BIRDS OF THE SEA 115 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. On edge of a cliff, or in slight cavity on the cliff- 

 side, &c. 



Materials. If any, a slight lining of grass, &c. 



Eggs. One. White, with sometimes a few small 

 reddish brown spots. Shell rough, and smells strongly 

 of musk. 



SHORE LARK (Otocorys alpestris). 



An irregular winter visitor. 



Observation. Distinguish at once from other Larks by 

 black lores and band on chest. 



Plumage. Band on crown, erectile tuft of feathers, 

 lores, and cheeks, and band on chest black. Forehead, 

 throat, and space at back of lores yellowish white. 

 Nape, mantle, and tail vinaceous brown. Wing-coverts 

 tipped with white ; under parts dull white, streaked with 

 brown on flanks. Bill and legs black. Length 7 in. 

 Female, smaller and less black on head ; duller through- 

 out. 



Language. Song, short but melodious, delivered either 

 on the ground or when soaring. 



Habits. Except when soaring it spends nearly all its 

 time on ground, seldom perching. Generally seen here 

 in flocks. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, small mollusca and 

 Crustacea ; seeds, &c., in winter. 



Nidification. Breeds in Northern Europe, Asia, and 

 America. 



KENTISH PLOVER (Mgialitis cantiana). 

 April to September. Very local, and nowhere com- 



