VOL. xv.J BKEEDING-HABITS OF WOOD-LARK. 265 



under close observation a very difficult and tiresome one — 

 that is when the site selected is amongst short heather— but 

 also frequently a time-wasting one as they often remain 

 away from the nest for hours on end, while some days pass 

 when scarcely a visit is paid to the nest and not a fragment of 

 material added. I have only once seen a Wood-Lark actually 

 carrying nest material and that bird I flushed quite accidentally 

 from a newly -formed " scrape." I waited concealed for two 

 hours in vain for the bird's return, but the nest was eventually, 

 after eleven days, built and the eggs laid. I have only 

 noticed this dilatory behaviour with first nests ; that later 

 nests or second or third attempts are, or can be, completed 

 within the space of two or three days, I have proved more 

 than once. 



Perhaps the most interesting discovery that I have made in 

 connection with the nesting habits of the Wood-Lark is that 

 relating to the construction of a screen or canopy over the 

 nest. I am unable to find any previous mention of this, 

 so venture to describe what I think may be a new and interest- 

 ing habit. 



In the latter part of March, 192 1, I had under observation 

 a pair of Wood-Larks which I knew were nesting, and although 

 unaware of the exact site, I was quite confident of discovering 

 the nest when visiting the spot early in April, owing to finding 

 the male by himself and under circumstances which, from 

 previous experience, left no doubt in my mind that he had 

 a sitting mate close by. A few steps flushed the female 

 at my feet, revealing a nest, the four eggs on which she had 

 just commenced to sit being visible from one side only. My 

 first impression was that a small accidental accumulation of 

 bents and dry grass blocked my view from the other side, 

 but a closer examination showed that this was not so, for the 

 nest, instead of showing the usual cup-like formation, was 

 " built up " on one side to a height of about four inches and 

 then " arched over," forming a canopy of firmly interlaced 

 bents, a little lichen and fine wiry heather twigs. It speaks 

 well for the architecture of this nest that I examined it in 

 the following December and found the canopy still firmly 

 intact. A second nest similarly constructed by another pair 

 of birds was found later on about half a mile from the first, 

 while in a third, on June 8th, the five young were enjoying 

 the protection from the heat of the sun afforded by this 

 dome-like structure. 



In the case of the first nests of April it can hardly be supposed 

 that the heat of the sun would have caused sufficient 



