W00DLARK. 



from its perch, especially in the evening. It sings 

 delightfully on wing, (says Montagu,) describing- 

 its flight in widely extended circles, and often 

 pouring out its song a whole hour without inter- 

 mission. The song is much more melodious than 

 that of the Skylark, but does not consist of so 

 great a variety of notes. It sings almost through- 

 out the year, and all day long. The only months 

 of the year when the Woodlarks are altogether 

 silent, are June and July ; though the precise time 

 varies with the latitude and season, when both the 

 male and female are busied in finding food for 

 their young progeny. 



The female, like other Larks, sings also ; but her 

 strains are shorter and less sustained. She begins 

 to build in March. The nest is placed on the 

 ground, most commonly in rough and barren land, 

 under a tuft of high grass, furze, or some low bush, 

 and is made of dry grass, lined with finer grass, 

 and sometimes with a few long hairs. The eggs 

 are generally four in number, pale brown, mottled 

 with grey and brown, chiefly at the larger end : 

 they are sometimes laid as early as April. The 

 incubation and nursing occupy about a fortnight 

 each ; and when the first brood are able to shift 

 for themselves, a second is immediately set about.* 



In the early parts of the autumnal months, the 

 Woodlark's carols may be heard in the air common- 

 ly during the calm sunny mornings of this season. 

 They have a softness and quietness, perfectly in 

 unison with the sober, almost melancholy stillness 



* British Naturalist. 



