252 WOOD-LARK. 
60° N. lat., as far east as the Ural Mountains; while it is common 
in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. It is also found, in 
places suited to its habits, in Switzerland, the Pyrenees up to 4,000. 
feet, Central Spain, and Southern Europe generally, to the Medi- 
terranean, Black and Caspian Seas; its numbers being increased 
by accessions from the north in winter. At that season it also visits 
Northern Africa and Palestine, while in the former, and probably 
in the latter, it breeds on the high ground. 
The nest, rather firmly constructed of grass and a little moss, 
with fine bents for a lining, is generally placed in a depression of 
the ground, sheltered by a low bush or a tuft of grass, but sometimes 
in smooth turf. The 4-5 eggs are said by Prof. Newton to be often 
laid by the middle of March; they are white or pale greenish-white, 
finely spotted and often boldly zoned with warm brown and violet- 
grey: average measurements ‘83 by 63 in. They are quite unlike 
eggs of the Sky-Lark, rather resembling some of those of the Crested 
Lark. Two broods dre produced in this country, but on the Con- 
tinent the bird does not appear to nest so early as with us; while 
in autumn young and old rove about in family parties. The food 
consists principally of insects, supplemented by small seeds and 
tender herbage. The sweet and flute-like song, fairly indicated by 
the French name “ Lu-lu ” repeated several times, is very attractive, 
and is uttered by day—and not unfrequently by night—almost 
throughout the year, except during the moulting season; the bird 
hovering in the air and descending spirally with half-closed wings. 
This species is partial to sandy or light soils, rough and barren hill- 
sides sprinkled with bushes, sheep-walks, and stony table-lands. 
The adult male resembles the Sky-Lark in the general mottled- 
brown colour of its upper parts, but it may always be distinguished 
from that species by its smaller size, more pronounced crest, much 
shorter tail, more slender bill, and by the very broad buffish-white 
stripes which run backward over each eye to the nape, where they 
join and show up the dark ear-coverts ; the bastard primary is much 
longer than in the Sky-Lark, and there is a conspicuous triangular 
patch of dark brown tipped with buffish-white on the larger wing- 
coverts ; the tail-feathers are chiefly brownish-black with triangular 
white tips ; the throat and breast are yellowish-white streaked with 
dark brown; belly yellowish-white; legs and feet flesh-brown. 
Length 6 in.; wing 3°7.. The female has shorter wings and shows 
less crest; the young are more rufous and have light buff tips to 
their feathers. 
