PLATE I 

 SKYLARK. Alauda arvensis 



May 26th, 1897. This Plate was taken from a nest in a wheat-field near 

 Hickling Broad in Norfolk. I spent the best part of two days watching 

 the old birds before I managed to locate the nest. It was quite close to the 

 edge of the field, beside a cart-road, and the birds always alighted on this 

 road, some distance from the nest, and ran in among the wheat, making 

 their way along in the shelter of the young plants. 



Both birds approached the nest together; but as soon as the female was 

 fairly settled on her eggs, the male would rise from the wheat some little 

 distance from the nest, and soar upwards singing. 



I observed a Sparrow Hawk pass one day as the male was singing in the 

 air. The Lark ceased his strains at once, and flew higher and higher in the 

 air till he appeared a mere speck in the sky. He did not resume his song 

 for nearly half an hour after the interruption. 



VOL. IV. F 21 



