Birds of the Field 



ing country. The nest is similarly, though less 

 tidily made, to that of the Rook, and the lining is 

 a rare collection of such odds and ends as cow 

 and horse hair, wool, grasses, rags, paper and 

 string. There is a great similarity in the eggs of 

 all the Crow family. In general the ground colour 

 is green or greenish blue, mottled or clouded with 

 darker green, and spotted with brownish black. 

 Those of the Crow may be distinguished from the 

 Rooks by their larger size and, usually, deeper 

 ground colour. 



Another familiar figure in the fields during 

 winter is the Lapwing, for then a partial migration 

 takes place. Vast battalions of these birds make 

 their way southward from the moors in Scotland 

 and the north of England, and quite swamp the 

 few that remain faithful to the south throughout 

 the year. It is a fine sight to see a large flock on 

 the wing, now densely packed, now extending 

 into a long quivering wavy line, wheeling to right 

 or left, following the example of their leader with 

 the regularity of well-drilled troops. Especially 

 fine is the sight, if the sun is shining brightly 

 and there is a dark snowcloud for a background ; 

 then their manoeuvres are little short of magical. 

 At one moment the birds appear black, the next 

 at the command of their leader they turn and 

 disappear from view, anon reappearing gleaming 

 white in the sunlight, standing out in the strongest 

 contrast to the heavy clouds. 



37 



