EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 259 



smaller than those of the Sky Lark, but otherwise bear consider- 

 able resemblance to them, except that the general tone of colour 

 is much yellower. 



THE SHOBE LAEK. 

 (Alauda alpestris.)* 



Plate 58, Fig. 15. 



The Shore Lark was formerly a very irregular visitor to the 

 British Islands, but during the last few years has occurred 

 annually, in winter, sometimes in considerable numbers. It is 

 a circumpolar bird, breeding on the tundra of both hemispheres 

 beyond the limits of forest-growth. In Lapland the Shore Lark 

 lays its eggs from the middle of May to the middle of June, but 

 in Siberia not before the latter date. The nest is always built 

 on the ground, generally in some slight hollow. It is loosely 

 made of dry grass and stalks, and the inside, which is rather 

 deep, is lined with willow-down or reindeer-hair. 



Four is the usual number of eggs ; but very often only three 

 are laid, and sometimes as many as five. They may be said to be 

 characteristic Lark's eggs, and only differ from those of the Sky 

 Lark by their more olive shade of colour. They vary in length 

 from 0'95 to 0.9 inch, and in breadth from 0"7 to 0'62 inch. 



THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



(Motacilla yarrellii.)\ 

 Plate 58, Figs. 17, 18. 



The Pied Wagtail is very widely distributed throughout the 

 British Islands, and, except in the extreme north, is a resident 

 species. On the Continent the distribution of the Pied Wagtail 

 is extremely limited. It breeds sparingly in the south-west of 

 Norway, frequently occurring on Heligoland on migration ; and 

 it occasionally breeds in Holland, and more abundantly in North- 

 west France. It is a winter visitor to South-west France, 

 Portugal, and Western Spain, and occasionally crosses the 

 straits into Marocco. 



* Otocorys alpcstris— Saunders, Manual, p. 249; Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 80. 

 f Motacilla lugubris — Saunders, Manual, p. 113; Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 93. 



