■;02 



NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest. — Open or cup-shaped; composed entirely of grass, and placed 

 in a depression or hole in the ground, usually slieltered by a gi-ass 

 tussock or small bush. Dimensions over all, or hollow containing nest, 

 4i inches by 2A inches in depth ; inside or egg cavity, '1 inches across 

 by IJ inches deep. 



E(jy>;. — Clutch, three to four ; lengthened or long oval in form ; 

 textui'c of shell close and fine ; sm-facc very glossy ; colour, greyish- 

 white, spotted all over, particularly round the apex, with olive and grey 

 niarldngs; not imlike those of the Ground Lark (AnthuH), but are 

 smaller and greyer in general tone of colouring. Dimensions of a 

 proper clutch : (1) -84 x -54, (2) -8 x -54, (3) -76 x -55. (Plate 16.) 



Observations. — Horsfield's Bush Lark enjoys the length and breadth 

 of AustraUa for its habitat. However, it is only a summer visitor to 

 the southern parts, whei'e a select few frequent the glassy glades and 

 heath-like localities in open forest country. 



The Bush Lark exactly resembles the Ground Lark in character of 

 plumage, but has a stouter bill and shorter tail, which give it a chubby 

 figure. Total length, 5;^ inches. Lark-like, tliis bird mounts into 

 space and is the possessor of a melodious voice, and occasionally .sings 

 sweetly through the night. 



The Bush Lark is a somewhat late breeder, commencing generally 

 in November. It usually airives in Victoria about the middle of 

 October. However, the season 1896, a somewhat peculiar season for 

 tlio arrival of early birds, my sou saw one on 7th September, while 

 Mr. G. E. Shepherd confirmed tins early record by noting the birds at 

 Western Port 22nd same month, remarking that the bird wa« fully 

 a month in advance of liis previous records. I saw flcdgeUngs in 

 Western Australia at Christmas-tide. Dr. Ramsay in 1861 took a nest 

 containing three eggs at Macquarie Fields as late as 4th February. 

 He observes that the front edge of the nest is smoothed down, the back 

 part being left ragged and sometimes drawn forward as if to aid in the 

 concealment of the precious eggs. 



The eggs in my collection are from Riverina, but I have seen others 

 taken near the coast at Cheltenham, Victoria, notably a pretty set 

 (from wliich my desci-iption is taken) found reposing in a neat nest 

 under a hibbertia bush by Mr. J. Sommers. 



Dr. W. Macgillivray mentions that he has taken the nest and eggs 

 of the Bush Lark several seasons in succession. The bird generally 

 took about three days to constnict its nest, and three more days to 

 deposit its eggs — one each day. 



Mr. C. F. Belcher writes : — " With regard to Lai-ks, I have been 

 frequently puzzled over a bird which is common from, say, October to 

 Jauuaiy in the cornfields roimd Geelong. It appears to resemble 

 Horsfield's Bush Lark most closely. I have never seen a dead one, 

 but its peculiarity is mimici-y. I have heard it at Moolap, on the 

 QueenscUff road, imitate to perfection the Superb Warbler, Zosterops, 

 and of imported bii-ds the SpaiTow and Greenfinch (both common in 

 that locality). But of all its imitations the most siu'prising is that of 



