326 SKYLARK. 



sheltered by tall grass or herbage; it is rather 

 carelessly formed of strong bent or grasses, lined 

 interiorly with finer materials. 



In the larger towns, and on the Continent, this 

 bird used to be, and to a certain extent is still 

 esteemed at the table, and during winter the 

 flocks were netted extensively, bringing in this 

 country a price of from three to four shillings per 

 dozen. As a song bird, they are also esteemed, 

 both from the facility with which they are 

 reared, and for their capacity as songsters in coiv- 

 finement, for this purpose their price seems 

 almost extravagant, twelve or fifteen shillings 

 being " a common price for a good bird." * In 

 its geographical range, the Skylark seems pretty 

 generally and commonly distributed over Europe, 

 decreasing to the northward, and there becoming 

 migratory in winter. It extends into the Asiatic 

 continent, but how far, or in what proportion, is 

 not accurately ascertained. 



The upper parts of the plumage are yellowish 

 brown, having the margins of the feathers pale 

 wood brown. In the breeding season the centres 

 of the feathers assume a deeper and richer tint, 

 and the pale edges partially fall off. Above the 

 eyes there is a pale yellowish streak, and the 

 feathers of the crown are elongated, and capable 

 of being erected at will ; this formation of some 

 part of the plumes, covering the crown, runs 

 through the known species, and will almost rank 

 as a generic character. The tail is considerably 

 * Yarrell, i. p. 413. 



