258 BIUTISH BTRDS' NESTS. 



closely resemble some of the Gulls' in appearance, 

 and the only safe method of identification is to 

 watch the parent bird on or off the nest. Size about 

 2-3 by l-6'2 in. 



Ti))ie — May and June. 



Bemarhs. — Migratory, arriving in May and de- 

 parting in August and September. Notes : mee and 

 mee-awlx, represented by some authorities as Txijow 

 and //(ili-i/aJi. Local and other names : Arctic Gull, 

 Arctic Skua (also applied to Long-tailed or Buffon's 

 Skua), Shooi, Scoutie-AUen, Black-toed Gull. Sits 

 lightly, and is gregarious. 



SKYLARK. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about seven 

 inches. Bill of medium length, straight, strong, and 

 dark brown. Irides hazel ; crown dark brown, the 

 feathers being edged with a lighter and redder tinge, 

 and somewhat elongated, forming a crest which is 

 erectable at will. Back of neck, back, wing and tail- 

 coverts reddish-brown, each feather being bordered 

 with a pale tint. Wing and tail-quills dusky brown, 

 with lighter edges and tips. Throat and breast light 

 cream-colour, spotted with dark brown ; under-parts 

 pale straw-colour, tinged with brown on the thighs 

 and flanks. Legs, toes, and claws brown ; middle 

 toe largest, and hind claw very long and curved. 



The female is not quite as large as the male, but 

 is similar in her plumage. 



Situation and Locality. — Under tufts of grass, 

 ling, and heath, sometimes on the plain open 

 ground; in a slight declivity. Our illustrations 

 are from photographs of a nest on the crown of a 

 furrow, and under a tuft of grass. The former was 



