68 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The chough is essentially a shore bird, seeking its food 

 chiefly among the refuse cast up on the beach by the tide, 

 but occasionally searching for worms and insects, such as 

 grasshoppers, in adjacent fields. 



The nest is built in the most inaccessible cliffs, to which 

 fact alone the species so far owes its exemption from com- 

 plete extermination in Britain, where at one time it was 

 fairly abundant, but at present it is only met with in a few 

 favourable situations on the south and west coasts. The 

 eggs are four or five in number, of a dull white colour, 

 spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with dull brown and 

 grey. 



The young are easily reared on table scraps and insects, 

 but should not have much meat or they get cramp, and 

 lose the use of their feet and legs. 



When brought up by hand they become very tame, and 

 are very inquisitive and mischievous, like all the other 

 members of the crow famil}'. Though thoy will sometime* 

 imitate various domestic sounds, there is no recorded in- 

 stance of any of them learning to speak. Length, about 

 IG inches, 3 of which is included in the bill. 



THE LARKS. 



The larks next claim our attention. The British species 

 include two favourites that remain all the year round, and 

 one that has its principal habitat in America, but, never- 

 theless, pays an occasional visit to Great Britain. 



Family — AlaudidiC. 



Genus — 1. Alauda. A. arvensis. Skylark. 



A. arbor ca. Woodlark. 



2. Olocorys. O. alpcstris. Shorelark. 



Skylark. — Upper surface brownish grey, every feather 



