longchamps writes, it is " rare during passage, and 

 occasionally breeds near Ostend;" but, as I am informed by Mr. H. M. Labouchere, "it is com- 

 paratively common in Holland, where it breeds, and may be seen the whole year through. It 

 seems, nevertheless, to be confined to certain localities, the villages on the coast appearing to be 

 its favourite places of resort ; but the greatest number of these birds I have ever seen was near 

 the town of Kuilenburg, on the river Leek, where they seemed to be the only birds in the 

 neighbourhood ; there I saw hundreds of them in the ploughed fields just outside the town, as 

 well as on the tops of the houses, and even on the telegraph-wires bordering the railway." 

 De la Fontaine, in his work on the fauna of Luxemburg, writes that " its range appears to be 

 restricted to the dark soil, it being most numerous between Arlou and Thionville, and at 

 Echternach ; but it is nowhere so common as in the neighbourhood of Luxemburg." In France 

 MM. Degland and Gerbe state that it is abundant and resident throughout the country. It 

 never assembles in flocks like the Sky-Lark, and prefers fields near roads, along which it is often 

 to be seen, especially in winter, seeking for food in the horse-dung. It is not such good eating 

 as other species of Lark ; but it is much sought after by bird-catchers, owing to its facility for 

 learning and repeating notes whistled to it. To this De la Fontaine adds that it survives the 

 loss of its liberty but a short time ; but Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye state that it is 

 common in the south of France, and supports captivity quite well, they having known caged 

 individuals live twelve and fifteen years. It is common in Portugal ; and Dr. E. Key writes to 

 me that he found it inhabiting different localities from those it affects in Eastern Europe, viz. 

 plains far distant from human habitations ; but, on the other hand, Mr. Gervase F. Mathews, 

 Pi. N.. informs me that " it occurs commonly near all the small villages I have visited in the 



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