CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 1 63 



till lost to view ? Who does not remember the 

 emotions it stirred in our little hearts in those child- 

 hood days when all seemed glad around us ; Oh what 

 a joyous song it is ! so full of melody and variety— 

 a song that has been immortalized by poets. 



On this subject, Mr. W. Swaysland says : " The 

 song of the Skylark seems completely identified 

 with our ideas of the country, both in the early 

 morning and at dewy eve ; and it is not in the least 

 surprising that poets of every grade of merit should 

 have made it the subject of their composition and 

 sung its praises in their most graceful lines." 



This species is very abundant, breeds in our 

 islands, the resident birds being further augmented by 

 huge flocks which arrive from the Continent. The 

 nest, placed on the ground, composed of grasses, 

 etc., is generally very well concealed in a hollow 

 among growing crops or under the shelter of some 

 tuft, clod of earth, etc. The eggs — three to five in 

 number, are dull grey, thickly mottled and often 

 zoned with olive-brown. The food consists of 

 insects, worms, with a considerable quantity of 

 seeds of various kinds " (H.S.). 



This species has an extremely wide distribution 

 abroad, embracing the Eastern Hemisphere. 



The specimens were obtained in North Wales. 



