145. A l a u d a a r b o r e a ...................................................................................................................................................V o l . HI. PI. XVI.
W o o d - L a r k .
A cheery little songster, very local in its habitat, breeds in many o f the English counties; supposed to
migrate from us to the southward in the w in ter; but Mr. Blake Knox states th at it is abundant a t that
season in the county o f Dublin, and also that it breeds there. It is about as numerous in Scotland as it is
in E ngland; and Mr. Harting states it has been found as far north as the Orkney Islands.
Genus G a l e r it a .
146. G a l e r it a c r i s t a t a . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. XVII.
C r e s t e d L a r k .
A bird o f France and many other parts of the European continent, and even o f other more distant
countries. Although common on the roads between Calais and Boulogne, it seldom crosses the Channel to
pay Albion’s shores a v isit; here, indeed, it is so scarce that it must be enumerated among our accidental
visitors.
Genus O t o c o r i s .
O f this ornamental section o f the Larks there are about ten known species, six or seven inhabiting the
Old World, and three the New. All are more o r less ornamented with small pencilled plumes springing
from above the eye, and have much o f their plumage suffused with yellow and pinky brown. Their head
quarters are Eastern Europe, Palestine, Afghanistan, the Altai, and the highlands o f Asia generally.
147. O t o c o r is a l p e s t r i s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. I l l PI XVIII
S h o r e - L a r k .
This bird has appeared here so frequently o f late that it may almost be termed a regular winter visitant.
Lord Lilford has recorded, in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1852, an instance o f its nesting in Devonshire.
Genus M e l a n o c o r y p h a .
A little group o f thick-billed Larks, comprising five o r six species; almost exclusively inhabit the central
and eastern regions o f Asia.
148. M e l a n o c o r y p h a c a l a n d r a . . . . . . . . . Vol III PI XIX
C a l a n d r a L a r k .
A common species in most o f the champaign parts of Central and Southern Europe ; but a purely accidental
visitor to England, two instances only o f its occurrence here being on record, both in Devonshire.
149. M e l a n o c o r y p h a .....................................................................................................................
W h i t e -w i n g e d L a r k .
Tlie native country of this bird is Siberia and the eastern portions of Europe. In a single instance only
has it been killed in England, for the particulars of which see the letterpress opposite the Plate.
Genus C a l a n d r e l l a .
150. C a l a n d r e l l a b r a c h y d a c t y l a ..................................................................................................................................^ol. III. PI. XXI.
S h o r t - t o e d L a r k .
A native of C entral and Southern Europe, India, and China. Only four or live instances of its having
been killed in England have been placed on record ; consequently it must be regarded as purely an accidental
visitant.
F am ily EM B E R IZ ID /E .
The members of this great group o f birds extend over Europe, Asia, and Africa, to which sections of the
globe they appear to be confined, inasmuch as no true Bunting has yet been discovered in America, Australia,
New Zealand, or, I believe, the islands of the Eastern archipelago. The numerous species of which the
family is composed are divisible into many genera; and the ten species recognized as inhabiting Britain
have been divided into six or seven. The food o f all, both of those which frequent our islands and of those
found in other countries, is of a mixed character, seeds of various kinds constituting its main portion ; but
insects and their larvm are largely partaken of, and probably form a t first the sole nourishment o f the young.
Genus E m b e r iz a .
Vol. III. PI. XXII.
151. E m b e r iz a c it r in e l l a . . . . • • • •
Y e l l o w h a m m e r or Y e l l o w B u n t in g .
Very generally dispersed over the three kingdoms; breeds and rears its young between spring and
midsummer. British specimens differ considerably in the colouring o f their plumage, and are very much
less in size than continental examples.
Vol. III. PI. XXIII.
152. E m b e r iz a c ir l u s
C i r l B u n t in g .
A resident, but somewhat lo ca l; breeds in most o f our southern counties, particularly in chalky districts,
and annually as near to London as Cookham, in Berkshire; very scaree in Scotland, and never seen in Ireland.