70 Baby Birds at Home 



the British Islands during the spring and 

 summer, and in the winter its numbers are 

 swollen by the arrival of great flocks from 

 the colder parts of Europe. 



The cock commences to sing as early as 

 the month of February, if the weather should 

 be mild and open, and towards the end of 

 the breeding season may sometimes be 

 heard whilst he is standing on the ground 

 or perched on a bush. His song is full of 

 melody and delight, but is occasionally 

 marred by notes borrowed from other birds. 



The nest is made on the ground in the 

 shelter of a tuft of grass or heath. In fallow 

 fields it may be found quite in the open. It 

 is built of dry grass and rootlets. Sometimes 

 a few horse-hairs are used for lining it. 



Four or five eggs of a dirty white colour, 

 thickly spotted with varying shades of brown, 

 are laid. 



Baby Skylarks have little tufts of down 

 on their heads and backs when they are 

 hatched, and do not see for several days. 

 They are fed by both parent birds, and when 

 they fledge, scatter in the grass or amongst 

 the clods, and soon begin to try to find food 

 for themselves. 



