WOOD LARK.

Alauda arborea, Lenn.

L Alouette Lulu.

Tue Wood Lark is a far less abundant species than the Sky Lark, from which it differs materially in its habits
and manners. Its range over the continent of Europe is very general, but in our own island it appears to be
most numerous in the southern counties, being, according to Montagu, most common in Devonshire. It
gives preference to open fields bordering woods, or extensive plantations where large trees are dispersed
abundantly, upon which, unlike its near ally, it is fond of perching, and from whence it pours forth its melo-
dious strains, which, although full of sweetness, are less brilliant and varied than that of the Sky Lark. Its
powers of flight are very considerable, and while on the wing it often utters a short and peculiar piping cry.
It is strictly migratory, departing from our shores rather late in autumn, and returning in the month of
April.

The sexes are alike in plumage: the young have all the feathers bordered with yellowish white, and their
general tints more tawny than those of the adults.

The nest is said to be placed on the ground, generally under the covert of some tuft or shrub; the eggs
wood brown, blotched with grey and darker brown.

Bill brownish black ; above the eye is a conspicuous fawn-coloured stripe ; all the upper surface buff brown,
each feather having a black central mark ; under surface yellowish white spotted upon the neck and chest
with dark brown ; wing-coverts tipped with white; two middle tail-feathers brown, the remainder brown
tipped with white; legs pale brown.

The Plate represents a male of the natural size.

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