328 
WOODLARK. 
the Skylark. The eggs are pale reddish white, 
spotted and speckled with reddish brown. Dur- 
ing winter, they are said to assemble in small 
parties, the amount of the year’s brood, and we 
do not find it stated that they are migratory, or 
perform any partial change of station. 
The Woodlark, so far as we can learn, is by 
no means a common bird, even in its most favou- 
rite stations, and its distribution in Britain is 
extremely local, confined in England chiefly to 
the southern counties, and extending more spar- 
ingly to Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, 
in the northern counties becoming very rare, so 
as to cause its appearance to be recorded, and 
we have instances stated by Mr Selby and Mr 
Heysham, of specimens being killed in Northum- 
berland and Cumberland. In Scotland, it is 
admitted by many writers, but without mention- 
ing particulars. Dr Fleming gives the Gaelic 
name, while Mr Heysham states that it is taken 
occasionally by bird catchers in the neighbour- 
hood of Dumfries.* We have not ourselves seen 
a Scottish specimen, and cannot at present refer 
to any authentic instance of its capture. In Ireland, 
Mr Thompson has recorded it as partially distri- 
buted. On the Continent, it is perhaps more 
numerous, at the same time being local in its 
stations. In the Paris markets, we have frequently 
noticed specimens among the bunches of small 
birds, and mixed with the Common Lark. We 
Upon the authority of Mr Yarrell, Brit. Birds, i. p. 419. 
