90 NATURAL HISTORY 



it is found in vast flocks round all the sandy bays of the coun- 

 try ; in summer retires to the bare brakes, where it builds a 

 small nest on the ground, with straws and bent ; lays four 

 eggs, large for the bulk of the bird, of a whitish colour, with 

 a few black spots sprinkled about the thicker end. 



The crown of the head of this bird is of a brownish ash- 

 colour ; the face white ; the cheeks, and a line from the bill 

 to the eye, black ; a fine white collar surrounds the upper 

 part of the neck, immediately below which is a black one; 

 the back is of the same colour with the crown of the head ; 

 the belly white ; the legs yellow, with black claws. 



In winter the sand-larks live on the very small worms which 

 are everywhere to be found in the sea-sands ; and wherever 

 there is a flock of them the whole sand is full of small holes, 

 made by them in search of these, so that it looks as if pierced 

 with numberless earth-worms. 



