NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 145 
osiers, sedge, and rushes flourish, but during winter it is often to be met 
with in the stubble-fields. Its food consists of insects and their larve, 
as well as crustacea, seeds, and grain. The nest, made of dry grass and 
dead flags, lined with bents, hair, and flowers of the reed, is usually 
placed on the ground among tufts of rushes, but occasionally in a low 
bush. The eggs, from four to six in number, are purplish-grey, boldly 
marked and streaked with dark purplish-brown. ‘Two, and sometimes 
three, broods are reared in a season. 
Norfolk, July. 
Presented by Lord Walsingham. 
No. 25. MEADOW-PIPIT or TITLARK. 
(Anthus pratensis.) 
Generally distributed throughout the British Islands during the 
summer months, and almost as abundant on the higher moors as it 
is in the low-lying districts. Many individuals remain throughout 
the year, but in autumn large numbers leave our shores and return 
in spring. Insects, worms, molluscs and seeds form its principal 
food and are actively searched for on the ground. The song is gene- 
rally uttered on the wing, but sometimes when the bird is perched 
on some bush or stone. The nest of dry grass is always placed 
on the ground under the shelter of grass or among heather. The eggs 
are greyish-white, thickly spotted with various shades of brown, and vary 
from four to six in number. 
Resident birds breed much earlier in the year than migrants, and the 
nest exhibited was taken at a time when the latter were probably still 
on their way north. Sinesaxe, Aral 
Presented by Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. 
No. 26. SKY-LARK. (Alauda arvensis.) 
This well-known songster is widely distributed throughout the British 
Islands, and is especially abundant in the vicinity of cultivated fields 
and grass-land. In autumn its numbers are largely increased by 
immense flocks which arrive on our eastern coasts from the Continent. 
Its magnificent and long-sustained song, uttered while the bird is soaring 
on the wing till almost lost to sight, must be familiar to all. The nest 
of dry grass is placed on the ground among growing crops or under the 
shelter of a tuft of grass, and from three to five dull grey eggs, thickly 
spotted with brown, are laid towards the end of April. Two broods are 
usually produced in a season. 
Norfolk, June. 
Presented by Lord Walsingham. 
