420 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
and migrates earlier to the southward than that species. Its song is sweet and 
flute-like, more melancholy than that of the skylark, and is generally uttered 
from the top of some tree, or else when the bird is on the wing. It rises to some 
height before commencing, then ascends, singing, higher and higher, throwing 
itself from side to side, hovers and floats in the air, and when the song is ended 
drops with closed wings to the ground again. It sings not only in the mornings and 
evenings but also at other times of the day, and in the night, especially at night.” 
The woodlark constantly builds upon the ground, usually in a tuft of grass, 
or in a depression of the earth, sheltered by a low bush. Built of stems of grass 
and moss, and lined with hair and wool or fine bents, the nest is more compact 
than that of the skylark. The eggs are generally white in ground-colour, finely 
freckled, and blotched with brown and purplish markings, which are often bold, and 
sometimes arranged in a zone. The woodlark occasionally nests in confinement. 
A very local bird in the British Isles, especially in the breeding-season, when it is 
chiefly found in the southern and western counties, particularly Devonshire, the 
woodlark is common in Southern Norway and Sweden, and extends eastwards 
through Central Russia, ranging south to Spain, Morocco, and Egypt. The 
plumage of the adult is brown above, each feather being striped with dark 
brown and edged with rufous; a broad, yellowish white stripe extends from 
each eye to the nape, forming an irregular collar; the rump and upper tail- 
coverts are greyish brown; and the tail is dark brown, with the central pair of 
feathers much lighter than the others, while the outer pair are dirty white towards 
the tip, and their outer webs bordered with white. 
The crested The crested larks, as typically represented by the European 
Larks - species (Galerita cristata), are sufficiently distinguished from both 
the foregoing genera by the presence on the head of a crest composed of a 
few very long feathers springing from the centre of the crown. The common 
species is a partial resident in Continental Europe, and a rare accidental visitor to 
the shores of Great Britain. In the spring of the year it may be seen in the north 
of Spain travelling in flocks apparently composed exclusively of its own kind, 
which generally frequent the ploughed fields in preference to grass-lands. These 
large flocks are relatively wild; but on other occasions crested larks may be 
observed running tamely on the turf bordering the highroad, elevating their 
crests as they run along together. Mr. Dresser states that “ in its habits the 
crested lark is confiding and fearless, and in the neighbourhood of villages and 
inhabited places is one of the most unsuspicious and tame birds. When in 
Southern Germany and Hungary, where it is very common, I observed it on 
almost all the highroads and in the streets of the small towns and villages 
pecking about amongst the horse-droppings almost as tamely as a London sparrow. 
They appear very fond of inhabited places, and frequent highroads, seldom being 
found very far from these, and when disturbed by a passing vehicle will either 
run on one side and let it pass, or fly on, again and again, as the traveller 
approaches them. In different parts of Europe they are resident or migratory 
according as the locality is suitable or not for winter quarters; but in most parts 
they are partial migrants, merely shifting their quarters according to season.” In 
Germany, Naumann writes, “they leave their northern haunts in the winter, which 
