BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 365 



SKYLARK. 



(A I and a a rv ens is.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family ALAUDID.E (LARKS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. - - Length about 

 seven inches. Bill of 

 medium length, straight > 

 strong, and dark brown. 

 Irides hazel ; crown dark 

 brown, the feathers being 

 edged with a lighter and 

 redder tinge, and some- 

 what elongated, forming 

 a crest which is erectable 



at will. Back of neck, back, wing, and tail-coverts 

 reddish-brown, each feather being bordered with 

 a pale tint. Wing and tail-quills dusky -brown, 

 with lighter edges and tips. Throat and breast 

 light cream-colour, spotted with dark brown; 

 under-parts pale straw-colour, tinged with brown 

 on the thighs and flanks. Legs, toes, and claws 

 brown; middle toe largest, and hind claw very 

 long and curved. 



The female is not quite as large as the male, but 

 is similar in her plumage. 



Situation and, Locality. Under tufts of grass,, 

 ling, and heath, sometimes on the plain open, 

 ground, in a slight declivity. In cultivated and un- 

 cultivated districts throughout the United Kingdom,, 

 but not in woods and plantations. 



Materials. Grass, roots, and horsehair, the 

 latter two often quite absent and the first used 

 sparingly. 



