SKY-LARK. 267 



wing varying from 4-9 to 3"9 inch, both large and small forms being 

 found from England to Eastern Siberia. The variation in colour is also 

 considerable, independently of the fact that freshly moulted autumn birds 

 are much more rufous than birds in abraded summer plumage. Summer 

 examples from East Siberia, and winter examples from North-west India, 

 Asia Minor, and Palestine (presumably from localities where the rainfall 

 is comparatively small), are much greyer in plumage and have been 

 described as distinct under the name of A. dulcivox, but are evidently 

 nothing more than a climatic race of the Common Sky-Lark. In Japan, 

 where the influence of the Pacific produces a climate somewhat similar to 

 that of Western Europe, the Sky-Larks again become more rufous in 

 colour ; and freshly-moulted examples may possibly be a shade more rufous 

 on the margins of the wing-feathers and on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts, and a somewhat purer white on the belly, than English birds at the 

 same season, and might be regarded as a distinct variety, under the 

 name of A.japonica, by those ornithologists who, as Dr. Coues expresses it, 

 are anxious to determine the difference between the north and the north- 

 west side of a hair. The difficulty of recognizing these varieties of the 

 Sky-Lark is that they are climatic rather than geographical ; and if the 

 three forms we have named be recognized, it would probably also be 

 necessary to admit many other intermediate forms from widely distant 

 localities. In Turkestan, India, and South China a decidedly smaller race 

 of the Sky-Lark occurs, which varies in length of wing from 3'7 to 3-2 

 inch. This race is also subject to the same climatic variation in colour — 

 examples from Turkestan and India [A. gulgula) being paler and greyer, 

 and those from South China and Ceylon {A. ccelivox) being darker and 

 more rufous. These two latter forms are no doubt conspecific. 



No bird is better known or more frequently kept in confinement than 

 the Sky-Lark. It is easily caught, readily tamed, and bears its captivity 

 well, singing as sweetly on the sod in its little cage as when soaring 

 in boundless freedom high up amongst the clouds. It is found in all 

 kinds of places, from the coast to the inland moors and mountains, but is 

 perhaps most abundant in well-cultivated districts. It delights to frequent 

 arable land, rich meadows, and commons, but is never seen in woods or 

 places where trees are very close together. It is also very partial to the 

 most elevated pastures, and often deserts a sheltered valley to remain on 

 them throughout the year. During winter the Sky-Lark is gregarious ; 

 but very early in the spring the large flocks break up, and it retires to its 

 breeding-grounds. In March, when the cold winds are drying up the 

 fallows, and the first spring-flowers are appearing in the hedges, the Sky- 

 Lark pairs. At this season several males may often be seen chasing a 

 female with great rapidity through the air and every now and then 

 bursting out into sweetest song. Sometimes a male will hover above the 



