. A history of British birds. Birds. SKY-LARK. 273 few of the birds alight here, the great majority pass down the coast at once. I do not think the Sky-Lark flies very close to the sea when migrating^ for it is very seldom caught in the ; Probably some of these newly arrived birds drift inland at once; but by far the greater number continue their migrations^ following the coast-line to the south, and at many of the stations the stream of migratory birds passing from north to south along the coast in autumn is greater than that arriving from the east over the sea. The coast-lin
. A history of British birds. Birds. SKY-LARK. 273 few of the birds alight here, the great majority pass down the coast at once. I do not think the Sky-Lark flies very close to the sea when migrating^ for it is very seldom caught in the ; Probably some of these newly arrived birds drift inland at once; but by far the greater number continue their migrations^ following the coast-line to the south, and at many of the stations the stream of migratory birds passing from north to south along the coast in autumn is greater than that arriving from the east over the sea. The coast-line seems to be followed for some distance, for at Brighton the migrations of Sky-Larks in October is very remarkable, on account of its direction being exactly opposite to that of the Greenflnches, Linnets, Redpoles, and other birds which cross the Channel when the opposite coast can easily be seen. The Sky-Larks and other birds coming into the country to winter all migrate from east to west; the Linnets and other birds going out of the country after the breeding-season is over all migrate from west to east. The typical form of the Sky-Lark in breeding-plumage has the general colour of the upper parts brown; the dark centres of the feathers are well defined throughout; the outside tail-feather on each side is entirely white except the outside half of the inner web, and the next feather on each side is only white on the outer web. The underparts are pale huffish white, darkest on the breast, and the spots on the breast are very distinct. Bill dark brown above, paler below; legs, feet, and claws yellowish brown; irides hazel. The female resembles the male in colour. After the autumn moult the general colour of the upper parts is rich huffish brown, the underparts are sufl'used with pale olive-brown, and the throat is faintly spotted. Birds of the year resemble adults, but have nearly white narrow tips to the ends of the feathers of the upper parts. Young in first plumage are spott
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1883
