THE WOOD-LARK 115 



increase is perceptible in the bird's numbers, even 

 in districts where the species is tolerably 

 numerous. 



The eggs are very characteristic, and cannot 

 well be mistaken for those of any other British 

 species (incidentally, how r ever, the Wood-Lark and 

 the Tree-Pipit often give rise to quite unnecessary 

 confusion and error, and that, too, in parts of 

 Britain widely separated). The ground-colour 

 varies from creamy-white or white with a huffish 

 tinge to the palest of greenish-whites the two 

 former types being by far the commonest while 

 the markings, which usually take the form of 

 speckles, small spots, and freckles blotches being- 

 rare are pinkish -brown, reddish-brown, and 

 umber, with inferior markings of grey and lilac- 

 grey. Two very distinct types occur : in one the 

 markings are scattered fairly evenly over the 

 entire surface ; in the other they are more or less 

 confluent at the larger end, the lower half being 

 sparingly freckled. Rare varieties are zoned, or 

 banded round the middle. All the eggs in a clutch 

 are generally of one type. The distinct ground 

 for the markings are never heavy enough to hide 

 much of it combined with the general pinkish- 

 brown appearance, serve to distinguish this Lark's 

 eggs at a glance. Incubation, performed solely 

 by the female, lasts twelve or thirteen days, and 

 the nestlings remain in their birthplace for a similar 

 period. 



i 2 



