THE SKY-LARK. 165 



edges and lower mandible pale horn ; legs and feet yellowish-brown ; 

 iris brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — For differences oiA.a. cinerascens 

 see under that form, A. a. cantarella (east and south-east Europe) 

 is intermediate between the two and impossible to determine 

 without comparison of a series, A. a. harterti (north-west Africa) 

 has a longer, more pointed bill ; several eastern forms differ in size 

 and shade of coloration. Short first primary, long straight hind 

 claw and white in outer tail-feathers are specific distinctions. 



Field-characters. — Of stouter build and larger size than 

 Pipits, and lacking their nimble gait, can hardly be confused with 

 any other species when on ground, for its longer tail and obscure 

 eye-stripe distinguish it from Wood-Lark. Characteristic song 

 is normally uttered as bird ascends directly from ground, soars, 

 often at height rendermg it almost invisible, and then descends in 

 spiral curve, but at times sings on ground or from fence-rail or 

 bush. In winter gregarious ; white outer tail-feathers, and to a 

 lesser degree greyish-white edging of inner margin of wings, are 

 conspicuous as the birds pass with fluttering, undulating flight 

 low over fields, uttering the while a liquid " chirrup." 



Breedeng-habits. — Nests alwaj's on ground in depression in 

 grass or growmg crops, occasionally on shingle or in sand. 

 Nest. — Built of bents and grasses, lined finer grasses, sometimes 

 a httle hair. Eggs. — 3-4, occasionally 5. Ground-colour dull 

 greyish-white, sometimes greenish tinge, thickly and uniformly 

 speckled or spotted olive or hair brown, sometimes with zone of 

 dark spots. Varieties are almost devoid of markings or sparsely 

 spotted. Average of 190 eggs, 23.2 X 16.8 mm. Breeding- 

 season. — Generally from latter half April till July, exceptionally 

 even in March. Incubation. — ^L<asts 14 days, by hen only. Two 

 or three broods. 



Food. — Mainly seeds, large quantities of seeds of various weeds 

 eaten, and some damage done to corn and leaves of root-crops. 

 Besides these, earthworms and insects (coleoptera and larvae, 

 orthoptera, hymenoptera, larvae of lepidoptera and diptera, 

 aphides), as well as millipedes, are eaten. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Common and generally 

 distributed but somewhat local in north-west parts of mainland 

 Scotland. Many, if not most, home-bred birds leave in autumn. 



Migrations. — British Isles. — SouthAvard movement of breeding- 

 birds begins in Shetlands and Hebrides late Aug., and is noticed 

 on east coast (early date Aug. 22), continuing to early Nov. ; 

 many cross Channel, beginnmg first week Sept. ; others pass to 

 Ireland mid-Sept, onwards. In spring return migration along 



