S H O R E - L A R K .
floe* along Uu shore near Beuacre Sluice in Suffolk ; from their disinclination, to rise and quit the beech, it
is probable they had only recently made the laud. Shortly before dusk the same evening, while steaming
along the coast inside the Kewoomo Sands, I noticed a straggling party of a score or so of small and weary
travellers By past the vessel and disappear in the haze. One poor bird, worn out by its journey, hovered across
the deck for a moment and attempted to alight on the paddlehox; here it was unable to gain footing and
fluttered helplessly down to the water. The main Sock, as far as I could judge, was composed of Sky-Larks;
hut the unfortunate wayfarer who had failed to hoard us was a Shore-Lark.
During severe weather in Sussex I often remarked a fresh-cap lured bird or two of this species in
the store-cages of tho professional bird-catchers when meeting with them along the downs near the coast. But
one small Hock of three or Tour individuals has (with the exception of the above-mentioned captives) come
under my notion in this county ; these birds were on the shinglc-haaks between Shorcham and Lancing.
According to my own observations the Shore-Larks are regular winter visitors to several portions of tho
east coast from Hunstanton to Lowestoft; but it is only occasionally that thoy show themselves in the
southern counties. The seeds of the various grasses and plants growing on the rough lianks and uncultivated
ground they frequent are doubtless the main food of this species. From closely watching their actions I should
a l-i i pi due that small in-eels vieiv taken ; in that case their prey is so minute as to escape the observation of t hi'
naked eye, and a post mortem examination would be needed to establish the fact.
W O O D - L A R K .
ALAXJDA ARBOREA.
KNOWLI;IIOC concerning the distribution of this species throughout the British Islands appears somewhat
limited ; and 1 regret my own observations can throw no additional light on the subject.
Ill Scotland I failed entirely to identify the Wood-Lark with any degree of certainty, two or three
localities in the south of Yorkshire being the furthest north tit which this admirable songster was met with.
As far as I am able to judge, the bird is exceedingly local during summer; and, with the exception of the
above-mentioned northern comity, I have only observed the Wood-hark about Harrow-on-the-Hill in Middlesex,
and in the well-limhired portion of the cast of Sussex.
I am ignorant whether any migrants from tho north of Europe arrive on our coasts during autumn
or early winter. "Wood-Larks have never come under my observation while making the passage of (he North
Sea; neither were any of their wings recognized among the many hundreds of those of the Sky-Lark received
from the light-ships off the cast coast •-
As winter approaches there is, during some seasons at least, if not annually, a general movement of
this species from north to south along the east coast, and from east to west oa the shores of the English
Channel. In the latter end of November ami early in December 1879, snow foil for several days on the
coast of Norfolk, and I remarked a few stragglers of this species passing south over the sand banks near
Yarmouth. Numbers of Sky-Larks were taking the same course, moving southward in continuous streams
for several hours daily. The severe snow-storm in January 1SG7 drove countless Larks and other small birds
along the coast of Sussex for several consecutive days. Many Wood-Lirks also appeared, tho whole of these
birds on this occasion being obviously far more affected by the cold than their relatives. "While the Sky-Larks
flew westward in clouds from shortly after daybreak till between 2 and 'J p.m., the unfortunate Wood-Larks
were repeatedly settling and gathering together in small (locks on any spot that was free from snow. Here
they would remain huddled together till disturbed by a near approach, evidently worn out by want of food
and exposure lo cold, and retaining scarcely sullicieut strength to get on wing and resume their weary journey.
Some idea of the numbers of the Wood-Larks in this locality may be formed from the fact that 1 counted
between six and seven dozen in the possession of one bird-catcher alone, w ho was working his net on the downs
between Rottingdean aud New haven. Many others of the fraternity had from three to four dozen ; and a
dealer secured forty dozen at the price of three shillings the dozen.
In open winters it is probable that there is but a small accession to the residents in the vicinity of the
• Than could lit no rtinnoe .il ...uln-ins tin- nines of tho two spociop. Though I ho nik 11 to -im w.iuM hardly hnld good (I have nm nn
DMMional sky-Lark, nwtnttj o i.iung hint, quite as annul as tho Wood-Lurk), there is on I nil HI 111 difference in the colonring, tho whits
marking on tin; wing, of I he Woud-lntt being far raois plainly didual thin in ihu Sky-Luk. In old *jm orotullvd specimen* this distinction