56 ROOK SKYLARK. 



EOOK (Corvus frugilegus). 



Eesident. Abundant in all suitable localities ; more local in 

 Scotland. 



Haunts. Well-timbered and cultivated districts. 



Plumage. Black, glossed with purple reflections. At base of 

 bill a white, nude, warty patch. Bill and legs black. Length 

 19 in. Female, less glossy and slightly smaller. Young, still 

 less glossy, and area round base of beak covered with bristly 

 feathers. 



Language. The well-known and familiar cawing, sometimes 

 sounding like " carr." 



Habits. Eminently gregarious, and always nesting in com- 

 munities (rookeries). Flight, though powerful, is somewhat 

 laboured. It walks sedately, and is a great delver, and, conse- 

 quently, is much persecuted. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, snails, worms, grubs, and a 

 little grain. Very fond of noxious wireworms. 



Nest. March. One "brood. 



Site. At the top of some tall tree, several nests being found 

 in one tree. They frequent the same rookery annually. 



Materials. Stout sticks, twigs, turf, and mud plaster, lined 

 with grass, roots, moss, and feathers. Large and compact. 



Eggs. Four to six. Pale blue or greenish blue, spotted and 

 blotched with olive-brown and greyish purple. Like the Crow's, 

 but slightly smaller. 



Family ALAUDID&. 

 SKYLAEK (Alauda arvensis). 



Resident. 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 huffish 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. 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. 



