242 



British Cage Birds. 



throat, under side of the neck, and upper part of the breast, 

 is creamy white, tinctured with yellowish brown, and marked 

 with dusky spots, which latter are a little larger and more 

 distinct than those adorning the Skylark ; the lower part of 

 the belly and vent is slightly darker in hue. 



The wings are dark brown, and the first quill is shorter than 

 the second ; some of the pen feathers are margined with palish 

 yellow, and others with greyish white. The coverts of the 

 wings are dark brown, with a pale dullish orange margin on 

 the outer web. At the butt of the wing (the scapulars) is a 

 whitish grey spot. The tail is dusky reddish brown, some of 

 the feathers being tipped with white ; the first and second 

 have a reddish white spot, and white tips ; the central ones 

 are greyish brown. The legs and feet are whitish flesh 

 colour ; the spur at the heel is long, and incurvated ; the 

 claws are dusky in hue. 



Habits and Beeeding. — The Woodlark is indigenous to 

 Great Britain, and is also found pretty generally distributed 

 throughout Europe, and in some parts of Asia. These birds are 

 not nearly so plentiful as Skylarks ; in fact, they appear to 

 be getting scarcer every year. The best specimens in this 

 -country are said to be obtained in Devonshire. The Woodlark 

 begins to sing very early in the season, sometimes, but rarely, 

 in January, if the weather be open and temperate. It com- 

 mences its breeding operations in the latter part of March or 

 beginning of April. 



Woodlarks are somewhat eccentric, and do not associate 

 with birds of other species. In winter time they keep 

 together in small flocks, or groups, of ten or a dozen, pre- 

 sumably all members of the same family ; but as soon as 

 the pairing season approaches they separate, and keep aloof 

 from each other. 



When a male bird desires to obtain a spouse, he selects the 

 tallest tree he can find — preferably an elm, when these trees 

 are to be found in the neighbourhood; from this spot he 

 offers up his matins, and afterwards ascends in like manner 

 to the Skylark, pouring forth his tale of love and adoration, 

 in melodious accents, as he circles through the air, continuing 

 his song, if the weather be propitious, for a considerable time, 

 and ultimately returning to the spot from which he started. 



The Woodlark prefers a retired, secluded place, on the out- 



