THE SKY-LARK. 9 



be described. It is about seven inches long, and twelve in 

 the stretch of the wings, and weighs an ounce and a half. 

 The upper part of the head reddish brown ; the feathers 

 elongated and erectable, the back passing into darker brown, 

 the margins of the feathers edged with yellow brown. 

 Wings and tail more dusk ; the former wholly edged with 

 yellow brown ; the latter having the outer webs of the two 

 external feathers on each side, and the tip of the outer one 

 white. A light patch round the eye and the ear-covert 

 forming nearly a counterpart to the brown feathers on the 

 head. The under part pale brown on the chin, throat, and 

 sides of the breast, passing into a reddish tinge on the 

 middle, and into dull white, with a shade of pale yellowish 

 brown, on the belly. The chin and breast mottled with 

 oval brown spots, which are continued till they blend with 

 the brown of the upper parts. Bill dark brown, and dull 

 yellow at the base of the lower mandible. Feet yellowish 

 brown, darker in the mature birds than in the young. Claws 

 dark brown ; the hinder one very long, and nearly straight. 



The female differs little in plumage from the male, less 

 than in most other birds of the order ; and the chief dis- 

 tinction of the young birds, besides the more yellow tinge 

 of the naked parts, is having the mottling on the upper part 

 more distinct than in the old birds. 



Sky-larks usually have two broods in the year on the 

 same grounds. The nest is in the open field, or barely 

 sheltered by the grass, or among the clods ; it is wholly 

 constructed of vegetable fibres, stronger in the outer part, 

 and finer in the lining. The eggs are four or five, of a dull 

 greenish white, mottled with different tints of brown. The 

 - Tirst brood is usually fledged in June, and the second in 

 August ; but in the more upland parts of the country, where 

 the snow lies long, it is probable that there is seldom more 

 than one brood, which is fledged in July. 



