THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



210 



Varieties-— Sometimes the ground colour 

 is greenish ; some white. Mr. Bond has a 

 clutch an uniform dull brown. 



WOOD LARK. 



Alauda arborea, Linn. 



Arborea— Arbor (Lat.)— A tree. 



Size. — Length, 6 in. ; expanse, 12J in. 



Plumage. — Somewhat like the Skylark, 

 but more of a red brown, streak over eye, 

 and spots on breast more distinct. Tail 

 shorter. 



The Female is rather smaller. 



Immature birds are redder and feathers 

 on back and head tipped with buff. 



Varieties. — A pied one in Mr. Whitaker's 

 collection and another in my own are all I 

 know of. Mr. Whitaker's specimen is 

 figured. 



Note. — The song is considered superior 

 to the Skylark in tone. It sings from a 

 perch upon a tree, but also frequently 

 ascends into the air and hangs poised singing 

 for an hour or more. It also sings in the 

 night. 



Flight.— See Note. 



Food. — Insects, small worms, seeds 

 grass, clover and young wheat leaves. 



In Confinement it may be treated 

 similar to the Skylark. 



Migration. — More or less migratory, 

 as the Skylark. 



Habitat.- -Not very abundant; found 

 in Devonshire and as far north as Stafford, 

 also in Wales, Lancashire, East Yorkshire, 

 and some other counties ; sometimes met 

 with in. Scotland and Ireland. It frequents 

 borders of woods. 



Abroad. — It is found more or less in most 

 of the European countries, as far North as 

 the South of Norway. 



Nest.— Placed upon the ground near a 

 wood, among grass or heather. It is com- 



posed of dry grass and moss, lined with 

 finer grass. 



Eggs. — Four to five. White, yellowish or 

 greenish, freckled or blotched, with brown or 

 purple brown, often forming a zone at the 

 large end. There are several broods in the 

 year, the first eggs being laid in March. 



THE "YOUNG NATURALIST 

 ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE 

 OF BRITISH INSECTS. 



COLEOPTERA.— Plate 13. 



This month we give a further plate of 

 Coleoptera, representing sixteen additional 

 species of Geodephaga. We are indebted 

 to Dr. Ellis for the specimens from which 

 the figures have been taken. 



(The lines indicating the natural size of 

 the insects have unfortunately been omitted 

 in this plate, so it is given in the descrip- 

 tion.) 



BemUMum doris. — 1 J lines. The first joint of 

 antennae, and the base of the next two, and 

 also the legs are brownish. " Not un- 

 common." 



Bemb. decorum. — 1\ lines. Basal joint of 

 antennas, and part of next three reddish. 

 " Common." 



Bemb. abrocceruleum. — 2 lines. May be dis- 

 tinguished from the last species by having 

 the thorax narrower, and the legs black or 

 dark. 



Bemb. varium. — 2$ lines. Dull brown, 

 underside black; legs dark brown. Com- 

 mon. 



Bemb. adusum. — 2 lines. Anterior reddish- 

 brown, first joint and base of next four yel- 

 low. Bright bronze-brown, with very in- 

 distinct transverse bands, slightly paler. 

 Striae strong, legs yellow. Rare. 



Bemb. epiphium. — 1^ lines. Antennae yel- 

 low. Underside blackish. "Moderately 

 common." 



