WOODLARK. 25 



by Mr. Drummond respecting them coincides with our own 

 opinion, that they are hill-country birds ; for he says they 

 were observed on the mountains, where they also breed, and 

 that none were seen lower down. We conclude they pass 

 the winter as well as the summer in that island. In Corfu 

 the Woodlark arrives in September in small flocks, which 

 remain during the winter, but they retire to the high moun- 

 tains of Albania in the spring. 



The nest of the Woodlark is more carefully concealed than 

 that of the skylark, and as this species breeds very early, it 

 is comparatively rare to meet with its eggs. Much more 

 variety appears to prevail in the colour of these eggs than in 

 those of the preceding species, although in some of their 

 varieties they are nearly similar : the Woodlark's eggs are 

 smaller in size, not exceeding eleven lines, by seven and a 

 half in diameter, as well as shorter in proportion, and gene- 

 rally the spots are larger, and more grouped in knots. In 

 some specimens of this species the ground colour is reddish- 

 white, freckled with ash-grey and tile- red ; others are still 

 fuller in tint, with some of their spots crimson or maroon, 

 intermixed with brown ; but we are disposed to think that 

 the greater part resemble those of the skylark so nearly, as 

 generally to pass for the eggs of that species. 



The nest of the Woodlark is composed of fine dry grasses, 

 with a little moss sometimes in the foundation, and lined 

 with finer grass stems ; it is placed upon the ground near 

 trees, woods, or hedgerows, sometimes sheltered by a bush, 

 tuft of grass, or clod of earth ; we have also found it at the 

 foot of a large elm, partly concealed by long grass, and by 

 the tufted foliage of a low bush. 



The Woodlark sings upon the wing ; but in its song and 

 flight may usually be distinguished from the skylark. It 

 does not rise in so perpendicular a manner as that species, 

 but continues wheeling round in wide circles as it mounts, 



