THE CRESTED LARK. 



Alauda cristaia, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 22. 



Although fairly common as near our shores as the north of France, as well 

 as in Holland and Belgium, the Crested Lark is only a rare straggler to England, 

 the latest occurrence I have heard of being one seen this summer (19 15) by 

 Mr. J. G. Millais near Horsham. Subject to variations both in form and colour, 

 this bird is found in suitable localities throughout Europe, as well as in North 

 Africa and Asia. 



The nest is generally placed on the ground, the slight depression caused by a 

 hoof-print being often made use of, but Naumann says it is occasionally built 

 on an old earth wall or among the thatch of a shed in the fields. It much resembles 

 the Sky-Lark's, and contains four or five eggs, pale yellowish or greenish-white, 

 spotted with olive-brown and violet-grey. 



Its food is also like that of other Larks. 



The soft pleasant song is delivered either from the ground or in the air. 



It is a very tame and confiding bird, often frequenting the neighbourhood 

 of villages and showing little fear of man, and when dusting itself on sandy ground 

 or roads it will, if disturbed, merely fly a short distance and then alight. The 

 female differs little from the male, being only slightly smaller. 



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