BIRDS OF THE GARDEN 29 



Food. Insects and their larvae ; also peas, beans, and 

 unripe corn. In winter, grain and seeds. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. Close to or on the ground, amongst growing 

 herbage, in hollow of grassy bank, among brambles. 



Materials. Dry grass, straw, roots, and a little moss, 

 lined with fibres, grasses, and horsehair. Nest-cup deep. 



Eggs Four to six. Pale purplish or creamy white, 

 blotched, streaked, and scribbled, in characteristic 

 Bunting fashion, with dark purplish brown. 



SKYLARK (Alauda arvensis.). 



Abundant throughout Great Britain, though more 

 local in the extreme North. 



Haunts. Arable and pasture lands. 



Plumage. Head feathers somewhat erectile. Upper 

 parts varied with three shades of brown, with blackish 

 centres to feathers. Faint whitish superciliary streak 

 over eye. Throat white. Under parts buffish white, 

 spotted and streaked with blackish brown. Outer 

 tail-feathers white and conspicuous. Bill dark brown 

 above, paler below. Legs yellowish brown. Length 

 7 in. Female, slightly smaller. Young, similar, but 

 with buff tips to the feathers. 



Language. The well-known song is delivered as the 

 bird soars, but sometimes it sings on the ground. Call- 

 note, " worryou." 



Habits. Distinct, on account of its propensity for 

 soaring up into the air singing until it becomes a mere 

 speck in the sky, then descends, still singing, but just 

 before coming to ground ceases, and with closed wings 

 drops down into the grass. Flight undulating, fluttering, 

 and powerful. It roosts on the ground, seldom perching 

 in trees. It is fond of dusting itself. On the ground it 

 runs or walks. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, worms; in 

 winter, seeds and the like. 



