56 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 
resultant long straight rows of growth did not afford the 
bird sufficient cover, and it consequently deserted the grain- 
fields and took to the hay, in which frequent destruction of 
eggs, through the early cutting of the crop, took place, and 
accounted for the bird’s decrease. How far this theory may 
fit the facts in the south of England I do not venture to 
say, but I have strong doubts that the Corncrake was ever 
to any extent a nester in the grain-fields of the Lothians. 
It certainly is not so now, and this despite the fact that in 
many places, owing to local soil conditions, the broad-cast 
method of sowing is still followed. In this part of the 
country, in strong contrast to the south of England, the 
Corncrake has maintained its numbers, or has at least not 
become notably scarcer, a curious fact which certainly stands 
in need of explanation. It is possible that the later date of 
hay-cutting in the north may have some effect. 
The Corn-bunting is on the whole less exclusive, but it 
has, I think, also a preference, though a much less distinct one, 
for hay-fields, a particularly unfortunate choice in its case, 
in view of its extremely procrastinating nesting-habits. 
Locally, this bird has seemed to me to be decreasing of 
late years. The Lapwing is largely independent of the . 
crop-rotation. It sticks persistently to certain fields, avoid- 
ing others just as persistently, and it is not always easy to 
suggest a reason for its choice. If it shows any preference 
at all, it isin favour of the green-crop break, which affords 
the rougher surface which perhaps suits it best. Land sown 
down in white crop following lea has, when rolled, a very 
level and smooth surface, and in such fields it is interesting 
to note that the nests, in nearly nine cases out of ten, are 
placed in the open furrs, z.¢, the shallow trough between 
the rigs, in which collects a certain amount of stubble and 
turfy matter, which attracts the bird. A knowledge of this 
little peculiarity allows one to cover a large field in a short 
time with a certainty of finding a very large proportion of 
the nests. 
The Skylark, the dominant species of the association, 
is least affected of all by crop-rotation. It abounds on 
all, with the single reservation that it avoids all fields 
