26 LECTURE III. 



able to do so. I always watch their flight with 

 the greatest satisfaction : it is one of the sights 

 which renders my visit to Brighton a pleasing 

 one. Besides, they are useful birds ; for, if you 

 take a stroll on the Downs when land is being 

 ploughed up, you will perhaps see gulls following 

 the ploughman, and picking up the grubs of 

 many of those insects which are so injurious to 

 the farmer. 



As there are but few trees and bushes in the 

 more immediate neighbourhood of Brighton, I 

 am afraid that you are not often gladdened with 

 the song of the blackbird, thrush, and nightin- 

 gale, though you have probably heard the cheer- 

 ful notes of the lark, as he pours them forth, and 

 approaches to heaven nearer than any other 

 bird. The .lark makes its nest always on the 

 ground, and generally early in the spring, in 

 grass fields. If you examine the claws of a 

 lark, which you may *do at Mr. Sinnick's or 

 any other poulterer's, where, I am sorry to say, 

 too many of them are to be found, you will 

 find that these claws will readily take up one of 

 the eggs of these birds. When, therefore, the 

 mowers either approach to or mow over their 

 nests, they will take up an egg in each foot, as I 



