134 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 100 



second or third week of April, according to the weather, al- 

 though there are always a few earlier nesters. The earliest 

 record I have was March 14th (1915), when a nest was 

 found commenced. On April 2nd this nest held four young 

 about one day from the shell. 



While snow still covers the ground in late March or early 

 April, the birds have little choice of a nesting place and nat- 

 urally choose the crown of some small elevation, such places 

 being the only suitable spots free of snow. When the soil 

 is sufficiently thawed, and while it is still moist, a bowl-shaped 

 cavity, four to five inches in diameter, is excavated. I have 

 several times seen both birds quite close to these excavations, 

 but have never been able to determine whether or not both 

 assist in the work. The soil taken from the cavity is piled on 

 one side and later becomes an adjunct of the nest, forming an 

 embankment, which possibly serves as a wind-break. This 

 excavated soil is always found in little balls, which tends to 

 prove that it is always scraped out while the ground is wet. 



When the excavation is complete the Lark collects ma- 

 terial, to be found near at hand, short pieces of withered 

 grasses, seed tops and roots of grass or grain, which is 

 finally pressed into a thick walled nest, averaging, in outside 

 diameter, 4 inches ; inside, 2.4 inches ; outside depth, 2.2 

 inches; inside depth. 1.8 inches. The rim of the nest is 

 usually flush with the soil and is very neatly finished and 

 blended with the surroundings, though there is no attempt at 

 weaving or binding, and the nest readily falls to pieces when 

 removed. 



Material similar to the body of the nest is used for lining, 

 while generally a little old thistle down is added, and some- 

 times a small feather or two. The number of eggs deposited 

 is most commonly four; often three composes the set, rarely 

 two, and on one occasion I knew of five being laid. 



Eggs of this species exhibit less variation in markings 

 than those of most birds. The main peculiarity in a large 

 number of local specimens lies in the comparatively uniform 

 colouration, pigment being distributed in minute dots, usually 



